• Concept of Karma features prominently in literature / discussions about disability, with disability perceived either as punishment for misdeeds in the past lives of the PWD, or the wrongdoings of their parents
• Presence of the PWD is considered inauspicious during such occasions as wedding
• There is low acceptance of children with disabilities attending regular schools
• Persons with disability face significant challenges in getting married and having families. In PWD/non-PWD marriage, it is expected dowry would always need to be adjusted.
• Mythologies and Bollywood films often show PWDs in various forms of negative roles – either wicked and cruel or dependent and pitiable.
• There is low acceptance of children with disabilities attending regular schools.

(Source: World Bank Report: People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to Outcome, 2007)

People with disabilities experience found substantial social marginalization in the Indian society. Indeed, attitudes of society, families, caregivers and PWD themselves often contribute to converting impairments into disabilities. The different sets of attitudes interact and the negative views about PWD in the broader community are likely to be internalized in many cases by PWDs themselves and their household members. In this regard, community action has actually failed the PWDs.

The social status of the PWD’s family often has an impact on their potential acceptance in society. Changing societal attitudes to people with disabilities, even among PWD themselves, presents many challenges. However, a basic starting point is facts. A good example in case is the leprosy campaign. Despite availability of multi drug therapy that made leprosy curable, the biggest barrier to eliminating the disease is ignorance and stigma. To address this, the BBC World Service Trust developed a campaign in India, in partnership with Doordarshan TV and All-India Radio emphasizing on curability, availability of free medicines and messages supporting inclusion. Independent impact assessment of the program demonstrated positive impact of the program.

It therefore makes sense to undertake, among other things, awareness campaigns emphasizing that stigma attached to disability is driven by ignorance and that disability is not a pre-ordained event. Similarly, putting the experience and success stories of persons with disabilities into the public arena needs to be done with the idea to stress of possibilities rather than disabilities. .

Building on this, steps need to be taken to address the medical and social causes and consequences of impairment and disabilities. Finally, unless attitudes change, little change is possible in improving the quality of life of the PWDs.