Pune: While highlighting persistent gaps in access to government policies and schemes for persons with disabilities, often compounded by limited visibility of such issues, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) on Tuesday called for deeper engagement with the media to amplify disability narratives and drive inclusive change.
Applauding the media’s critical role in shaping public discourse and influencing policy action, the organisation emphasised the importance of a collaborative partnership to bring disability issues into sharper national focus. On the occasion, NCPEDP also organized a sensitisation program for a first-of-its-kind Media Toolkit on Disability Reporting, aimed at supporting Maharashtra journalists with practical guidance, language frameworks and story ideas to enable more informed and sensitive coverage.
The call for greater engagement comes against the backdrop of recent findings from a baseline study on the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in Maharashtra. The study reveals that only 26% of persons with disabilities are employed, while 56% remain unaware of the Act. Just 6% find public transport accessible, and nearly 50% lack regular access to healthcare. These findings highlight that while policy intent is strong, achieving last-mile impact will require greater awareness and more proactive engagement.
The toolkit is designed to address this need by equipping media professionals with tools to better understand disability rights, highlight lived experiences, and report on systemic challenges as well as positive change. It also provides insights into evolving concepts such as the social model of disability, inclusive language, and the importance of representation.
Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP, said: “Media is one of the most powerful enablers of social change. When disability is reported with depth, sensitivity and continuity, it not only builds awareness but also drives accountability and policy action. This toolkit is an effort to support journalists in telling these stories more effectively and consistently.”
“Our recent study shows that awareness and access are closely linked: when people know their rights, they are better able to claim them. Media can play a transformative role in bridging this gap by bringing both challenges and solutions into public conversation,” he added.
The baseline study had highlighted that awareness of the RPwD Act in Maharashtra remains uneven, and access to benefits and services varies across regions and disability categories. It also highlighted the importance of strengthening communication channels, community outreach and institutional coordination to improve outcomes.
By bringing together insights from the study and the practical realities of reporting, the toolkit seeks to create a more enabling ecosystem where disability issues are covered not just episodically, but as an integral part of development, governance and social justice narratives.
The initiative also encourages closer engagement between media, civil society and policymakers to ensure that emerging issues, ranging from accessibility and employment to healthcare and social security, receive sustained attention and lead to informed action.
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