They go about their routines in a manner that inspires, guides and nurses the inclusion revolution taking shape in the society as India’s first of its kind inclusive fest ‘Purple Fest 2023‘ approaches fast! In this final part of the ‘Know your Purple Ambassadors’ series, get to know more heroes from amidst the Persons with Disabilities!
PURPLE AMBASSADORS – Part 5
Zamir Dhale is a person with Deaf Blindness and has founded the Society for the Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind (SEDB). It’s an Indian trust maintained by blind and deaf individuals. He has been chosen to serve as the World Federation of the Deaf and Blind’s Asian Regional Representative (WFDB). Zamir is knowledgeable on both disability law and rights and computer theory. Through a refreshable braille display that functions with both a smartphone and a computer, he also makes good use of technology to work and communicate. He has coached and aided Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee in understanding the world of the blind and the deaf and remained in Shimla during the period of filming for the critically acclaimed Bollywood film ‘Black’.
Entrepreneur Jennifer Joseph co-owns the Nalam Cafe with her business partner Bhagyalakshmi. The pair prepares great meals for clients who quickly become regulars at the café every day around lunch and tea time. One of the first homes where a kinship has been recognised as a family by the state government is where Jennifer lives with Bhagya, their dog Caesar, and two other people. This family’s ration card identifies Jennifer as “head of the home.”
Jennifer, who has a Mental Illness, has a history of homelessness, is an outspoken supporter of those who have experienced homelessness and mental illness and stresses the value of having access to government IDs, welfare programmes, and social entitlements as a person with a mental illness.
As a person who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease himself, Lalit Pargi believes that there are many options available to people with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) that needs to be made more accessible. He is dedicated to raising awareness about this disability and is currently working as a nursing officer. He completed his graduation in GNM from Rajasthan Nursing Council, Jaipur and postgraduation in public administration from MLSU, Udaipur.
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Also an invisible disability, the Purple Fest aims to create awareness on the challenges of and solutions available to persons with Parkinson’s disease.
LIST OF DISABILITIES AS PER RPWD ACT, 2016:
1. Physical Disability
• Locomotor Disability
Leprosy Cured Person
Cerebral Palsy
Dwarfism
Muscular Dystrophy
Acid Attack Victims
• Visual Impairment
Blindness
Low Vision
• Hearing Impairment
Deaf
Hard of Hearing
• Speech and Language Disability
2. Intellectual Disability
• Specific Learning Disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
3. Mental Behaviour (Mental Illness)
4. Disability caused due to-
• Chronic Neurological Conditions such as
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
• Blood Disorder
Haemophilia
Thalassemia
Sickle Cell Disease
5. Multiple Disabilities
