You may call us differently-abled, persons with disability, specially challenged, or physically challenged. Whatever name you use, at the end of the day we are all human. We have dreams and hopes; we have the capacity to do something. People with disabilities continue to prove themselves on many fronts. We are students at Dhaka University, we are lawyers, we hold various professional jobs. And yet in Bangladesh, people with disabilities are treated like a burden on the society. Getting the basic rights like healthcare and proper education is very tough for us. We hardly even dare to think of asking for opportunities for recreation and socialization! People may wonder why we would need such opportunities, but as a person with a disability I assure you that recreation and socialisation are essential for our wellbeing and they are our rights as citizens of this country.

    When I became blind I was only eight years old. From then on I hardly visited a park. Now that I have grown up, I want to roam around alone, but it is not possible because in Dhaka city most of the parks do not have the facilities or accessibility for people with disabilities. Most of the park gates are not accessible. A wheelchair cannot go through these gates because they are specially built to stop motorcycles. How ridiculous it is that to stop a few erratic and irrational persons who fail to understand that motorbikes do not belong in parks, we are depriving members of the disabled community from having easy access to parks. Even if we can get in, how friendly are the parks once we are inside? There are no facilities like tactile walkways, wide smooth paths without steps for wheelchair users, or special swings for those with autism. 

    We want to see parks where people with disabilities can roam around, experience and enjoy the park, without sacrificing their freedom and without requiring the help of others. By making our parks – including reaching the park and entering it – accessible, not only people with disabilities will benefit but also our larger society. A more diverse society is a better society. People have much to learn from those different from themselves, and the opportunity to interact with people who face special challenges will help others to gain perspective on the problems they themselves face. When people learn that those with disabilities are, after all, just like themselves, they will also be more accepting of our role in society which will make life easier for all of us.

    One small change can make a big difference in the society. Make an accessible park and very soon you will see the differences. When small children roam around and share space with people with disabilities, then I am sure they will realize what the real meaning of life is. I hope people will understand the importance of accessible parks and make necessary renovation to make our existing parks accessible and pleasurable for all.

Rifat Pasha

On e-mail