Pollution affects disabled people very differently. Govt advisories are ableist

For persons with mobility impairments, particularly those with cerebral palsy, locomotor disabilities, and high support requirements, air pollution is a logistical nightmare.

Did you read the Delhi government’s advisory on staying indoors during this pollution spike and think, “That’s good advice, I can relate”? Well, as a disabled person, I didn’t. 

While children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses were advised to stay indoors, there was no mention of persons with disabilities who already live with respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and navigate the world with compromised mobility, weak immunity, breathing problems, and other health challenges.

Persons with disabilities have 10-15 years shorter life expectancies than non-disabled individuals, primarily due to inaccessible healthcare and pervasive inequalities. When compounded with the devastating impact of air pollution, which can reduce the life expectancy in cities like Delhi by up to 12 years, the result is a health crisis that disproportionately affects the disabled community. The health risks associated with toxic air add to the burden of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for persons with disabilities, who are already at a disadvantage. Does this mean we are losing nearly half of our lives simply because of the intersection of our disabilities and the environment we inhabit?

Navigating a polluted world with a disability

In India, there are approximately 15 lakh people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI), with about 20,000 new cases added each year. For persons with mobility impairments, particularly those with cerebral palsy, locomotor disabilities, and high support requirements, air pollution is a logistical nightmare. Every breath outdoors with the AQI crossing 500 poses health risks. Pre-existing breathing difficulties, weak cough reflex, and swallowing challenges make PwDs more susceptible to conditions like aspiration pneumonia and lung infections. Pollutants aggravate chronic inflammation, worsen neurological conditions like seizures, and strain already compromised immune systems. These invisible barriers are compounded by a lack of accessible public transport, further restricting mobility and making it even harder to avoid polluted areas.

For the hearing impaired individuals, air pollution not only affects their health but also erodes their ability to communicate, especially for those who do not use sign language. While wearing a mask has become a common practice due to severe air pollution, for deaf individuals, this makes it difficult to communicate through facial expressions, which are vital for sign language and lip reading. Eye irritation caused by pollutants disrupts vision, their only reliable sense to access public places safely, leaving them confused and disoriented.

Cognitive and developmental disabilities such as autism present unique challenges in this polluted world. Poor air quality exacerbates allergies, affects our ability to focus, and disrupts routines. Children and adults alike experience irritability and sensory overload because of the pollution. In more extreme cases, the constant exposure to poor air quality leads to meltdowns. For families, this creates an ongoing cycle of anxiety, as routines are constantly upended by the ever-changing air quality and its effects on health.

For those with chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis, air pollution aggravates symptoms, leading to joint pain, headaches, and cognitive fog. Every symptom intensifies in this toxic environment, making it harder to manage day-to-day tasks. Whether it’s the constant fatigue from breathing in polluted air or the mental fog that makes it difficult to concentrate, pollution affects our daily life in many ways.

The psychological impact of air pollution is often overlooked. For individuals with severe anxiety disorders, the constant fear of exposure to pollutants can be debilitating. The panic of being trapped in a crowded, polluted space may trigger full-blown anxiety attacks. Sometimes, anxiety about the long-term health effects of pollution can become overwhelming, often leading to sleeplessness for many people with mental health disabilities.

An inclusive health infrastructure

In 2021, air pollution–related ailments claimed nearly 21 lakh lives in India. Yet, there is no data on the deaths of disabled people during public health emergencies. When air pollution levels rise, the advice is simple: stay indoors, limit exposure to air pollutants, and wear a mask. But for us, it’s not as easy as it sounds. 

The protective measures many take for granted—air purifiers, masks, public transport, or even basic healthcare—are often out of reach. Many disabled people are trapped in a vicious cycle of disability and poverty. The high cost of living with a disability makes essential safety tools and resources inaccessible, especially since these are not designed with our unique needs in mind. 

Worse, when health risks skyrocket during pollution events, persons with disabilities are forced to navigate an even more shocking landscape. Health insurance, a safety net for many, remains largely inaccessible to us. High premiums, rejection due to pre-existing conditions, and an outright lack of disability-inclusive coverage effectively excludes us from a system meant to provide security. 

This systemic exclusion is rubbed more in the face when you consider that even India’s flagship healthcare scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), leaves us behind. According to a survey conducted by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), over 80 per cent of disabled individuals lack health insurance. Not because we don’t need it, but because we are not seen as deserving of it. At a time when health risks are high, we are not even given a seat at the table. 

We need to demand that health schemes like PM-JAY make the inclusion of people with disabilities non-negotiable. Equal access to protection and care is not just necessary—it is our right, especially when it matters the most.