Inclusiv'e Voices with Dipti Dash.

Meet Dipti Dash from Puri, Odisha, who has lived a life of perseverance and resilience in the face of immense challenges. Born into a middle-class family, Dipti was the youngest of four siblings, with three sisters and one brother. Tragically, her father, a government employee, passed away in 2001, which was a devastating blow to the family. As the sole breadwinner of the household, his death left the family in financial distress, a struggle compounded by the fact that Dipti's own health was deteriorating rapidly.

In 1991, Dipti’s journey took a difficult turn at the age of 11 when she started experiencing symptoms that would soon be diagnosed as Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Initially, it began with a fever that left her bedridden, but over time, her condition worsened. She lost the ability to move her hands, her feet, and even to speak, with her condition resembling paralysis. During this period, she could barely move her eyes and was entirely dependent on her family for care. This paralysis-like illness confined her to her bed for nearly two years, severely affecting her life.

Despite their best efforts to seek medical help, the family’s attempts to treat Dipti's condition with doctors were unsuccessful. It was only after a suggestion from relatives in Delhi to pursue physiotherapy that Dipti’s family sought treatment at a government-run physiotherapy center in Odisha. This decision marked the beginning of a slow, yet miraculous, recovery. Dipti’s rehabilitation was long and arduous, but with the dedicated support of her family and the medical professionals at the center, she slowly regained the ability to move.

Dipti’s recovery was not just physical but also emotional. As she relearned basic functions like walking, talking, and even sitting up, she was determined to regain her independence. The rehabilitation process, which included extensive physiotherapy and speech therapy, took around five years. During this time, Dipti faced numerous challenges, from the exhaustion of her physical therapy to the emotional toll of her situation. Her parents, particularly her mother, played a crucial role in supporting her, regularly visiting hospitals for treatments and ensuring she had everything she needed to progress. Dipti credits her family’s unwavering love and support as pivotal to her recovery.

However, her road to recovery was far from easy. She had to drop out of school in the 5th standard due to her disability, missing out on formal education for several years. It was only after her condition began to improve that she resumed her studies, with homeschooling helping her catch up. Eventually, Dipti passed the 10th board exams through private schooling, but she didn’t continue her education immediately after that. With limited access to resources for the differently-abled, her family decided that it would be best for her to focus on her health and not continue formal schooling.

In 2001, just as Dipti was beginning to regain her health, tragedy struck again with the untimely death of her father. His passing left her devastated, and she fell into a deep depression. For six months, she struggled with grief, feeling the weight of the loss of her father, who had been not only her parent but also her best friend. It was during this period that Dipti sought professional help, and her doctor advised her that unless she began working on her mental health, she might spiral into further despair. This advice served as a turning point, and Dipti found the strength to rise from the emotional wreckage.

With her mental health stabilizing, Dipti decided to resume her education. She took up the challenge of completing her 12th board exams, enrolling in a private college. During this period, her family, particularly her mother, continued to provide the necessary support. They bought her a motorized scooter to help her move around independently, which greatly enhanced her mobility and enabled her to visit places she had once thought impossible to go.

Despite the physical challenges she still faced, Dipti enrolled at Sambalpur Government Women’s College to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Arts. Attending college was no easy feat for Dipti; she had to navigate through many obstacles to attend classes. The ground-floor classrooms were accessible, but those on higher floors presented a significant challenge. Still, Dipti would try her best to attend as many classes as she could. Her journey was not just about education but also about proving to herself that she could overcome her disabilities and live a life filled with purpose.

Her perseverance in completing her degree, despite the challenges of moving between classrooms, climbing stairs, and managing her physical condition, showed the depth of her determination. Her friends were also an essential part of her journey, as they supported her by helping her with the logistics of getting to class. She often jokes about how, due to her slower pace, the classes would sometimes end by the time she reached them, but her determination remained unwavering.

Immediately after completing her graduation, Dipti got an opportunity to work as a counsellor for an NGO in Bhubaneshwar, which is nearly 300 kilometres from Sambalpur, marking an important milestone in her career. She became the first female in her family to step into the professional world, and it was a huge achievement given her background and challenges. This role allowed her to not only contribute to her family's financial stability but also provided her with the platform to help others.

