This refers to the editorial “Taking freedom of mobility seriously” (Feb. 25). Accessible environment is key to realising a society based on equality. The issue of accessibility and eliminating all types of barriers should be viewed as an issue of human rights of persons with disabilities.
In modern societies with developed technologies, access to information and communication is a basic prerequisite. But a majority of information prepared for the public in print is not accessible to persons who have impaired vision because they are not printed in large fonts or in Braille, or they don’t have an audio version. Our education system is also biased as it excludes persons with disabilities from mainstream education. The field of employment is still an enormous barrier for a majority of persons with disabilities. The State should implement the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 fully to uplift the marginalised persons.
T. Marx,
Puducherry
