What if the people you are trying to empower already know the answers better than any policy, consultant, or expert ever could? I learned this not through theory, but through proximity- working alongside Deaf leaders for a mission with Enable India through Niiti Consulting and Questera Foundation, that reshaped my understanding of inclusion. It wasn’t just a project, it was a humbling, daily awakening to what true leadership looks like when lived experience, not assumption, g

In my 6+ years of development sector experience, I’ve worked closely with the deaf community for a few of the years- and yes, I’m using the word deaf deliberately. Most deaf individuals I’ve met prefer this term over “persons with hearing impairment,” because it affirms identity rather than deficiency. To them, deafness isn’t a limitation - it’s a culture, a language and a shared experience. So when I look at how Bollywood portrays deaf characters, I don’t see it as just “cin