Inaccessibility to public spaces prime barrier to dev of youths with disabilities

Inaccessibility to public spaces is the foremost barrier that frustrates the abilities and development of physically challenged youths, said a high official and persons with such disabilities at a scholarship distribution ceremony in the capital yesterday.

Existing buildings, establishments and transport systems lack the required facilities like ramps, wheelchairs and special toilets, said Department of Youth Development Director General Anwarul Karim.

Physically-challenged Development Foundation (PDF), a non-government organisation for mobilisation and development of people with special needs, organised the ceremony presenting scholarships, worth Tk 12,000 and Tk 18,000 a year, to 40 differently-abled university students. The number of recipients last year was 17.

Karim said his department was striving towards ensuring accessibility in all upcoming buildings and establishments and affluent businesses like banks should come forward with corporate social responsibility funds to help advance the cause.

Md Jahidul Islam, a youth with cerebral palsy working in advocacy at ActionAid, said he had to struggle hard since childhood to overcome social hostility.

"Don't think what you do not have; thrive on what you have," said artist Raguib Uddin Ahmed.

Advocate M Naser Alam, chief advisor to PDF, said they started the scholarship scheme with scarce resources, awarding just one Chittagong University student in 2012.

PDF Vice-President M Mamunur Rashid and Prof Ireen Akhtar of Jahangirnagar University were present.