Transitions to adulthood for young people with disabilities in India: current status and emerging prospects
Abstract
In 2001, it is estimated that 270 million Indians belonged in the 12-24 years age group. While attention is being focused on these young people’s potential for social transformation, some of them - such as those with disabilities - remain alienated from mainstream debates on development. It may be estimated that there are somewhere between 5 and 5.5 million persons with disabilities in the 12-24 years age group, hence, a significant minority. However, little is known about how they and those around them make sense of their lives and perceive their transitions to adulthood, as their surrounding milieu is transformed. This paper adapts the framework of transitions proposed by the World Bank’s ‘World Development Report 2007’, to examine opportunities for young people with disabilities in the areas of learning, work and citizenship. The authors draw on existing literature and secondary data to analyse the lived experiences of young people with disabilities. What are their prospects in a time of optimism for Indian youth?
Citation
Singal, N.; Jeffery, R. Transitions to adulthood for young people with disabilities in India: current status and emerging prospects. Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal (2009) 20 (1) 15-40.
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