Why public spaces in India are a minefield for children with intellectual disabilities

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:57:41 +0000

Hello,Most of us hardly think twice about the process of taking a journey on a bus, or train or plane. We are familiar with the steps involved and usually navigate them without too much difficulty.To a young person with an intellectual disability, however, these experiences, and others in public spaces, are often confusing and frightening. The sensory stimuli they encounter can overwhelm them, causing them to react in panic.As their families often find, the challenge of keeping the children calm is frequently exacerbated by the fact that public spaces are rarely designed with any thought to the needs of those with these disabilities. Further, many people they encounter in the course of moving through public spaces treat the children with outright hostility."The public has made things harder for them because of which they are confined to their own homes," said Johanna Deeksha, who spoke to parents in several cities who have children with intellectual disabilities. "Nobody was concerned enough to address their children's needs which were not that many – quiet spaces, safer equipment."She added, "If authorities were to make spaces inclusive, I think it would benefit everybody. We cannot abandon parents with children with special needs. We need to see them and hear them."You can read her story here.