Disability and Sustainable Development: Why Inclusion Must Be at the Heart of India’s Future

Holla Amigos!

As a physiotherapist, I’ve worked with countless patients, but one case left an unforgettable impression on me.

A 20-year-old student once came to me with a spinal disc extrusion that had led to severe stenosis. He could not walk, stand, or sit for more than 15 minutes. Advised surgery, he was forced to drop out of college because the classrooms had no disabled-friendly seating or ramps. His evening job, too, became impossible — not because of his condition alone, but because the workplace lacked basic accessibility. During his rehabilitation, he often told me:

“India is not designed for people like us.”

Through consistent, non-surgical rehabilitation that I personally guided over three to four months, he gradually returned to his college and part-time work. But his words stayed with me. His disability did not come only from his spine — it came from a society that fails to adapt.

This case is not an exception — it reflects the reality of millions of people in India living with spine-related or neurological disabilities. While their conditions can often be managed with rehabilitation, what truly disables them is the lack of supportive infrastructure and awareness.

Public spaces, colleges, and workplaces are rarely designed with accessibility in mind. Ramps, ergonomic seating, elevators, and even accessible washrooms are either absent or poorly maintained. This leaves people with mobility issues excluded from education, employment, and social life, even when they are physically capable of participating with the right support. Rehabilitation, too, is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. Families spend enormous amounts on surgery when simple physiotherapy could restore independence at a fraction of the cost.

The way forward must be two-fold: medical rehabilitation and social inclusion. On the medical side, we need greater awareness that spine and neurological conditions do not always require surgical intervention. Affordable, structured physiotherapy can restore independence and reduce the financial burden on families. Training young professionals in evidence-based, non-surgical rehabilitation is key to expanding access, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where options are limited.

On the social side, disability inclusion must move from token charity to structural change. Colleges and workplaces must adopt universal design — ramps, accessible seating, elevators, and flexible learning or work arrangements. Awareness campaigns can help dismantle the stigma that still surrounds disability in India, where people are often defined by their limitations rather than their potential.

The young student I treated eventually returned to his college and work — but not because the system supported him. It was only through months of rehabilitation and his own determination that he regained his independence. His journey is a reminder that disability is not just a personal struggle, but a reflection of how inclusive — or exclusive — our society chooses to be.

If India truly wants sustainable development, it must expand its vision to include those who are currently invisible. Rehabilitation should be recognized as a right, not a privilege. Accessibility should be built into every classroom, workplace, and public space. And dignity must sit at the heart of all policies, so that no one is left behind simply because of their body.

Sustainability is not only about the environment or economy — it is about building systems that empower every individual to contribute. A nation that leaves millions behind cannot truly progress. Change will not happen overnight, but it can begin with conversations, awareness, and collective responsibility. Every ramp built, every therapy session made affordable, and every policy that centers inclusion takes us one step closer to a society where sustainability means progress for all.

"Part of the problem is that we tend to think that equality is about treating everyone the same, when it’s not. It’s about fairness. It’s about equity of access.” – Judith Heumann

In solidarity for inclusion,

Saloni