
Witness History India's disability law
Dec 16, 2025
Javed Abidi, a prominent disability rights activist and key figure in India's 1995 Persons with Disabilities Act, shares his inspiring journey. He recounts organizing protests for disability legislation and the struggles faced when returning to an inaccessible India. Javed highlights the shift from charity to rights-based advocacy, the challenges of lobbying Parliament, and the law's transformative impact on education and employment for millions. His reflections underscore ongoing challenges and the vital work still needed for disability rights in India.
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US Accessibility Sparked a Return To Action
- Javed Abidi contrasted his accessible US university with inaccessible places back home in India after returning from Wright State University in Ohio.
- That experience triggered him to question why India lacked accessible public buildings and services.
A Chance Meeting Changed His Career
- A chance meeting with Sonia Gandhi led Javed to head the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's disability unit, shifting him from journalism to policy work.
- The foundation's focus opened a path to change laws and policies rather than rely on charity.
From Charity To Rights-Based Approach
- Javed explains that disability groups in India previously focused on charity, not rights, so a legal framework was essential.
- Creating a cross-disability group and drafting law between 1993–1995 reframed disability as a matter of policy and rights.




