NEED INPUT
Enabling careers for youth with disabilities
Constituting 2.21% (26.8 million) of the Indian population as per the census of 2011, their struggles and challenges remain shrouded in invisibility.
India has always fostered the spirit of diversity and inclusion in the deep trenches of its soil. The unifying threads of respect and acceptance have bound together people – of differing faiths, languages and cultures – into a harmonious coexistence. However, the gaze of ableism has shrunk the discourse on disability. People with disability face a life of harsh social stigma and isolation. Without recognition and accessibility in society, they remain confined to the four walls of their houses, facing discrimination and harassment from every corner.
Rekindling light and hope in communities that have long been ostracised from the mainstream, Capgemini is spearheading a change movement through the Digital Inclusion programme. Born out of the pressing need to create awareness towards the plight of persons with disabilities and to build a compassionate society sensitive to their struggles, the programme aims to break the attitudinal, institutional and organisational barriers that impede them from living a wholesome life.
“It is our conviction that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment makes for a more resilient, agile, and successful company.”
Capgemini’s Digital Inclusion works in tandem with Youth4Jobs and EduBridge in supporting educated youth with disabilities (be it locomotor disabilities, speech and hearing impairment, partial visual impairment, or any other disability) by enabling their equal participation in the public sphere through skills training and access to a career in technology. The programme is dedicated to facilitating their emotional well-being and nurturing a safe environment for these youth to live and work with independence and integrity sans judgement. Identifying that real change can only be achieved by eradicating the societal attitude towards disability, the programme also highlights sensitisation workshops at the organisational level to build awareness among the employees towards the needs of persons with disabilities.
Overcoming all odds, Chandan did not let his physical disability stand in his way and went on to pursue his education with dreams and hopes. Unfortunately, when he started applying for jobs, he faced a series of rejections from many employers because of his disability. His repeated unsuccessful attempts to find a job made him feel like he had failed. Having lost all hope and confidence in himself, he began feeling apprehensive about his future. During this turbulent phase, his sister’s conviction and support made him wish to persevere and undertake the necessary training (technical skills, employability skills and life skills) that could aid in his desire to become self-sufficient.
Chandan J R
Digital Inclusion for Youth With Disabilities
“When we visited the Centre, I felt that my disability didn’t matter to the team at all. It was a sign that I had made a good decision to enrol there. The training was great and the methods that the team used made us all want to go back the next day. It was very interactive, and with all the activities that we were made to do, my confidence in myself increased. I pushed harder with the team’s support, and I am very happy that I can now communicate well in English. This one step that I took totally changed my life in all aspects. I can attend any type of interview now without feeling demotivated about people’s attitudes. I was taught to highlight my skills and why an employer should hire me over anybody else without any judgement. I got placed at Genisys India Pvt Ltd. as a KBL Processor, and my family is very proud. Thanks to EduBridge for all their support and motivation. I now feel that I can grow and don’t have to settle for lesser things in life just because I am disabled.”
“One of the most prominent challenges surrounding disability is that they are perceived as liabilities. Their morale and confidence are low because society looks at them as someone who cannot. The shift that we have to bring about, primarily, is to provide them with the necessary tools and instil in them the confidence that will enable them to move from this attitude of cannot to can. When they get a job and start earning, they move from being a liability to becoming an asset in their families, to becoming a person with a voice… The broader problem is that the education levels of youth with disabilities are very low. Even if they join schools, they end up dropping out because of a lack of understanding towards disability that exists at the institutional level. When they are seen as liabilities, even families do not encourage them to pursue education. With about 80% of the world’s disabled population living in developing countries like India, there is a need to prepare institutions to become inclusive.”
Drawing its strength from its diverse workforce, Capgemini’s vision is strongly aligned towards creating an inclusive ecosystem that promotes equal opportunities for all.
