“How do I find a way to integrate education, social interactions, and empowerment at my workplace?” This question prompted Dr. Deepthi to join the inaugural batch of our Community-Based Inclusive Development training course three years ago. As an MD specialized in community medicine, she was driven by her commitment to fostering inclusion and understanding ways of implementing accessibility in her professional sphere.
“In my work, I observed several areas where we can improve care for persons with disabilities, particularly when it comes to providing sensitive services. For example, ensuring barrier-free environments is crucial,” she says.
Our training proved to be a transformative experience for Dr. Deepthi, providing her with a strong foundation for creating inclusive and accessible healthcare facilities.
Through the course, I gained a better understanding of the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities in accessing healthcare and learned how to establish disability clinics in hospital settings.
Following her participation in our training program, Dr. Deepthi seamlessly integrated her newfound knowledge and skills into her daily practice at the hospital where she works. She says, “At our Primary Health Centers, we started screening children under two years old for developmental delays and trained ASHA workers on this. We also initiated screening newborns for congenital anomalies, so that we could ensure timely reporting and necessary treatments.”
Beyond these impactful changes, Dr. Deepthi sheds light on a critical aspect often overlooked: the double discrimination faced by women with disabilities in accessing healthcare. Through her interactions with patients, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges women with disabilities face that often go beyond the physical accessibility of the infrastructure. She highlights, “When women with disabilities arrive at the hospital, there is often the issue of inadequate privacy. Additionally, doctors tend to address the concerns of the caregivers rather than directly engaging with the women with disabilities themselves.”
Currently serving as Associate Professor at the ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR and Model Hospital in Bengaluru, Dr. Deepthi continues her commitment to inclusive healthcare practices.
Along with her colleagues and team, she has undertaken research projects aimed at improving the quality of life and screening processes for persons with disabilities and has compiled a comprehensive curriculum for medical students based on certain disability competencies provided by the Medical Council of India. The curriculum has been successfully implemented and the methodologies are currently followed by the second batch of medical students. She says, “I am happy to see that these students have a better understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities, accessibility needs, and their role as future doctors when treating persons with disabilities.”
