The step

Here I am, waiting for my turn for the interview to come and I see other candidates glide over this small step without even noticing that it’s there. The same step which two people had to lift me over and the same step which I’ll have to ask people to lift me down again once the interview is over. A toilet break is an unlikely dream thanks to the step.

When going for an interview, normal people usually think about the organization, the kind of work being offered and the money involved. Whereas someone in a wheelchair has to first figure out if the office building has ramps and a toilet which can be accessed while being in a wheelchair. If these two aren’t there it’s game over before it even starts.

I usually vehemently protest against using terms like specially-abled and differently-abled to describe people with disabilities but today I can’t help but wonder if I’m a little special after all. Maybe my different ability is to never give up, to see how difficult it is for someone in a wheelchair to do even mundane things which normal people take for granted and still show up in life believing that I have a chance.

P.S This post is from the archives. I’m now living my dream of working at Microsoft who has one of the most accessible office spaces in India.