What is common between Ira Singhal, Suvarna Pradeep Raj, and Divanshi Joshi? Apart from being women and persons with disabilities, they did not give up despite all odds. The trio, among 25 other women with disabilities who have made their name in their respective fields, will be sharing their journey riddled with negligence and complications at Able-Eves Workshop for Empowerment of Women with Disabilities to be held here on Sunday.

The workshop to be inaugurated by Singhal (IAS topper, batch 2014) who has scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine), with 62% locomotor disability, will have interesting sessions covering various aspects around Inclusion and empowerment of women. 

The other speakers will include Devanshi Joshi, a national awardee with Down Syndrome who was invited to the US by Mobility International USA, in June to participate in the Women's Institute for Leadership and Disability, WILD program at Eugene.

 She is the first woman with an Intellectual Disability to be a part of WILD. Abha Khetarpal, President, Cross the Hurdles will speak on ‘Rights of Women with Disabilities & Importance of Self Advocacy’, Iytha Mallikarjuna, CEO, Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association (IDEA) on ‘Enhancing Employability Through Skill Development’ while Richa Sahni, Head of Corporate Partnership, Atypical Advantage will touch upon the views on ‘ ‘Exploring Corporate Opportunities Through Atypical Advantage’.

At the workshop, which is being organized by the Down Syndrome Parent Society, a parents Group in association with Mobility International USA (MIUSA) at Muskaan, an NGO in Vasant Kunj, Suvarna Pradeep Raj, International Para-Athlete will talk about ‘Personality Development & Other Opportunities Through Sports’ and Dr. V Soujanya Rao, Gynaecologist-CMO (SG)/ Comdt. (Medical) CRPF will dwell on details about the ‘Health & Wellness’ surrounding the sector.

 “With the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act passed six years ago, there is a need to focus on the empowerment of women. The Government through the Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment and Women and Child can scale this by organizing such programs across India to bring about a positive change. International Youth Exchange programs like WILD can also help in a big way to bring about attitudinal and cultural change and achieve the desired impact,” said Anil Joshi, father of Devanshi.