People didn't think a woman with a disability needed an education. She proved them wrong.
Over 1 billion people live with a disability.
Yeah, billion with a "b."
And while that means about 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability, many individuals are still subject to prejudice and ignorance.
Accion shared one woman's story and took a closer look at what can be done to support people with disabilities in the populous, immense, and culturally complex country of India.
Image via Accion Global/YouTube.
24-year-old Reshma Babu is a successful young woman, but her future didn't always seem so bright.
Before she was 6 months old, Reshma contracted polio and lost the use of both of her legs. Not long after, both of her parents died, leaving the vulnerable infant in the care of her aunt, Parveen.
Her aunt paid her tuition and accompanied her to school each day through 10th grade. Neighbors would ask Parveen why she even bothered to educate Reshma.
All images via Accion Global/YouTube.
But Parveen never gave up, and luckily, neither did Reshma.
In a country where many people with disabilities have limited employment opportunities, Reshma was able to find a job she loves.
Reshma got a position with Vindhya, a data entry and customer support company. She works in the call center, fielding more than 170 calls a day.
Vindhya stands out because nearly 80% of their employees are people with physical challenges or vision or hearing impairments. The company began as a small, family-run business and now boasts clients like Yahoo, MetLife, and multiple Indian micro-finance organizations.
But their commitment to equal opportunity and promoting social justice is what has set them apart on the global landscape and what continues to help them exceed expectations and remain profitable.
Reshma is one of an estimated 40 to 60 million people in India living with a disability.
For a little perspective, that's five to seven times the population of New York City.
Negative assumptions about people with disabilities are so deep-seated in much of the culture in India, especially in rural and poor areas, that some schools won't even accept students with disabilities because they believe the children are incapable of the work.
"A lot of families keep their disabled children behind closed doors because they are embarrassed," said Shanti Auluck, a mother of a child with Down syndrome living in New Delhi, told The Guardian.
In addition to companies like Vindhya, many nonprofits and agencies in India are working to ensure everyone has a shot at success.
The Association of People with Disability, based in Bangalore, runs community learning centers and a school for children with disabilities, complete with interactive classroom technologies, sports programs, and art. They also offer a community mental health program and provide wheelchairs and orthotics to people in need.
Another organization, Parivaar, is a collective of parents' groups and NGOs working to improve the lives of people with disabilities throughout India. It's an invaluable resource for parents and caregivers looking to assist their children with special needs.
And last year, Indian people with disabilities got a much needed legal boost.
In 2014, India established The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, which accounts for 19 conditions and disabilities, including autism and multiple sclerosis — up from seven conditions in the 1995 legislation it replaced.
The bill confers certain rights to people with disabilities, including access to polling places, public buildings, and hospitals. The legislation also provides for 5% reservations in government offices and post-secondary schools for people with disabilities.
The bill requires ramps and other accommodations in new public buildings.
It's not a perfect bill, but many advocates are excited about the change.
"It means people with mental disabilities in particular have the right to hold a job, have the right to open a bank account, and no one can tell them 'no' because of their disability," disability rights activist Javed Abidi told The Guardian.
Disability or not, all of us want to be treated with dignity and respect.
Access to education and rewarding work are a large part of that. Supporting businesses and organizations that push for equal opportunities is a great way to do your part.
Across the globe or around the corner, everyone deserves a chance to live the life they imagined.
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