Inclusiv'e Voices

Inclusiv'e Voices with Shikha Uma Agarwal

Meet Shikha Uma Agarwal, a lawyer by profession and a wheelchair user in her late 30s, residing in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. She holds a B.Com and B.A. LLB degree and is currently pursuing a diploma in Mergers & Acquisitions.

Shikha enjoys experimenting with cooking and creating her own versions of recipes. She also takes pleasure in writing book reviews and finds joy as a decor enthusiast in creating and re-creating corners of her home, finding solace in the process. Shikha openly admits to being a chatterbox and has a fondness for clicking photos of her surroundings, particularly those filled with nature or food.

Despite facing challenges in using a wheelchair due to poliomyelitis and scoliosis, Shikha generously shares her perspectives on accessibility, reasonable accommodations, and the hurdles she encounters in her hybrid private job.

Shikha's understanding of Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation:

Shikha believes that accessibility is the extent to which a person has access to basic rights, needs, and facilities. She understands that accessibility requirements vary from person to person, as different standards need to be made available based on individual needs. This necessitates a comprehensive analysis of existing barriers that hinder people in their basic accessibility rights. Additionally, for her, reasonable accommodations are the essential tools that provide equity in employment opportunities, enabling disabled individuals to carry out their duties and perform incidental functions related to their jobs without encountering undue hardship or discrimination.

Speaking specifically about her reasonable accommodation needs, Shikha says, "As a wheelchair user, my reasonable accommodation is the availability of usable and quality elevators/lifts/ramps for easy access to the infrastructure, washrooms with wide doors along with reasonable height of WC and basin, food serving desks/counters to have reasonable height, and self-service tea/coffee counters to have ingredients placed at reasonable heights."

One of the most significant challenges in accessibility and reasonable accommodation is the lack of proper infrastructure, which hinders Shikha's movement inside the workplace. This encompasses the absence or poor condition of lifts/elevators and ramps, inconvenient restrooms, and tea/coffee break areas that are not designed to cater to wheelchair users, making it difficult for them to access. While these are tangible examples, other factors that contribute to the lack of accessibility or fulfillment of basic needs for disabled people take an intangible form. These factors include the absence of proper training/education for stakeholders or other designated/responsible individuals,as well as the general thought process of people (abled ones) who may not consider disabled individuals as part of the group and fail to understand their unique requirements.

By acknowledging an individual's needs and working on both physical and attitudinal barriers, we can build a world that embraces diversity and empowers every individual to thrive. Shikha's voice serves as a reminder that creating accessibility is a collective responsibility, and together, we can forge a more compassionate and inclusive world for all.

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