The 18th International Wheelchair Day was observed in Kathmandu on Sunday with a focus on rights related to spinal injury and issues of accessibility.
According to Esha Thapa, executive director of the Spinal Injury Association Nepal, the day was marked with a special event at Bhrikuti Mandap. The association has been continuously observing the day in Nepal since 2012.
This year’s main theme is “Wheelchair-accessible Nepal, independent life and equality are our rights.”
According to the association, the primary objective of the campaign is to build an accessible Nepal. It has emphasized that accessibility requires not only structural reforms but also a shift in society's mindset and perspective.
The organizers said that the day was observed as a joint campaign in collaboration with various organizations working in the disability sector. Around 270 people from various organizations in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur attended the event.
A procession was also organized on the occasion. The procession began at Bhrikuti Mandap and went around Tundikhel.
According to the association, there are plans to mark the day at the provincial level in the coming years by involving wheelchair users from all seven provinces.
Preparations are underway to expand the campaign with the goal of making public places and structures in all seven provinces accessible. The association noted that although sufficient studies and research on accessibility and disability have been conducted in Nepal, they have not been implemented effectively. It expressed confidence that applying available research in practice would further strengthen the campaign to build an accessible Nepal.
