Discover an inspiring journey of thriving with quadriplegia. Learn how Access4all Foundation is driving accessibility and barrier-free travel across India.
Arvind Prabhoo
The beauty of life is that it never stops. Moreover, life is never linear. The outcomes, obstacles, and challenges should never stop you from embracing it. At 23, I met with a fatal accident, and I have never been the same. I sustained a C5 spinal cord injury that left me with quadriplegia. But I don’t let this narrative determine who I am. I didn’t let the accident limit my life. I have been fortunate that I had a lot of support from my family and friends to get me where I am today. But the incident that occurred 25 years ago made me realise I had to evolve, I couldn’t let it be my only identity.
There has been a fair share of struggles, too. At 23, when your mobility gets affected, you are dependent on others for simple tasks, and helplessness creeps in. There is a looming darkness over the future. It gets tough both mentally and physically. But was it the end? No. With medical support and rehabilitation, I was able to gain perspective. I observed other mobility aid users at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC) in Delhi, and that galvanised me to think beyond my disability. I decided to confront myself about my truth and limitations, and how I could use them in my stride. Slowly, I understood I couldn’t be who I was before, and hence I had to find a “new me”. A version that wouldn’t be restricted to what happened to me. If the world around me didn’t stop, why should I? We humans are designed for survival, and so am I.
Good moments in life seem fleeting, whereas bad moments feel like an eternity. Progress hasn’t come overnight. I had my good days and bad. In this volatile phase of my life, I happened to meet one of my closest support systems, Arvind Prabhoo, who also happened to be a wheelchair user. What drew me to him was his relentless spirit, which rubbed off on me steadily. My proximity to him made me realise I had to stop self-loathing. Pick up the pieces and carry on, no matter how badly crushed I was. I understood life is a river bending and curving, but never stopping. My friendship with Arvind was a turning point in my life. I no longer wanted to be a helpless quadriplegic reliant on others. I didn’t want sympathy for what happened to me at 23. I wanted my injury to shape my future just like everybody else. I wanted to dream and achieve things too. So I did. I met my wife, Sheetal, and together we independently oversaw over 1000+ employees at DAS offshore.
Real progress happens when you can help others in their journeys, as Arvind aided me in a difficult phase. Both Arvind and I realised that creating awareness about the needs of people with disabilities will encourage them not to restrict their lives. One of the things I missed after my injury was the ability to travel. The choice of going out or going on holiday. Thus, Access4all Foundation was born. It intends to make public transportation more accessible for people with mobility disabilities. A mobility aid should never take away your freedom. Only then would I be able to think of life beyond a wheelchair or any mobility aid.
The mindset needs to change. We have our disabilities and limitations, but we need to find a way around them. Arvind and I also organised the ‘Beyond Barriers- The Incredible India Tour. The tour was undertaken across 28 states, 40 Indian cities in 80 days. The travellers consisted of wheelchair users who wanted to gain exposure and evaluate the kind of facilities, transportation and accommodation at the popular tourist sites. What made this journey even more unique was that it was meant not just for wheelchair users, but also for people with other disabilities, like senior citizens who remain confined to homes, fearing their lack of ease of movement. We met our share of resistance where many thought we were undertaking more than we could handle, but then that’s life. When you can think beyond your obstacles, is when you stop fearing them.
We don’t need sympathies. We need civic amenities to empower us beyond our challenges. Tourism and recreational activities should be meant for all. An accident, a disability, or an injury shouldn’t restrict us when life has more to offer. Our mindset needs to change, and we need to be amalgamated into the mainstream with facilities. I realise change needs time, and we may have a long way to go, but we need to begin somewhere, and this is the beginning. I want my country to provide barrier-free travel for all. An inclusive society will take away a lot of trauma from people suffering from disabilities.
An injury, or an accident can’t take away what you deserve, and we all deserve our version of normal, happy and fulfilling. Having said that, it has to begin in your mind. When everything seems impossible, there is still a “Possible” hidden somewhere. You need to find it with a purpose. No matter how big or small, this will enable you to keep going. For me, it was to create a version that wasn’t defined by my disability. I had my fair share of “nay-sayers”, but I also had a tribe that helped me believe that life after an injury was possible, and it wasn’t just surviving. It was about thriving and sharing my story with people who weren’t ok with being limited to a condition.
Quadriplegia has given me pain, mental and physical, but it has made me fearless of the challenges in life. What I perceived as unthinkable after the accident has become a reality and took 25 years to get this far. I can’t begin to thank the people who stood by me and pushed me to where I am. The good thing is life never ends; it only shifts and evolves. You get to choose your reality, no matter how bleak it may seem.
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