Anecdote in the life of a Person with a Disability (PwD): To help or not?

If we see a person with a disability who has fallen off the wheelchair, would we help the person get back in the chair or not? Here is an anecdote to illustrate a scenario that we might encounter, followed by some thought-provoking questions.

On a bright sunny morning, Ankit, a 25-year-old person with a disability, returned home from a management class, wheeling himself in his wheelchair. He noticed a fellow student living in the same residential apartments, with a spinal condition, sitting in the grass and leaning on his wheelchair. This student had a pretty good upper body, probably the result of working out.

Ankit: Hey! Today you are relaxing in the sun? 🙂

Student: No, I fell. :-/

Ankit realized the fellow had probably been able to pull himself up to a sitting position using the wheelchair. But he was not able to pull himself up into the wheelchair. Ankit immediately phoned his parents, who were visiting him and were inside the apartment. 

His parents had learned the proper technique to help Ankit sit in the wheelchair, so they used the same method to lift the fellow and seat him in his wheelchair. 

This incident happened in Canada. In India, where Ankit had grown up back in the day, his parents had always lifted Ankit clumsily. They were never taught the correct technique, nor realized there might be one. It’s when they were on their way to Canada, after Ankit received the Canada Permanent Resident Visa, that they noticed how the dedicated ground staff (trained to help PwD) lifted Ankit. They had been lifting Ankit by holding between the armpits and had been hurting him all these years.

Coming back to our story, the student narrated how he had asked for help from some fellow students passing by, but they had walked on. Their refusal to help a person with a disability had shocked Ankit’s parents. Seeing their expressions, the fellow student explained:

Student: In Canada, it is illegal if you happen to witness an accident and walk away. 

Ankit’s Dad: Then why didn’t they help you?

Student: Sometimes, while helping in an accident, one can aggravate the injury. They were hesitant because they knew the person they were helping could sue them. 

Ankit’s Mom: In India, people would be quick to help.

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Questions for the Readers:

1. In a Corporate setting, what will you do if you see a person with a disability (PwD) has fallen from their wheelchair? Choose any two options:
   1. In a Corporate setting, what will you do if you see a person with a disability (PwD) has fallen from their wheelchair? Choose any two options:
   2. Ask the PwD if they need help.
   3. Don’t ask the PwD so as not to embarrass them.
   4. Call someone to help you decide.
   5. Walk away and inform the security.
   6. Wait there and then call someone so that both of you can offer combined help.
   7. Offer help only if you know the correct technique to help, otherwise not.
   8. Call medical personnel and ask them to guide you.
2. Do you think in Corporate India, in today’s times, people would be quick to help a person with a disability? Is the mindset of the Indian society at large the same as before or more evolved?
3. If you are a part of management in a Corporation or in a position to influence the leadership, would you be interested in actively advocating the employment of persons with disabilities? Rate your interest out of 10. Can you explain the reasons for your rating?

Being disabled does not mean Un-abled, just Differently Abled -Mr Noel Helm 

Acknowledgement: I am incredibly grateful to the friend who narrated this story to me. Our purpose at Rainmaker is to spread awareness of Persons with a Disability so that they are well-included in all spheres of working life, their talent is in demand, and their contributions acknowledged. 

Author: Sumali Nagarajan

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