DISABLED--THE INVISIBLE MINORITY!!

Persons with disabilities in Pakistan rarely appear on the priority list of any government policy, development plan, or program aimed at improving the quality of life of this marginalized ten percent of its population.
The disabled continue to remain an invisible minority at the bottom of the list of priorities. People with disabilities (PWDs) often do not even have the chance to get educated, so they can’t earn money. In the rural areas, PWDs are sometimes even hidden because it could be no good for the family’s reputation. PWDs are not fully accepted in civil society.

In a city where getting around is an exigent task for the average citizen, it is twice as hard for people with physical disabilities.  Those with disabilities often face  hardships, discrimination, and lack of basic access to infrastructure. The bitter truth is that government has not adequately addressed the needs of the disabled.
The PWDs face discrimination in daily life due to accessibility barrier all over Pakistan. May it be government buildings, public places, shopping malls, restaurants, or business houses; all have a flight of steep high stairs for accessibility PWDS are expected to squeeze through narrow openings, push open heavy doors with one hand while trying to move and steer their wheelchairs with the other
The transport system in the country is erratic and certainly not disabled friendly. In the west some buses usually have moving platforms to allow wheelchair to be pulled in. But unfortunately here in Pakistan there is no public transport which has the facility to make traveling easier for the PWDs.
I chose to talk about this issue because everyday someone with a disability is made fun of at school, on the street, in the workplace, even at home. And it's really disturbing for me!
I believe awareness needs to be brought to our society, a deeper understanding of what each person goes through who carries a disability with them. It's good to help with work, schooling and so on, but to pretend that everything else is fine, is naive and selfish. Not saying that helping with these things isn't good, it's great, but we need to dig deeper and find a way to stop the hate. Even if we can bring awareness to a few, it's a few more people who will show the dignity and respect to those who deserve and need it to feel good about themselves and their lives.
On another note, not all people with disabilities are born with them, which can be extremely hard to adjust with and can be very hard emotionally and sometimes physically. Do think about it!