Narratives of Change: Green Disability – A Personal Journey
by Puneet Singhal
I was born in a slum in Delhi, India, a place where life is a daily struggle against the forces of poverty, pollution, and societal neglect. The air was thick with smog, and the scarcity of clean drinking water was a constant reminder of the harsh realities we faced. Growing up amidst these challenges was not just a test of resilience but a battle for survival. But for me, the adversities were compounded by something less visible but equally suffocating—my non-apparent disabilities. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Stammering were constant companions in a world already hostile due to the violence at home and the relentless grip of poverty.
As a child, navigating the crowded, chaotic streets of Delhi was an ordeal. The lack of accessible infrastructure made every outing a daunting task. My motor coordination difficulties due to Dyspraxia turned simple activities like crossing the road or climbing stairs into Herculean challenges. Stammering added another layer of difficulty, making communication a nerve-wracking experience in a society that often views disabilities with ignorance and stigma.
The pollution in Delhi was more than just an environmental concern—it was an everyday assault on my senses and well-being. The city’s infamous smog not only worsened my mother’s chronic health conditions but also exacerbated my own struggles with anxiety and sensory overload. The lack of clean drinking water meant frequent illnesses, further straining our already fragile existence. Every heatwave, every water shortage, and every bout of smog felt like a personal attack, intensifying the challenges of living with disabilities in an environment that seemed determined to break us.
It was during the lockdown in 2020, a time when the world seemed to come to a standstill, that I began to connect the dots between my personal struggles and the larger environmental crisis. The sudden halt in daily activities allowed me to reflect deeply on the intersection of climate change, disability, and poverty. It became clear to me that the climate crisis was not just an abstract issue for policy discussions—it was an immediate, life-threatening reality for millions like me, whose disabilities were aggravated by environmental degradation and societal neglect.
This realization led to the birth of Green Disability—an initiative born out of my lived experiences and a deep-seated desire to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the global fight against climate change. The Disability Community, which represents 17-22% of the world’s population, is often ignored when it comes to climate conversations. This is not just an oversight; it’s an injustice. The climate crisis is our crisis too, and it is both our right and duty to be part of the solution.
Green Disability seeks to integrate disability inclusion into climate action. We advocate for urban planning that considers the needs of people with disabilities, pushing for walkable cities, wheelchair-friendly infrastructure, tactile paving, and accessible public transport systems. But these goals can only be achieved if the climate itself is conducive to outdoor activities. Accessibility and sustainability are not separate issues; they are deeply intertwined. There is no climate justice without disability justice.
Through Green Disability, we are reasserting the fact that climate action must include everyone. Our work focuses on raising awareness, influencing policies, and creating platforms where the voices of people with disabilities can be heard and acted upon. We are building a community of advocates who understand that the fight for a sustainable future must be inclusive, and we are fostering collaborations with policymakers, environmental organizations, and disability rights groups to ensure that our efforts lead to tangible change.
In a world where climate change is rapidly becoming the defining issue of our time, Green Disability stands as a reminder that true sustainability can only be achieved when every voice is heard, every need is met, and every person is included. Our journey is far from over, but with each step, we move closer to a world where accessibility and sustainability go hand in hand—a world where there is no climate justice without disability justice.
About
Born in a Delhi slum, Puneet Singh Singhal’s life is a testament to resilience. Facing poverty, pollution, and non-apparent disabilities, Puneet founded Green Disability to advocate for disability-inclusive climate action. His story highlights the deep connections between climate change, accessibility, and human rights, emphasizing that true sustainability requires justice for all.