2009 June

DGM's Messages

2009

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RW DGM's MESSAGE FOR JUne 2009

LIMITED ACCESS

The other day I was watching a French Television Channel which is beamed to India, featuring the life story of a Moroccan teenager afflicted by a myelopathy of some kind, which renders him disabled. Amongst other things he is a poet and an activist in the cause of the differently abled, and carries his message on their behalf through many channels to several countries.

From this program I learnt some shocking facts – that about one in four of the world’s population suffers from some disability or the other, causing restrictions of one sort or the other, in movement. This obviously affects the sufferer’s quality of life, and indeed his or her access to education, employment and therefore empowerment.

Almost all countries of the developed and semi-developed (even the BRIC members) have legislation to protect the disabled and to provide assistance – wonderful in their intent and indeed content – but woefully ignored in practice and fulfillment.

To give one obvious example – there are very few public buildings in India which provide convenient access for the differently abled – although ramps and ground floor offices are to be provided by law, very rarely are these made available.

A young French I.T. entrepreneur himself differently abled has started a website www.jaccede.com to flag buildings and public places such as ATMs which provide wheel chair access, and other disabled-friendly facilities. Representatives for various towns and cities around the world are encouraged to log in such information to help the differently-abled to plan their visits when required. In India we know that Electricity Board offices and other Government establishments have offices on the first floor, or have access steps without ramps, making it difficult for the aged, infirm, or disabled to visit them in the routine conduct of their affairs.

I would encourage our Brother Masons in the various towns and cities to help with such logging of ‘access’ data on the available website/s and to help with lobbying for better access to public buildings for those with infirmities. We should constantly be on the qui vive for opportunities, as Freemasons, to make a difference, by adopting such practical modes of benevolence. Information is the first step to empowerment of all sorts, and how much more decisive it is in the case of the differently abled. Go to it, Brethren !