Inclusive Storytelling and Disability Representation

Antonio Santos
3 min readAug 25, 2024

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A woman named Shruti Pushkarna is smiling and wearing a colorful sari. She is wearing a name badge that reads “Disability” with a title under it. In the background, there are three individuals with a banner that says “#AXSChat.” The individuals are a man wearing sunglasses, a woman with purple hair, and another man wearing glasses.
Shruti Pushkarna, featured in an #AXSChat discussion, engaging in a conversation about disability and accessibility.

What does it take to shift from a visually-driven career in media to becoming a fervent advocate for disability rights? In this episode, we meet Shruti Pushkarna, an inspiring guest who made this transition and is now a prominent voice in disability advocacy from Delhi, India. Shruti shares her enlightening journey from a mainstream media producer to working directly with individuals with blindness and vision impairment. She recounts the obstacles she faced and the critical need for mutual understanding between media professionals and the disability community. Through her narrative, Shruti emphasizes the collective effort required to push for true inclusion.

Shruti’s journey is a testament to the power of media representation and the strategic importance of making content accessible for all, especially those using screen readers. In a world where visual storytelling and social media dominate, Shruti explains how these platforms can capture attention while conveying important messages about disability rights. Her insights reveal the power of presenting data in relatable ways, fostering collaboration across various advocacy groups. This episode underscores the importance of a united approach to disability inclusion, exploring how to communicate effectively about diverse experiences and perspectives.

Breaking societal stereotypes and understanding the technological advancements for students with disabilities are additional focal points of our conversation. Shruti discusses the cultural barriers in India, the fear associated with caregiving leave, and the misrepresentation of people with disabilities in media. Through compelling stories of individuals overcoming systemic obstacles, we illustrate the potential for a more inclusive society. The episode closes with a discussion on the significant role of radio and other media technologies, showcasing their potential to offer opportunities and drive continued dialogue and representation in both media and technology sectors.

The conversation begins with Shruti’s background as a journalist and producer, highlighting her initial struggle to adapt to the disability sector. Coming from a visually-driven medium, Shruti had to unlearn and relearn ways to communicate effectively with and about people with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding between the media and disability communities, pointing out the need for disability organizations to reach broader audiences. This chapter sets the stage for understanding the collective effort required for true inclusion.

The episode then delves into the challenges and strategies involved in making presentations accessible and engaging for all audiences, particularly for screen reader users. Shruti discusses the significance of visual elements in presentations to cater to general media consumption and the necessity of effective communication when advocating for powerful causes. Social media and visual storytelling are highlighted as crucial tools for capturing attention and conveying succinct messages about disability rights. The conversation underscores the need for presenting data in ways that resonate with broader audiences, encouraging collaborative efforts across different disability advocacy groups to foster a more inclusive society. One of the critical issues addressed in this episode is the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their caregivers within corporate and societal contexts. Shruti explores the fear and stigma associated with taking leave for caregiving, particularly for parents of children with disabilities, and the broader cultural barriers in India, such as corruption, discrimination, and daily struggles that hinder empathy and inclusivity.

The poor representation of people with disabilities in Indian media is also examined, noting the impact of stereotypical portrayals and the importance of accurate and empowering depictions. Inspiring stories.

Listen to the complete podcast

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Antonio Santos

Atos Higher Education Engagement and Talent Community. Recognising opportunities that link tech, ideas and people through networking. #Inclusion #Accessibility