Rise Up!
Women with disabilities in the Solomon Islands face barriers to employment. When Diana Ma’ahoro experienced these firsthand, she enrolled in a national leadership program. Now she's a renowned disability rights activist in the Pacific.
Filmmaker: Melvina Voua
Melvina Voua is a member of People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI), the umbrella body of organizations for people with disabilities in the Solomon Islands. Read more about Melvina Voua
Climate Strain
Navigating Delhi's congested streets and hazardous air, Pranav Sethi experiences sensory issues that intensify with shifting weather patterns, making everyday life physically and mentally draining.
Filmmaker: Aalap Deboor
Aalap Deboor is a producer-entrepreneur with 15 years in the entertainment industry. After a career in entertainment journalism followed by TV programming & production with MTV & Vh1, he started Much Much Media, a Mumbai-based content studio. Read more about Aalap Deboor
Redefining Justice
Roshani Adhikari recently made history as Nepal's first blind female lawyer. She is committed to making her country's legal system more accessible.
Filmmaker: Bishwamitra Bhitrakoti
Bishwamitra Bhitrakoti is a communications officer at the National Federation of the Deaf, Nepal and president of the Annapurna Deaf Association. Read more about Bishwamitra Bhitrakoti
Cultural Survival
In rural Nepal, Indigenous women with disabilities rely on traditional practices for their livelihoods, but restrictive state policies are causing hardship. They call on the government to support their traditional knowledge and skills.
Filmmaker: Bhawana Majhi
Bhawana Majhi is an advocacy and communication officer at the National Indigenous Disabled Women Association - Nepal (NIDWAN). Read more about Bhawana Majhi
Breaking Free
Angela Nsimbi shares her story of living with bipolar disorder, reflecting on the challenges of her diagnosis and the transformative power of family support.
Filmmaker: Esther Suubi
Esther Suubi is an advocate for young girls and women's voices and a peer educator at Triumph Mental Health Support. Read more about Esther Suubi
News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice
Rwanda’s Marburg Crisis
As Rwanda confronts its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, people with disabilities face heightened risks — not only from the virus but also from the lack of accessible health information. “Without proper accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, captions, Braille, or visual aids, the Deaf and DeafBlind community may miss crucial information about how to protect themselves, symptoms to watch for, or where to seek help in case of infection,” says Joseph Musabyimana, executive director of the Rwanda Organization of Persons with Deaf Blindness.
Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch
Last summer, the DJP trained Indigenous activists with disabilities from the Pacific on the iPhone camera to create a documentary series on disability and climate change. With VoiceOver, the iPhone provides image descriptions for blind and low-vision filmmakers and offers other accessible features. “If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for a blind person to use a camera,” says DJP filmmaker Ari Hazelman. “The iPhone gives you more avenues to tell your story in a more profound way as a blind person.”
Work for All
The We Can Work program equips young Rwandans with disabilities to navigate barriers to employment through education, vocational training, and soft skills development. By fostering inclusive workplaces and advocating for policy changes, the program aims to reduce poverty and promote economic independence. Participants like Alliance Ukwishaka are optimistic that the program will enable them to achieve their dreams and showcase their potential. The initiative is part of a larger effort to support 30 million disabled youth across seven African countries.
Global Recognition
Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo’s film “Dramatic Waves of Change” has been named a finalist in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The film, completed during a Disability Justice Project workshop in Samoa, highlights the impact of climate change on people with disabilities in Kiribati. Utumapu-Utailesolo, who is blind, used an iPhone with accessibility features to create the film. “Do not leave people with disabilities behind when [you] plan, implement, and monitor programs regarding climate change and disaster,” she says. Her achievement is a testament to the power of inclusive filmmaking.
Advancing Democracy
Rwanda has made significant progress in making its elections more accessible, highlighted by the July 15 general elections where notable accommodations were provided. This was a major step forward in disabled Rwandans’ quest for equal rights and participation. “You cannot imagine how happy I am, for I have voted by myself and privately as others do accessibly,” says Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, who used a Braille voting slate for the first time. “Voting is a deeply emotional and meaningful experience for a person with any disability in Rwanda, reflecting a blend of pride, empowerment, and hope.”
Barriers to the Ballot
Despite legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers at the polls still hinder — and often prevent — people with disabilities from voting. New restrictive laws in some states, such as criminalizing assistance with voting, exacerbate these issues. Advocacy groups continue to fight for improved accessibility and increased voter turnout among disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to accommodate diverse needs. ““Of course, we want to vote,” says Claire Stanley with the American Council of the Blind, “but if you can’t, you can’t.”