What do Ira Singhal, Suvarna Pradeep Raj, and Divanshi Joshi have in common? They persevered despite all difficulties, despite the fact that they were women and people with impairments. At the Able-Eves Workshop for the Empowerment of Women with Disabilities, which will be held here on Sunday, the trio will share their journey, which was plagued by negligence and complications, together with 25 other women with disabilities who have achieved success in their different industries.
The IAS topper from the 2014 batch, Singhal, who has scoliosis (an unnatural lateral curvature of the spine), will inaugurate the workshop. The event will have engaging sessions focusing on inclusion and the empowerment of women.
Devanshi Joshi, a national awardee with Down syndrome, will be one of the other speakers. She was invited to the US in June by Mobility International USA to take part in the Women's Institute for Leadership and Disability, or WILD programme, at Eugene.
She is the first WILD member who is a woman with an intellectual disability. Iytha Mallikarjuna, CEO of Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA), will speak on "Enhancing Employability Through Skill Development," Abha Khetarpal, President of Cross the Hurdles, will discuss "Rights of Women with Disabilities & Importance of Self Advocacy," Richa Sahni, Head of Corporate Partnership, Atypical Advantage, will discuss "Exploring Corporate Opportunities Through Atypical Advantage."
Suvarna Pradeep Raj, an international para-athlete, will speak about "Personality Development & Other Opportunities Through Sports" at the workshop, which is being organised by the Down Syndrome Parent Society, a parents group in association with Mobility International USA (MIUSA), at Muskaan, an NGO in Vasant Kunj. Dr. V Soujanya Rao, a gynecologist-CMO (SG)/ Comdt. (Medical) CRPF, will focus
There is a need to concentrate on the empowerment of women since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed six years ago.
By setting up such initiatives all across India, the government, through the Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment and Women and Child, can scale this and effect change. Anil Joshi, Devanshi's father, noted that international youth exchange programmes like WILD can significantly contribute to the cultural and mental transformation needed to produce the desired results.