While working as a counselor, Dipti continued her education and completed two master's degrees simultaneously—one in Social Work (MSW) and the other in Applied Psychology. Despite the challenges of working full-time and managing her health, Dipti successfully earned both degrees, demonstrating an unparalleled commitment to both her personal and professional growth.

Her work extended beyond her education as she became deeply involved in policy development for people with disabilities. Dipti worked with government agencies to create policies that not only catered to people with low common disabilities but also supported women with disabilities and children. Her efforts in these areas were widely recognized, and she received several prestigious awards for her contributions, including being named Best Social Worker by the Chief Minister of Odisha in 2013.

Dipti also worked closely with various NGOs, where she helped advocate for people with disabilities and women, particularly those from marginalized communities. She became an active voice for disability rights, focusing on the empowerment of the differently-abled and advocating for inclusive policies.

Dipti’s experience with disability has shaped her perspective on societal inclusion and accessibility. Despite the legal framework for disability rights improving with the introduction of laws in 2017, Dipti remains critical of their implementation. As someone who has been directly affected by disability, she finds that these laws are often not followed in practice. According to Dipti, even government departments and offices meant to ensure accessibility remain inaccessible, a reflection of the lack of serious commitment to these issues.

Her experience with public transportation in India, particularly the Indian Railways, has been another area of frustration. Dipti advocates for more inclusive transportation systems, pointing out the challenges that people with disability, the elderly, and even children face when using public transportation. For example, she highlights the discrepancy in the height of train platforms and the challenges this creates for wheelchair users, who cannot even board trains due to the mismatch. Moreover, even trains that are accessible to wheelchair users are not designed to allow them to move around inside, creating further barriers to independence.

Dipti also emphasizes the importance of dignity in transportation. She believes that for people with disability, who already face immense struggles, it is not enough to merely have accessibility features; the process of moving from one place to another should not require humiliation or assistance. She argues that a society that values its citizens must create systems that allow everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, to live their lives independently.

Dipti’s understanding of Reasonable Accommodation and Accessibility

Dipti’s advocacy extends beyond just the issue of public transportation. She frequently speaks out about the lack of awareness in the education system and the broader societal exclusion of differently-abled individuals. Despite the existence of some reservations for people with disability in the workforce, she points out that the education system does not provide separate curricula or tailored teaching methods for disabled students. This lack of specialized support means that many differently-abled individuals face significant barriers in accessing quality education, further limiting their opportunities in life.

Her advocacy for accessibility also touches on broader infrastructural changes, calling for better ramps, accessible public spaces, and policies that cater to the needs of the people with disability. Dipti stresses that these changes are not just for those with physical disabilities but also for the elderly, who are often left out of conversations about accessibility and inclusion.

Dipti believes that the ultimate goal for any nation should not just be innovation and progress, but also inclusion. She envisions a Bharat (India) where every citizen, regardless of their physical abilities, can participate fully in society without facing unnecessary barriers. In this vision, public spaces, transportation systems, and educational institutions would all be accessible to everyone, ensuring that no one is left behind. Dipti recalls an experience on World Disability Day that left a lasting impression on her. She and several other differently-abled achievers were invited to an event to be honored for their accomplishments. However, to her dismay, the venue was completely inaccessible to people with disabilities. The lack of consideration for accessibility made her feel not only humiliated but also as though the entire event was nothing more than a superficial photo opportunity. In protest, Dipti refused to accept the award, determined to make a statement about the importance of true inclusion.

Her journey from being bedridden and unable to move to becoming a voice for the people with disability is a testament to her strength, resilience, and determination. Dipti’s life is not just a story of overcoming personal adversity but also a call for societal change. Through her advocacy and tireless work, she seeks to make the world a more inclusive place, where every individual, regardless of their challenges, can live their life to the fullest.

Dipti Dash’s life is a profound reminder that the human spirit, with the right support, can overcome even the most insurmountable obstacles. From her early struggles with a debilitating illness to her eventual triumphs in education and advocacy, Dipti’s story is one of transformation and hope. As she continues her work for better accessibility and inclusion, she remains an inspiring figure for all those who face challenges in their lives.

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