Tag: #Empowerment

Special Occasion

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025: Building an Inclusive Tomorrow

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Dr. Vailanki Nazira Raposo (OT), Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy OPD 17, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Goa Medical College & Hospital, Bambolim

Every year on December 3rd, the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), dedicated to promoting understanding, dismantling barriers, and celebrating the resilience, talent, and contributions of individuals with disabilities. This day is not merely symbolic—it is a call to action for communities, institutions, and governments to ensure equal opportunities, access, and dignity for all.

Disability: A Matter of Rights, Not Sympathy
Modern approaches emphasize a rights-based perspective. Persons with disabilities are not objects of charity—they are individuals with potential, talents, and rights. Inclusion begins with shifting societal perceptions: from sympathy to respect, understanding, and partnership.

Access to education, employment, healthcare, and public life are fundamental rights. Upholding these rights allows individuals to lead fulfilling lives while enriching families, workplaces, and society at large.

Early Identification and Rehabilitation
Timely identification of developmental delays, neurological conditions, or physical disabilities ensures effective interventions. Professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, speech therapists, and educators guide families in assessment and support.

Occupational Therapy plays a pivotal role in enhancing independence, mobility, social participation, and quality of life. From children with developmental challenges to adults recovering from injury or elderly individuals experiencing age-related disability, OT empowers people to live meaningfully and confidently.

The Importance of Inclusion
Inclusion transcends physical accessibility—it embodies attitudes, opportunities, and acceptance. Inclusive communities:

  • Encourage equal participation in education, employment, sports, and culture
  • Recognize abilities beyond disabilities
  • Promote understanding of diversity from a young age
  • Foster policies and workplaces welcoming all abilities

Inclusion Begins in the Community
True progress occurs not only in hospitals but also in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Accessible infrastructure, inclusive educational systems, equitable employment practices, and community support are essential. Small interventions—ramps, clear signage, sensory-friendly classrooms—can have transformative effects.

The Power of Support and Understanding
Families navigating disability often face emotional, financial, and social challenges. A compassionate, supportive environment strengthens their journey. Community outreach, parent support groups, and school-based awareness programs build understanding and reduce stigma.

Towards a Future That Welcomes Everyone
As we observe December 3rd, let’s renew our commitment to an inclusive future—where accessibility is prioritized, rehabilitation services are strengthened, opportunities are equitable, and all individuals live with independence and dignity.

Inclusivity is not just policy—it is a culture that begins with awareness, compassion, and action.

Health

Occupational Therapy: Empowering Goans to Live Life Independently

Tanisha Cardozo

In Goa, where community care and compassion are woven into everyday life, health and independence carry deep meaning. For many Goans recovering from illness, injury, or disability, even simple tasks such as dressing, writing, or returning to work can become challenging. This is where Occupational Therapy plays a vital role, helping individuals rediscover their independence and quality of life through creativity, care, and science.

Occupational Therapy is a holistic healthcare profession that enables people to live meaningful lives by regaining the ability to perform everyday activities. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is not about finding employment but about engaging in daily occupations — the essential actions that bring purpose, such as self-care, learning, leisure, and work.

Occupational Therapists approach healing by focusing on the person as a whole — the body, mind, environment, and goals. Through purposeful activities, adaptive devices, and individualized exercise programs, they help people rebuild movement, coordination, confidence, and independence.

This dynamic field encompasses several areas, including orthopaedic rehabilitation, neurosciences, paediatrics and NICU care, mental health, geriatrics, oncology and palliative care, ergonomics, and community-based rehabilitation. Occupational Therapists serve across hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools, and community programs — supporting individuals of all ages.

This year’s World Occupational Therapy Day 2025 theme, “Occupational Therapy in Action: Transforming Lives, Building Communities,” captures the essence of this profession. In Goa, therapists like Dr. Vailanki Nazira Raposo at Goa Medical College exemplify this mission by working hand in hand with doctors, educators, and families to ensure holistic, patient-centred healing.

Occupational Therapy is more than treatment; it is empowerment. It is about enabling individuals to regain control, rebuild identity, and reconnect with their communities. As Goa continues to advance in healthcare, the contribution of occupational therapists remains vital — enabling independence, enhancing quality of life, and empowering Goans to live with dignity and purpose.