Accessible Tourism In India

Accessible Tourism in India designs field experiences and feedback sessions that bring Hoteliers, Tour Operators, Restaurant Owners, Shopping Mall and store owners and Physically Challenged Individuals with a variety of disabilities together.
This assists the decision makers. This is extremely meaningful because:

- it centers disabled people and their lived experience
- it doesn't reduce the experience of disability to adaptive equipment
- it provides a fuller experience of not only the barriers, but the ways disabled people use and move through a space
- it builds leadership, connection, and value
- it gives opportunity for conversation and feedback
- it builds empathy based on actual experiences

Disability is a culture and a way of experiencing the world. You can never understand that by pretending to be disabled for a day.

Get in touch if You, your organization is interested in creating a Disabled-friendly experience together!

Accessible Tourism in India
9833888413

A disability does not make an Individual less worthy of all the good things. ✨🦽✨

✨🦽✨ The Society needs to Understand,Adapt, Innovate to meet the needs the Citizens with Special Requirements ✨🦽✨

How To Assist The Visually Challenged - Blind Individual ?
~ By Harish Thakur,
26 Mar 2025

If You Are Sighted, this is a must read!
“Never grab someone who is blind or has low vision. “

This happens to almost every one living with blindness or low vision, and it needs to stop!

🚫 DO NOT DO THIs! 👇🏽🚫

Imagine this scenario:
A Blind person, standing at a crosswalk, when suddenly a sighted person grabs the arm and starts pulling or pushing him/her across the street, often without even speaking to the visually challenged individual. This is not helpful!
In fact, it’s dangerous.

Why grabbing is a problem!
It puts the Visually challenged - Blind person at risk.
You take away his ability to navigate safely with his cane, making it harder for him to detect uneven pavement, steps, or obstacles.
A sudden pull or push can disorient him directionally or can cause falls or collisions.

It’s disrespectful to grab anyone.

If someone grabbed a sighted person without consent, it would be considered assault.Why should it be any different for someone who is blind?

The Visually challenged, Blind and Person with Low Vision, deserve the same respect and bodily autonomy as anyone else.

It can be terrifying, Imagine walking alone in the dark on a foggy day when someone suddenly grabs you. You can’t see their face or intentions, only a shadowy figure making physical contact without warning. For the Blind and Visually challenged, traveling alone, this can be deeply unsettling.

How to offer assistance in the Right √ way..

First Introduce yourself and ask if help is needed.

Example: "Hi, Mera naam Shyam hai, Would you like help crossing the street?"

Sharing your name allows the Physically Challenged individual to make a connection with you since they can’t identify you visually.

Respect the Answer of the Visually Challenged Person.

If they decline help, don’t take it personally, not everyone requires help.

Please note “No” today doesn’t mean your offer won’t be appreciated another time.

Always Offer Assistance - *Hamesha Help Offer Kijiye*

Some of the Visually Challenged individuals are independent travelers and may not need assistance. Sometimes they need to just figure it out , for themselves as there won’t always be someone around to assist.

If a Blind - Visually challenged person SAID YES, then - ask how he/she prefers to be helped as we are all different from each other.

"Main Aap ko Kahaan Tak Company doon .."

" Aap kaun sa Office/ Building search kar rahein hain ".

Example: "How can I best assist you?"

Everyone has different abilities and preferences, so always follow the lead.
Some may prefer verbal directions, others may choose to take your arm rather than be pulled and some of visually challenged may want to follow.

The Bottom Line..
Never grab anyone, especially someone who is blind or has low vision. It’s not helpful, it’s not safe, and it’s not respectful. A simple ask goes a long way in making sure your help is actually helpful.

Let’s create a world where accessibility is about dignity, not force.

Harish Thakur
Disability Awareness Educator..

Accessible Tourism in India offers workshops- teaching the best practices for respectful interactions with those of us who navigate life differently.

Photo Description.:
Someones white cane is touching the yellow trunk domes at the intersection while they wait to cross.

Elections & People with Special Requirements
~ By Harish Thakur ( 5th Apr 2024 )

The biggest democracy, our motherland 🇮🇳India will be Voting to Elect a Government in the next few weeks.

A big problem that stops people with disabilities from voting is that many things aren't Easy for them to use.

The places where you vote, the papers you vote on, the machines you use to vote, and the information you get.

The right to vote is important
to empower and INCLUDE physically challenged citizens in the Society.

When people with disabilities are not able to vote there are many issues that follow.

Lack of opportunity and participation from people with disabilities.

Lack of representation of
the disability community in politics.

No Education Or Awareness about need's of Physically Challenged Citizens.

Discrimination, Prejudice, No Intent and Interest to Provide a better lifestyle for the disabled.

Representatives that Advocate for
Rights of people with disabilities,
needs and interests are not elected.

Prevents people with disabilities from deciding on policies and measures affecting their lives.

Lack of Opportunity, innovation and Support in Education and Employment for Physically Challenged Citizens will lead to a weak, vulnerable Society.

Accessible Tourism in India is working on providing accessible information about elections.

Email : [email protected]