Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Coronavirus-news
  • Disability groups in TN to frame protocol for groups most vulnerable to coronavirus

Disability groups in TN to frame protocol for groups most vulnerable to coronavirus

Person using crutches
Coronavirus-news March 25, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Leading disability rights groups and activists in Tamil Nadu are working on a protocol to support groups most vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak. Part of this involves building a database of volunteers who can supply essential items at the doorstep.

Chennai resident Karthik Chandrasekharan has mobility challenges due to cerebral palsy. He needs assistance to wash his hands and has a helper.

“Taxis are banned and so is other public transport because of coronavirus and my helper cannot come home now”, says Karthik. “I find it hard to wash my hands often without help and depend on my elderly parents. I can see it is not easy on them”. He is worried about what lies ahead.

It is issues like these that disability rights groups in Tamil Nadu are working to address by framing a protocol to support vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled people.

Silence on Centre & state government’s part

Until now there has been little initiative taken either by the Centre or the Tamil Nadu government in this regard. To address this, Addressing & Including Diversity in Emergency Response (AIDER), an informal group of disability and disaster focussed organisations, has published a detailed brief on this website.

Persons with disabilities and people experiencing medical conditions requiring tertiary care including blood transfusion and other support services are in an extremely vulnerable situation in this period of emergency. The complexity of the situation is due to lack of focus in the provision of accessible information, inaccessible services, lack of assurance of support systems during phases of isolation including for basic supplies. – Disability Rights Alliance of India

The lack of any government assurance, even on the part of disability focal agencies such as the disability commissioner’s office is worrying.

Key demands made

Among the immediate demands made by the groups are to:

  • Activate the regional volunteer database created in the aftermath of the Chennai floods for localised help.
  • Follow the Kerala model of supplying essentials to the doorstep.
  • Develop a tech interface for transfusion-dependent people to register their regular blood needs.
  • Organise transport and look at ways to stock up on blood and lifesaving medicines.
  • Support services during quarantine.
  • Make available accessible testing and hospitalisation.
  • Provision of information in accessible format.

One of the biggest concerns relates to the chronic shortage of blood, which affects thalassemia patients in particular. Blood donation camps have been cancelled and reports are that Rotary-TTK Blood Bank, a mainstay for Bengaluru residents, is close to running out of stock.

“Oxygen cylinders and nebulisers are some of the immediate challenges we foresee”, says Iftikhar Zia, Member, Organisation for Rare Diseases, India (ORDI), which is among the groups involved in framing the protocol. “We are looking at solutions where can pool in and buy all the supplies needed and store it at one place and give it for free”.

The state government will also be asked to set up a special cell to advise and act on strategies to be adopted when it comes to existing and new treatments. The larger goal of this effort is that of framing a comprehensive action plan which is enduring in nature to ensure that one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), “Reach the farthest behind first”, is met with.

Watch in Sign Language

Also Read:

  • Make coronavirus response disability inclusive: Doctors with Disabilities urge Centre
  • Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

    We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

    Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Changing lives of disabled people for the better, the Swabhiman way

Technology

GenElek's robotic exoskeletons give disabled people a chance to walk

Get-hooked

My disability taught me to unlock my potential - My Take by Dhanya Ravi

Get-hooked

Understanding weighted blankets

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.