Question

• Prepare a chart on the Disability Act 2016.
• Observe your surroundings and analyse how far the act has been implemented.
• List the actions you can take and share with your classmates.
• Collect information about various programmes and schemes for differently-abled individuals and share it in the morning assembly.

Answer 1

Chart: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Topic	Key information
Purpose	Protects the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and promotes equality, inclusion and participation in society.
Disabilities covered	Recognises 21 specified disabilities, including visual and hearing impairments, locomotor disability, intellectual disability, autism and multiple disabilities.
Education	Promotes inclusive education. Children with benchmark disabilities have the right to free education between 6 and 18 years of age.
Higher education	Provides at least 5% reservation in government and government-aided higher educational institutions for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Government employment	Provides at least 4% reservation in government establishments for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Accessibility	Requires steps to improve access to buildings, transport, information and communication services.
Equality and protection	Prohibits discrimination on the ground of disability and provides for protection from abuse, violence and exploitation.

observation of my surroundings

I observed the school and nearby public places. Some facilities—such as ramps or step-free entrances—may be available, but accessible toilets, lifts, tactile paths, clear signs and accessible transport are not always present. Awareness and support can also differ from place to place. This suggests that the Act is being implemented, but not completely or uniformly. Replace this sample with what you actually observe in your locality.

Actions I can take

1. Treat persons with disabilities with respect and include them in classroom and community activities.
2. Ask before offering assistance, and respect how a person prefers to communicate or move around.
3. Report inaccessible entrances, toilets or other barriers to the school or local authorities.
4. Encourage accessible classrooms, learning materials, websites and public spaces.
5. Challenge teasing, exclusion and discriminatory language, and share accurate information about disability rights.
6. Support awareness activities and consult persons with disabilities about the changes they need.

Programmes and schemes to share

• Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): Promotes accessibility in public buildings, transport and information and communication services.
• ADIP Scheme: Provides assistance to eligible persons with disabilities for aids and appliances, such as hearing aids, wheelchairs and mobility devices.
• Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Supports organisations providing rehabilitation and other services to persons with disabilities.
• Scholarships for students with disabilities: Government scholarship programmes support eligible students with their education.
• Unique Disability ID (UDID): Provides a disability identity card to help eligible persons access services and benefits.

Short assembly message

“The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, promotes equality, accessibility, education and participation. Laws are effective when we put inclusion into practice: remove barriers, respect individual choices and ensure that everyone can take part. Let us make our school and community accessible and welcoming to all.”