Forbes’ first-ever Accessibility 100 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities. https://t.co/ST1p0eFz4i ...

[Music] [Applause] The operating room is chaos. I've been rushed in for an emergency C-section. The monitors are loudly sounding off.People are rushing around everywhere. And I hear urgent whispers all around me. But in all that noise, there's one sound I desperately need to hear and don't.The cry of my newborn daughter. Elizabeth burst into the world at 29 weeks, weighing just 2 lb. We would later learn that she had mitochondrial disease or maido for short, which is a degenerative condition with no cure.No ...

[Music] The question should not be that if I'm audible. The question should be if I'm visible. [Music] >> It's okay. It's just me singing a prayer song.[Music] >> Dear friend, I will move on around you like the earth and I will get anything and everything I want done. Time stop and rock and roll. I will make well and beauty.Time stop and rock and roll. I believe well and beauty. [Music] So why were there so many people holding a piece of paper as if they escaped prison and they were wanted.Well, they are wa ...

इमेजिन वन डे यू वेक अप एंड रियलाइज दैट फ्रॉम टुडे ऑनवर्ड्स यू विल नेवर बी एबल टू सी अगेन हाउ वुड यू फील वुड यू ब्रेक और वुड यू फाइट हेलो एवरीवन आई एम आशिका सुनील गोयल आई एम 19 एंड आई एम ब्लाइंड नो आई वास नॉट बोर्न लाइक दिस इन फैक्ट आई वाज़ अ परफेक्टली हेल्दी बबली लिटिल किड रनिंग अराउंड लाफिंग ऑलवेज फुल ऑफ लाइफ अंटिल लाइफ चेंज्ड ओवरनाइट द कफ एंड कोल्ड आई वाज़ बैटलिंग सिंस इयर्स टर्नड आउट टू बी अ रेयर काइंड ऑफ कैंसर। अ ट्यूमर इन माय नेज़ल कैविटी दैट टू एट इट्स लास्ट स्टेज। डॉक्टर सेड शी वोंट लिव लॉन्ग। द ट्यूमर ...

Overcoming Adversity & Personal Growth - The speaker was affected by polio at 14 months old, leading to significant physical limitations and dependence on others for basic care [1][2] - Despite facing numerous challenges, including 39 surgeries and 21 fractures, the speaker persevered with the support of her mother and maintained a commitment to education, completing 10th grade with distinction [6][7] - A pivotal moment occurred when the speaker advocated for herself in college, leading to accommodations that facilitated her continued education and personal transformation [9][10] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of accepting one's circumstances and focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on limitations [8][13] - Experiencing and overcoming problems is essential for understanding the true value of success [12][13] Philanthropic Endeavors & Impact - The speaker runs the Matra Foundation, an NGO in Bangalore that supports physically handicapped and economically disadvantaged children from across Karnataka [22] - The foundation provides comprehensive care, including education, medical assistance, and support to help children become independent and contribute to society [22][23] - The speaker considers herself a "proud mother of 53 children," highlighting her dedication to nurturing and empowering the children in her care [22] Life Lessons & Perspective - The speaker encourages listeners to embrace challenges, find solutions, and appreciate the positive aspects of life [12][13][15] - The speaker shares anecdotes to illustrate the importance of perspective, gratitude, and proactive engagement with the world [15][16][17][18] - The speaker emphasizes that life's difficulties can be transformed into sources of strength, motivation, and positive change [14][22]

[प्रशंसा] टुडे वी आर गोइंग टू टॉक अबाउट कंक्लूजन एंड एम्पैथी बिकॉज़ बीइंग रे इन अ फैमिली ऑफ़ गवर्नमेंट सर्वेंट मुझे लगता था कि मैं इन शब्दों के असली मतलब समझता हूं। इक्वलिटी एक्सेस प्रैक्टिस होता हुआ देखा था घर में। बट नॉट अंटिल आई गॉट एक्सपोज टू हाउ एक्सक्लूजन टेक्स प्लेस इन आवर सोसाइटी। वेरी सेटल बट वेरी एविडेंट। आई नो आई रिमेंबर आई हैड अ प्रिविलेज चाइल्डहुड व्हाटएवर आई वास सीकिंग आई गॉट अच्छी एजुकेशन अच्छी नचरिंग। आई गॉट इंटू इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज सिक्यर्ड अ गुड जॉब। भिलाई से निकल के आई वेंट टू दिल्ली। और तीन- ...

