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.
