The Disability Rights Movement in India: Its Origin, Methods of Advocacy, Issues and Trends

Abstract

A number of social movements took place during the second half of the 20th century in India. These included the women’s movement, environmental movement, Dalit movement, etc. One such movement was the disability rights movement which originated during the late 1980s. This chapter discusses the emerging trends and issues covered as a part of the disability rights movement as well as the methods of advocacy adopted by the activists of this movement following the Persons with Disabilities Act, India (1995). This chapter includes a brief comparative analysis of the disability rights movement in India by situating it in the context of the broader disability rights movement at the international level in the post–Americans with Disabilities Act period.