December 3rd marks International Day of Disabled Persons. People with disabilities have been demanding equal rights, infrastructural changes and a fair chance at life for decades now. The Youth Ki Awaaz community is no different. From stories that created impact to stories of resilience, love and support - the YKA community found people with disabilities use their voice to tell their stories loud and audaciously.
This article is a summary of some powerful voices between last year and this that spoke of courage and emotion.
1. From being called names in school to regaining confidence via kickboxing. This is Shayani's love letter to kickboxing and how it helped with their dyslexia.
My Story: How Kickboxing Helped Me Combat My Dyslexia
You can read some of Shayani's other blogs and follow them here.
2. Sailesh wrote about their passion for travelling. "We live in a society where a person with a disability has to live with lots of restraints, but driving has made me feel the freedom that I have never felt before," they say.
My Story Of Conquering Terrains With My Passion And My Disability
You can follow Sailesh here.
3. Samim's story on their brother touched many hearts. They poured their heart out on how their parents took care of their brother and how the movie 'Mimi' resonated so deeply with them.
Mimi Reminded Me Of How My Mom Cared For My Disabled Brother
You can read more from Samim and follow them here.
4. How often do we look at people with disabilities solely as a point of inspiration? Do we stop to think of them as people or do they just end up being a story for us? Kavya talks about her DIY life and her navigations within it.
As A Person With Disability, I’ve Always Been Living A ‘Do-It-Yourself’ Life
You can read more from Kavya and follow her here.
5. Merril wrote a beautiful account on her life as a SODA. Interested to know what that means? Read the article to find out!
CODA, The Film, Inspired Me To Write About Life As A ‘SODA’
You can read some of Merril's other blogs and follow her here.
6. "Lazy." "Underachiever." "Uninterested." We have often heard our parents, teachers and relatives use these words without paying much attention to them. Nikita brings a very real story about people with learning disabilities to us.
Not “Lazy” Or “Underachiever”: Living With Learning Disabilities
You can follow Nikita here.
7. Kavya's blog on Vizag's Rushikonda beach created a ripple effect that led to concrete change.
Vizag’s Rushikonda Beach From The Lens Of A Disabled Visitor
You can follow Kavya Poornima here.
8. "First and foremost, my disability doesn’t make me any less desirable." Virali's fearless post on being harassed when she reached out for a casting call.
#MeToo: I Responded To A Casting Call Ad On Instagram And Was Sexually Harassed
You can follow Virali here.
9. Stand up comedian Sweta Mantrii shared her experience at a hostel where she was discriminated against because of her disability. "I got my first taste of independence during my first job in Mumbai, and I remember feeling liberated and happy. I also keep visiting the city for standup and personal reasons. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that something like this would happen to me here!" she writes.
I Was Denied Hostel Accomodation Because Of My Disability
You can follow Sweta Mantrii here.
We hope these stories are able to create more and more impact and many readers like you are able to find support, knowledge and community through these blogs. Do make sure to drop your thoughts in the comments below and also comment on the piece that resonated with you the most!