Creating awareness on disability issues

A preliminary net search reveals more than 25,000 foreign films and documentaries on disability issues are available to the audience through proper channel and distribution network.

But, in India, no proper information is available about films made on various issues of disabilities.

There are just 40 films (both Hindi and regional language) and 50 documentaries which are hardly available to the audience, including NGOs and professionals, who are working in the disability sector, as no proper channel and distribution network exists in India.

Only a few activities have been carried out by the members of the disability movement to break down barriers and misconceptions about them. Also, in India there is no fund available to help or create awareness on disability issues among the general masses.

Coming out with a new concept, Satish Kapoor started We Care Filmfest, which is just dedicated to films based on physically handicapped and specially-abled people.

Speaking to Metrolife, Kapoor, said, “The aim of the festival is to create awareness about disability through the medium of films and to foster integration and awareness in the society on this issue. Through films we want sensitise the youth across the globe.”

Creating awareness about physical and mental disabilities through the medium of films is a new concept in India, though the world over such festivals have been held before in various countries. Research shows that in most countries, the majority of children with disabilities do not even have a clue about their future and what they can do.

“So, I want every disabled child to see these films so that they can set their role models and chase their dreams like all of us. Audio-visual medium can provide opportunities for them to observe adults with disability undertaking a wide variety of activities, in effect, introducing them to many opportunities.”

“The atittude of the people is gradually changing,” observes Kapoor, adding, “Now people talk about autism in the their drawing rooms. And even Bollywood films like Black and Taare Zameen Par has helped to change the thinking, although, the Government needs to work on the infrastruture.

There are still places that are not accessible to physically challenged people.”