There are a number of hurdles differently abled individuals face in their day to day life, be it in public spaces, buildings or in the form of the attitude of other people towards them. They face difficulty in getting education and then further getting employment. According to International Labour Organisation (ILO), 15% of the world population is differently abled, and out of this 80%, i.e. 785 million are of working age. Differently abled individuals face many difficulties finding employment, the biggest reasons behind that are the lack of infrastructure and the lack of facilities provided for them.
There is a wide array of jobs differently abled individuals can opt for. However, they’re often discouraged due to the lack of understanding and the number of problems they face in society every day. This situation can be improved by a little accommodation from employers and government, like providing and improving transportation for specially abled employees. According to 2011 Census, 55% individuals were literate of the total 1.46 crore differently abled populations. The report also states that 36% of the differently abled population was employed. They can also organize workshops in workplaces to make all employees understand about types of disabilities and how they should act around differently abled individuals, especially when they face difficulties or face health issues. A little effort from the society’s side can make a huge difference for differently abled individuals in workplaces, and they can comfortably choose any kind of job they want.
What jobs can differently abled individuals pursue?
There are a number of jobs differently abled individuals can pursue. These jobs can be based on what disability these people have. There multiple such jobs, such as-
For visually impaired-
- Teacher- individuals with visual impairment can easily become teachers or professors; all they have to do is qualify the exams to become a teacher. They can pursue the subject they have interest in and then get degrees such as B.Ed., PhD.
- Musician- It is often said that individuals who can’t see have a heightened sense of hearing. Individuals with visual impairments can become musicians, or singers owing to their sharp ears. They can choose to play instruments and mix music too for a career.
- Physical Therapist- Individuals who are visually impaired are good at detecting shapes and objects with their hands. They can do wonders if they choose physical therapy as a profession, since they can easily detect issues such as lumps in the body. There are also many blind nurses being hired these days to detect small lumps in bodies for signs of cancer.
For physically impaired-
- Software developer- Physically impaired individuals can become software, web or app developers as they can work on computers customized to their preference. The work doesn’t even require commuting as people can work from home for this.
- Administrative Services- In India, there are special considerations for differently abled people in Administrative Services. A physically impaired person can apply for UPSC, or their state’s administrative services. The job is extremely respectable and well paying too.
- Accountant- They can become accountants and then handle individual or company accounts. All a person has to know is finances and they should be good with numbers. Company accountants earn well and handle all money related matters for the company.
For hearing impaired-
- Social Media Marketing- A very popular job right now is that of Social Media Marketing. A small online course is enough to get a job in SMM. All companies are now targeting social media users to grab attention, and that is exactly what Social Media Managers have to do.
- Content creator- Writing without any disturbance in the background is bliss and hence, individuals who can’t hear can do it perfectly. People who have a flair for writing can start their own blog, or write for a website or media house.
- Graphic Designer- Creative people can get into art and pursue careers like graphic designing. It requires designing logos; websites etc. and a graphic designer should have complete knowledge of colour palettes and should know how to work with platforms such as coral draw etc.
For people with learning disabilities-
- Video Editor- individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities have been found to have a better sense of colour and picture alignment. Video editing requires having a good idea of video sequences, without making them look broken. individuals with learning disabilities can become video editors for event planners, YouTube channels or TV shows.
- Painter- Painting and creating art gives a sense of calm to people with learning disabilities. It also helps them focus and it has also been seen that these people have a better sense when it comes to colours and art. There are multiple art classes, plus there are also tutorials online now on how to draw and paint. They can further teach others or
- Photographer- individuals with learning disabilities can learn how to work with a camera anywhere. There are professional classes, and many just learn on their own how to operate a camera. Individuals can work with photo studios, media houses, and news channels etc. as photographers.
The author of the article Mr. Prashant Agarwal is the president of Narayan Seva Sansthan, a non-profit organization serving differently able and underprivileged individuals.
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