Volume 2 Issue 14

Feature

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  Altering lives the Family of Disabled way
  Rajinder Johar is the founder and chief executive of Family of Disabled (FOD). He was a senior occupational therapist when, in 1986, an injury to his spinal chord rendered him quadriplegic. He set up FOD in order to continue serving the disabled community. Confined to his bed and totally dependent on others, he manages the organisation from his room. He helps entrepreneurs with a variety of disabilities set up and run their own businesses. Here he writes about the issue of self-employment for disabled people.

Interview

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  "Something had to be done, so I did it"
  In narrating why she felt the need to start Action For Autism in India (AFA), Merry Barua told Anne-Marie Prayas that “something had to be done, so I did it”. She narrates her experiences and developments as one of the first persons in the country to recognise the need for a national movement for the development of autistic children.

News

• Good news for India’s visually challenged
  The secretary of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India, Amar Agarwal, has said that more than half of the 15 million blind people in India suffer from treatable blindness.
• India sets up first gene screening lab in South Asia
  India is initiating screening of genetic errors that lead to mental retardation, autism learning disabilities, dyslexia and even death.
• ‘Vision 2020-India’: restoring sight to the blind
  A national confederation of several non-governmental organisations, engaged in eye care, has been formed in Madurai.
• No posts for blind in the Civil Services?
  The Union Government has failed to identify any services suitable for the recruitment of blind and low vision persons in the civil services.
• NGOs seen as only answer to social reform
  Economic administrators in the latest Economic Survey recommend that NGOs should be more involved in implementing the government’s social sector schemes.
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  Action For Autism lays foundation stone
  The Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, laid the foundation stone for the National Centre of Action For Autism on July 11 in the Capital.
• Disabled doctors make a difference
  Three doctors in Mumbai may have been labelled disabled but that does not stop them from being few of the most sought after in their field.
• Union Budget sensitive to disability sector
  The Finance Minister has packed in whole set of exemptions relating to disabled people and their needs, in the Budget.
• Railway minister unable to fulfil expectations
  “It is good to see the word ‘disability’ as a part of the Railway Budget. However, there is nothing substantial for the sector as main issues have been left untouched,” said Javed Abidi, executive director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People.