Key Takeaways - The speaker emphasizes the importance of truth-telling in environments where it's often suppressed [1][2] - The speaker shares personal experiences, including being born with a disability and facing societal stigmas [2][3] - The speaker highlights the societal tendency to define inspiration as overcoming suffering, rather than preventing it [7] - The speaker discusses making life decisions based on elimination rather than passion, influenced by family and societal expectations [9][10][14] - The speaker recounts achieving state first rank in engineering entrance exam [13] Overcoming Challenges & Societal Perceptions - The speaker faced challenges in education due to their disability, being denied admission to multiple schools [5] - The speaker's family faced societal judgment and criticism due to the speaker's disability [3][16] - The speaker's skydiving experience was misinterpreted as a source of inspiration, overshadowing efforts to advocate for disability infrastructure [20][21] - The speaker's journey to the South Pole was inspired by another explorer's climate change advocacy [27] - The speaker humorously addresses societal misunderstandings and prejudices faced by people with disabilities [33][34] Humor & Happiness - The speaker advocates for maintaining a sense of humor in the face of failure and adversity [36] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the little things in life [38] - The speaker concludes that happiness throughout life's journey is more important than accomplishments [39]

Overcoming Adversity & Personal Growth - The speaker shares their personal journey of living with cerebral palsy and overcoming challenges [1][2] - Initially, the speaker blamed external factors for their limitations and difficulties [1][3] - A turning point occurred when the speaker embraced their disability and focused on self-acceptance [8][9] - This shift in perspective led to pursuing passions like dance and achieving significant personal milestones, including weight loss of 28 kgs (approximately 61 pounds) in 10 months [10][11][12] Life Lessons & Empowerment - The speaker introduces the "Four A's" - Awareness, Acceptance, Ace, and Action - as key principles for navigating life's challenges [15][16] - Acceptance is presented as a way to break free from the "blame game" and take control of one's life [16][17] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of setting goals, taking action, and embracing opportunities [16][19] - The core message is that individuals can overcome obstacles and live fulfilling lives by reframing their thoughts and actions [20][21]

Advocacy and Policy Change - The speaker's advocacy led to the Delhi High Court's historic judgment ensuring bus accessibility for persons with disabilities nationwide [42] - Successful advocacy efforts reduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on disability aids from 18% to 5%, with ongoing efforts to eliminate it entirely [44][45] - The speaker collaborated with 85 Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to create a charter of demands for persons with disabilities, presenting it to various political parties to ensure their inclusion in policy and politics [47] - The speaker worked with Zomato to add access filters to restaurants, influencing other apps to adopt similar accessibility features [36] Corporate and Social Inclusion - The speaker founded the Nipon Foundation in 2012 to help persons with disabilities get jobs in the corporate sector, focusing on sensitization workshops, accessibility audits, and disability employee resource groups [29][30] - The speaker initiated an award recognizing companies that employ people with disabilities, with Microsoft as a title partner [31] - The speaker created "Wheels for Life" in 2016-2017, connecting people who need wheelchairs with those who can donate them, costing 5,000 rupees [52][53] Thought Leadership and Research - The speaker collaborated with Zoom on a report analyzing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities across 19 countries [48] - The speaker worked with NDTV and Hyundai on the "State of Disability in India" report, highlighting the need for more thought leadership and disability studies departments in India [48] - The speaker launched a journal called "Access Point" to track disability policies across the country and inform various sectors on how disability intersects with society [52]

Personal Experience & Disability Awareness - The speaker shares personal experiences with multiple sclerosis and related disorders, highlighting the challenges of living with an often invisible disability [1] - The speaker discusses the societal perception of disability, moving from pity and charity to empathy and understanding [1] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy and small acts of kindness in making the world more livable for people with disabilities [1][2] Healthcare & Medical Diagnosis - The speaker recounts a decade-long journey of medical diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and MOG antibody-associated disease [1] - The speaker describes the impact of these conditions on physical abilities, including walking, talking, and vision [1] - The speaker mentions undergoing chemotherapy as part of the treatment [1] Societal Barriers & Invisible Disabilities - The speaker describes the challenges of navigating societal barriers, such as using elevators designated for people with disabilities and facing disbelief or questioning [1] - The speaker highlights the emotional and physical exhaustion of constantly translating one's body and negotiating pain levels due to an invisible disability [1] - The speaker points out that the real barrier is not the physical one, but the silence, disbelief, and discomfort encountered from others [1]