Can you move beyond your disability and actually turn it into your ability?
Well, Shivani Gupta has truly done it. In 1992, she met with a car accident, which made her land on a wheel chair. This incident didn’t deter her from moving ahead in life. In fact, she tenaciously worked for the next fourteen years and made India’s mindset change towards the disabled and AccessAbility became her effective tool in ‘unlocking opportunities for people with disabilities and providing them opportunity to be an equal member of our society.’
She has shown that bravery and courage is not just about spectacular physical actions but about the triumph of the spirit. While transforming her own life, Shivani has transformed the lives of all who came in touch with her. Today, we have this opportunity to have her here on our blog we took her email interview, which goes as...
1. Who is Shivani Gupta in flesh and blood?
Shivani: I am a hard working determined person perusing a dream of being fully accepted for who I am and my abilities rather than my disability.
2. In terms of the disability agenda, what are the tricky issues you have come across so far?
Shivani: In my opinion, one of the most important issues when it comes to disability is the lack of Environmental accessibility, where all persons irrespective of their physical status and age are able to use the environment safely and independently. Presently the issue is like the egg and the chicken story where the tussle is weather the chicken comes first or the egg.
Putting it in other words, service providers, building owners, architects, builders and many others feel that providing an inclusive environment is not as important because they do not see a large disabled clientele visiting their facilities, whereas on the other hand, persons with disabilities do not visit these facilities because they are in-accessible.
The point can be much expressed in this phrase;
‘for most people accessibility makes things easier, but for people with disabilities, it makes things possible’
Unless accessibility is provided in our entire infrastructure, whether built or transport, we cannot expect full integration of persons with disability in our society.
3. What is your impression of the media’s coverage of disability issues?
Shivani: Media as we all know has very important role to play in shaping our society. It is strange that in spite of having nearly 10% of our population as people suffering from different disabilities, no serious discussions on issues pertaining to people with disabilities has ever featured on the front page of any leading newspapers.
Another cause of concern is the fact that even when the media does cover disability, it tends to focus on individuals with disability and portray them either as heroes or victims. There is little attempt to analyze and present the situation of PWD’s as citizens who like the rest, constitute an integral part of society. The issue is primarily seen in terms of welfare and charity not as a human right and dignity. Additionally sometimes the reference to disabled persons as deaf and ‘dumb’, ‘crippled’, ’sightless’, ‘handicapped’ etc. used in articles are very demeaning.
4. Shivani, what are your other interests besides your work? How are you able to snatch out time for so many things? I would appreciate if you can share your working and lifestyle with us.
Shivani: I have usual interests like watching television, travelling, listening to music etc. but my real hobby that I enjoy spending my spare time in, is water colour painting. Painting is something that helps me recharge my energies to get back to work. I believe that when I am trying to figure out something crucial, painting helps me come to a solution. Presently I do not get to much time to paint because AccessAbility my firm which is very new takes most of my time, but yes spare some time on the weekends when I am able to paint.
5. Where do you see yourself after five years? I mean, any dreams, or plans for the coming future?
Shivani: All my dreams and plans at this moment in life for me are spun around AccessAbility. Being a social entrepreneurship, it requires far more input as compared to any other business. But through sustained efforts by AccessAbility in the future, I dream of an India where people with disabilities truly have an equal opportunity to participate in all they wish to.
6. The whole Internet, of course, as a media, is moving towards Web 2.0. How far do you think the phenomenon has emerged successfully and where do you see AccessAbility n the whole gambit?
Shivani: I agree that internet has truly taken a new dimension; from something which used to be just a tool from which we mostly gained information, or publish it has now turned into something more phenomenal. A system which allows us to influence, participate and contribute to social and economical change. The (virtual) communities that have formed defy political and geographic borders, encourage cross cultural participation and empower people in many new ways. Popular social networking sites and content management systems have enabled individuals to become both the content producers and content consumers. It is largely a shift in the way internet is being used today, and web 2.0 or the second generation web as it is known today, is only a phase in the ever changing dynamics of the internet. I am sure there is a long way to go.
Our website (http://accessability.co.in) is aimed to be a platform to help bridge the informational gap between the actual needs of persons with disabilities and the perceptions of our society at large as to what there needs are. The process involves not only disseminating information but also enabling all the users to provide it through our online discussion forum; it draws its parallel to web 2.0 by allowing the user to manage content too. Although our website is still at a very nascent stage, we plan to structure it in a way that the content is flexible and largely user driven in the coming future.
7. What will AccessAbility, morph into, say five years from now, any plans?
Shivani: In five years from now, I see AccessAbility as a leading Universal Design and Disability Employment Specialist, providing integrated solutions and delivering value by catalyzing social change. I want it to be known as a professional company that enabled a paradigm shift in the way disability is viewed today, to being viewed as ability.
8. What is your perspective towards life? Any message you’d like to give to our readers?
Shivani: I believe that a strong and positive attitude can create miracles. Having decided to do something without giving it our hundred percent, will not reap the desired results, may it be work, pleasure or relationships.
9. Finally, we would like to have your thoughts on the Instablogs News Network and all its related sites. Which one is your favorite?
Shivani: The best thing about Instablogs is that it provides interesting articles on many varied issues. I do enjoy the newsroom especially because of the ease in which one can browse. The provision of submit a story and submit a lead is brilliant in bringing out real grass-root issues. Instablogs, I feel is a great tool to share your own views and opinions and to know of others from around the world. Great way to connect!!
Now, some rapid fire questions,
* What is the best feeling in the world?
Shivani: Peace
* What is the worst feeling in the world?
Shivani: Discrimination
* What is your favorite word or phrase?
Shivani: ‘We’ve got to do something’
* What is your greatest accomplishment (so far)?
Shivani: Keeping up my determination intact through all ups and down
* If given a week’s holidays, how would you like to spend them?
Shivani: By taking a trip close to nature in wilderness
I finally thank Shivani for taking time-out for this interview and finishing it in the best possible way! And, wish her luck in all her future endeavors :-)
