Access Isn't Enough: Why Resources Still Miss Disabled Students

On August 24, 2025 (Sunday) at 8:00 PM IST, Enable Education hosted a webinar titled “Access Isn’t Enough: Why Do Resources Still Miss Disabled Students?”. The session was held virtually on Google Meet and featured Mr. Devarnav Sharma, Founder of Disability Central and a Lived Experience Expert, as the key speaker. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Aarushi Gambhir, Founder of Enable Education and Disability Inclusion Strategist.

The session began with a warm welcome by Ms. Gambhir, who congratulated Mr. Sharma on his upcoming pursuit of a Master’s degree in Disability Studies at University College Dublin. She introduced him as one of the most insightful voices for this important conversation.

Ms. Revti further introduced Mr. Sharma, acknowledging his expertise in disability inclusion and policy advocacy.

In his talk, Mr. Sharma reflected on the gaps between policy and lived reality for persons with disabilities in India. Responding to the central question of the discussion, he pointed out that while much of the work in the disability sector remains policy-driven, implementation at the ground level continues to fall short. He highlighted several key areas:

1. Health Insurance: Most persons with disabilities are unaware of entitlements like Ayushman Bharat. Private insurance agencies also fail to adequately cover their needs, creating a significant access gap.

2. Employment and Reservation: Though disability reservations exist on paper, in reality many vacancies remain unfilled for years. This leaves an incomplete picture of inclusion in the workforce.

3. Political Participation: Citing examples from Tamil Nadu, he emphasized the importance of local-level participation of persons with disabilities in political processes, which still remains minimal.

4. Education and Data Gaps: He noted the absence of reliable data on dropout rates of students with disabilities. While enrollment numbers exist, there is no information on how many students discontinue their education, which creates major challenges for policy-making. He also spoke about delays in early childhood interventions, resulting in setbacks in social skills, education, and later employment opportunities.

Speaking from personal experience, Mr. Sharma shared his journey of growing up in Assam, being diagnosed with visual disability at birth, and realizing how access to resources and social capital shaped his life trajectory. He explained that a lack of information and awareness often leaves persons with disabilities unsure of where to turn for support.

This realization led to the founding of Disability Central, which aims to address systemic barriers through four focus areas: research and data, tailored B2B2C solutions, capacity building, and accessibility consulting. Mr. Sharma emphasized that access to accurate information is the starting point for true inclusion.

In his closing remarks, he noted that accessibility must move beyond infrastructure and become central to everyday disability inclusion. He expressed hope that stronger data, strategies, and collaboration with organizations like Enable Education will drive lasting change.

Ms. Gambhir concluded the session by thanking Mr. Sharma for his candid insights and inspiring journey, noting him as a young and powerful voice in disability rights advocacy.