From Isolation to Inclusion- Livelihood for Wheelchair Users in the Covid 19 World

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced additional problems on the disabled (20% of our population have a mobility disability).Whenever a disaster strikes or if a crisis like situation arises, persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable. Their vulnerability is amplified in a situation like COVID-19 pandemic, because their ability to access information is limited, their ability to move to safer places is limited, secondary health complications (pressure sores, reduced respiratory capacity, reduced immunity) expose them to a greater risk of infection than others. The vulnerability is not only due to aspects of their immobility/disability, but also because they often experience adverse socio-economic conditions than persons without disabilities. This situation is also compounded by the fact that discrimination and stigma remain endemic, which leads to further marginalisation and exclusion.

Persons with disabilities have all mostly lost their jobs when the lockdown was announced. Most of them must travel to urban centers for skills training and many of them do find a job in the cities. However, it becomes difficult for them to sustain in the cities with their small earnings and high cost of living, especially for accessible accommodation and transport.  

Identify 500 disabled persons and parents/carers across India , Provide skill training to the identified disabled young adults and parents/carers-Skill training, ranging from one to three months, providing trades like tailoring, mobile phone repair, beautician, computer skills, organic farming, backyard poultry, petty shops etc. Ensure employment/self- employment to the identified young adults after skill training- Training on setting up small business, develop a business plan, provide start up grant based on the business plan & supported to set up their own micro enterprise, leading to income generation and social

inclusion. The program includes building capacity of NGO staff and wheelchair users. Capacity of our project staff and wheelchair users will be enhanced. We aim to train at least 50 persons during the project period thereby ensuring long-term sustainability of the work.

The proposed project will directly benefit 500 young adults with mobility disability and their families with the provision of need-specific wheelchair services and skill training to increase their skills, build confidence and earn their livelihoods. 2000 family members will be positively impacted by the increased/improved mobility and skill training of their children/family member (based on an average family size of four in India). Family members, mainly mothers of disabled children, who are their primary carers, will benefit and get respite as a result of their children being mobile and independent. This will give the mothers more time to go out for work and earn extra income and other family and social obligations. The partner organisation’s (Centre for wheelchair services & livelihoods training) capacity will be built to address the individual needs of persons with mobility disability, and it will be available to meet the needs of thousands of other disabled people in the area. The project will also build capacity of young adults with disabilities to undertake income generation activities and support their families.

The long-term impact of the action will be that disabled people will have a sustainable livelihood and lead their life with dignity.