June 27, 2019
Some great news coming from Dehradun where following the intervention
of the Uttarakhand Disabilities Commissioner, a local swimming academy has
agreed to allow adults with autism to swim at the same hours as other
members.
Members of Arunima, a residential centre for people with
autism, can now swim along with everyone else at the Varada Tennis
and Swimming Academy in Dehradun.
Earlier this month, there was widespread outrage after the academy told 17
members of the centre to change their hours as their presence was disturbing
to other pool members. This was despite the centre paying the entire monthly
fee for the lessons and agreeing to the other conditions placed by the pool
academy.
Following the intervention of the Uttarakhand Disabilities
Commissioner Major Yadav, a meeting was held with Aparna
Das, Founder, Arunima Centre and the owner of the
pool academy on Wednesday. After this, the academy agreed to let the members
of the centre resume their lessons at the timings agreed upon earlier.
Notices were sent to the owner of the pool academy and Arunima Centre and
we were called for a meeting. The pool academy owner initially said that he
had objected as there were not enough staff members accompanying the adults
with autism but that is not true. He finally agreed to let our members
resume their lessons until 7 July when the centre closes. – Aparna
Das, Founder-Director, Arunima: Project for Persons with Autism
The pool academy owner has asked that the centre give medical certificates
for people with epilepsy, which is the norm everywhere. Aparna, who is
thrilled with the decision, says the members plan to start going to the pool
right away.
There was widespread anger and outrage against the pool academy over the
blatantly discriminatory message it had sent out earlier. The
Dehradun Disability Forum, an alliance of over 20 disability
rights groups in Dehradun had come together in solidarity to make this
statement – “Discrimination on the basis of disability is illegal,
morally wrong and destroys the very basis of what our country stands for. We
believe in an India where every person is equal and enjoys the same rights as
anyone else.” A petition was also started to protest the pool owner’s
actions. There were also calls to file a formal suit for discrimination and
violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,
2016.
Clearly these statements were successful in sending out the message that
discrimination against people with disabilities will no longer be shrugged
aside and that the community will speak up, until it is heard.
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/22662
