An Incredible Way to Instill Inclusion

Last week, I went to the mall and had to stop at a children's shop. The first thing that caught my attention was this barbie box. Without any hesitation, I stopped and watched this amazing manifestation of inclusion. It is so incredible to integrate persons with disabilities into the toys because these are the first instruments of socialization for children. When a child looks at a Barbie in a wheelchair, they would normalize it when they grow up. The imprint of toys on a child's mind is unmatchable, and the promotion of inclusion through toys makes me so happy. 

It is very important for the children to know that people use wheelchairs because of different reasons. I came across many children who thought my wheelchair was a car, or an object of amusement, and what disturbed me was the fact that the parents were unable to explain the normalcy of people in wheelchairs. They could not explain why I was in a wheelchair, and just skipped the topic with an apology. I did not need an apology. The behavior was a secondary problem whereas I was more concerned with the background of the way the child behaved. It was the lack of awareness. 

Time and again, there has been a row about diversity and inclusion. The core of diversity is normalizing the existence of certain sections of society. Persons with disabilities have different needs. They are not like "normal people" and instead of walking, they move around in a wheelchair. Now, it is a simple fact of existence.

On the same outing to the mall, many people stared at me. Like I was an alien, or something they haven't seen before. It is not a new problem for me, but it will be a huge issue for someone who has gathered the courage to come out of their home for the first time in a wheelchair. I have been there. Those shoes are not comfortable at all. When people look at you distinctively, you are bound to get uncomfortable, and it may leave an everlasting impact on your mind. It happened to me but I was lucky enough to pull through. However, it may not the case with everyone. Let me paint you a picture. You are casually moving around the mall in your wheelchair, and people passes by. It's normal, right? But, no. Someone decides to stop and stare before passing by. Not a glance, a proper stare knowing it is noticable. You end up looking at yourself and trying to find something odd about your demeanor. Nothing is wrong. The only thing that stands out for the people who like to stare is the wheelchair. I am talking about the adults, let alone the children.

The fact that there is a Barbie in a wheelchair is going to make the children think of it as normal, or even glamorous. Change comes when the younger generation alters its perception, and despite the petite nature of this move, it will bring a positive change. 

There is one thing that people should remember when they stare at someone in a wheelchair publicly, you are making them uncomfortable. They might not look at you and give  any attention but they notice. Let them be. 

The wheelchair is not a big deal. They do not enjoy being in it; they are using it because they cannot move around otherwise. Independent living is a huge challenge already. Please do not contribute to making it even more difficult.