On September 14, 2024, our Founder and Executive Director, Nidhi Goyal, participated in a virtual fireside chat at the all-staff session of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), alongside fellow speakers Primrose Mandishona from CAMFED and Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK. The discussion explored disability inclusion through the lenses of lived experience, workplace accessibility, intersectionality, and systems change.
Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Nidhi spoke about the barriers people with disabilities continue to face in workplaces, including inaccessible environments, exclusionary attitudes, and systemic inequities. She also shared how Rising Flame works to influence organisations, institutions, and broader systems to become more inclusive through advocacy, research, storytelling, and movement-building. Reflecting on her experience as India’s first female disabled stand-up comedian, Nidhi discussed the power of humour in challenging stereotypes and shifting public perceptions around disability and gender.
The conversation also highlighted the intersectional experiences of disabled women and girls, the importance of addressing the needs of diverse disability communities, including persons with learning disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, and the critical role that funders and institutions can play in advancing disability inclusion. The session concluded with reflections on how individuals and organisations can actively promote more inclusive and accessible spaces.