Day 6 – Observations on inclusiveness

I had two experiences over a trip to Delhi, coincidently both around inclusiveness.

Over coffee at the airport, my colleague narrated an incident where he had invited a group of HIV-affected* children to perform while planning a company-wide employee family event. He later decided not to have them at the event, due to much discussion over the ‘risk’ this would expose employees and their families to. Instead, he later organized a visit to their institution with a few interested employees.

We stayed at Lemon Tree hotel in Delhi. At breakfast the next morning, I heard a loud shuffling as a waiter walked past me. I looked up to this scene. A very pleasant and patient waiter, was transferring a tray of plates to the shuffling waiter, whom I recognized as being affected by Down’s syndrome. The waiter with Down’s syndrome tried to pick up the stack of plates, but was not able to. He then held his hands out, and his colleague lifted the stack of plates and put them into his arms, and he took them into the kitchen.**

How organizations, or people in every situations handle inclusiveness is purely based on attitude. In the first instance, it is an attitude of self-protection, closed and ‘safe’ in the way things are. In the second, it is an attitude of openness, where interpersonal skills and social learning define the way things are.

Many organizations mention activities where they visit NGOs and other institutions in inclusiveness reports. This is not inclusiveness, when you leave your safe space to play with ‘them’ in a limited-risk and time-bound experience. Inclusiveness is when you open your environment to people with special abilities, or from differing backgrounds, and importantly, change the environment for them to make it better for everyone.

 

*HIV-affected – this term doesn’t always mean HIV-infected; it also covers those who are related to someone who is infected, and the stigma carries on into their lives. HIV does not transfer over casual contact, shaking hands or hugging.  

**Note on Down’s syndrome – Lemon Tree hotels refers to people with Down’s syndrome as ‘happy people’ because of their unshakeable cheerfulness. Weak muscle tone and loose ligaments are often a problem for them, so picking up the tray was difficult for the waiter. His colleague understood this and put the tray into his hands. Physical motor coordination also works differently, hence the shuffling gait. The restaurant manager I spoke to says 15% of their employees are differently-abled, and all their employees know sign language.