Disability Advocacy and the Role of Youth with Disabilities

On September 07, 2025, Enable Education organized a virtual conversation on “Disability Advocacy and the Role of Youth”. The event, hosted on Google Meet, featured Ms. Dhanya Ravi, a nationally recognized disability rights advocate, inclusion strategist, and Executive at EnAble India. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Aarushi Gambhir, Founder of Enable Education and Disability Inclusion Strategist.

The session began with an introduction to Ms. Ravi’s remarkable journey. With over a decade of impact, she has led initiatives through her foundation Aasmaan, pioneered the awareness campaign Humans on Wheelz, and actively championed rare disease advocacy. Her work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the National Award for Role Model (2018) and the Kerala State Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (2019).

During the conversation, Ms. Ravi shared how her lived experiences as a person with disability shaped her commitment to advocacy. For her, disability is not a limitation but a strength, and she emphasized that real voices are essential for systemic change. She underlined the importance of youth participation, stressing that inclusion cannot be the responsibility of persons with disabilities alone—shared responsibility by non-disabled allies accelerates change.

Reflecting on law and lived experiences, she noted that while legislation provides a framework, it is lived experiences that lend laws their force and urgency. She argued that legal systems must walk hand in hand with community voices to truly deliver equality. She further cautioned against performative allyship, explaining that authentic allyship creates deeper impact and builds confidence within the community.

When asked about steps for youth who want to advocate but don’t know where to start, Ms. Ravi recommended beginning with self-reflection to identify causes closest to their hearts. Volunteering, she said, can transform potential into impact. On the issue of accessibility in hospitals, transport, and public spaces, she powerfully stated that “accessibility is not a special need, it’s a human right.” She urged youth to question their immediate environments, initiate dialogues, and create campaigns to bring accessibility to the mainstream agenda.

The discussion also addressed the role of social media. While acknowledging its limitations, Ms. Ravi highlighted its power to amplify voices, challenge stereotypes, and mobilize collective action. She noted that digital platforms have enabled persons with disabilities to show that they can live full lives, while also cautioning against media portrayals that reduce individuals to their wheelchairs rather than presenting them as whole persons.

On influencing government and institutions, she admitted that policy reforms can be slow, but emphasized the importance of local actions, audits, and youth-led initiatives as building blocks for systemic change. She called for collaboration between citizens and institutions to bridge the gap in accessibility and representation.

The session concluded with Ms. Ravi underscoring the importance of dignity, equal opportunities, and leadership for persons with disabilities. She reminded participants that youth have the power to be catalysts for change by fostering empathy, demanding accountability, and working hand in hand with the disability community.

Ms. Aarushi Gambhir extended heartfelt thanks to the guest and attendees, highlighting how the conversation deepened awareness of both the challenges and possibilities in disability advocacy. The event left participants with a clear message: inclusion is not a distant goal but a shared responsibility, and with the active participation of youth, an equitable and accessible society is within reach.