Hope: The upside-down image is simple to achieve and tellingly represents the twisted environment experienced by any disabled person. It also symbolizes disability as a strength that enables a different world view.

 

15% of the global population, i.e., approximately 1 billion live with some form of disability. 80% of them are living in developing countries, where a startling 90% of disabled children are not in school. (Sources: WHO; Global Citizen.Org)

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The corona pandemic has only made this divide even worse. With schools moving to online instruction, autistic children do not have access to special school care, students requiring tactile, speech or other assistance as inputs for learning are forced to miss out completely. This is in addition to the digital divide which has systematically alienated many more.

 

As face-to-face, in person social interaction has reduced overall, mandatory precautions of mask wearing and maintaining social distancing has further increased social divide. This in turn may exacerbate the isolation and mental health difficulties that most disabled people and their care-givers experience.