ADAPT’s Journal of Inclusion and Disability – Research
On 24 August 2025, our partners ADAPT proudly launched The Journal of Inclusion and Disability – Research, Neuro Rehabilitation & Empowerment. This is the first journal of its kind, with Dr Mithu Alur and Dr Farokh Udwadia serving as Joint Editors and Dr Samiran Nundy as Editor-in-Chief. The journal aims to advance knowledge and stimulate dialogue around inclusion and accessibility for the disabled community.
The Women’s Council – Supporting Training in Disability & Inclusion’s Chairman, Dr Rajni Rijal, was honoured to contribute to the journal with her article, “Disability-related Issues: Raising Awareness and Amplifying Voices of the Disenfranchised.”
In this piece, Dr Rajni Rijal—who is a practicing dentist—reflects on the multifaceted nature of disability and the systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities globally. She outlines how disability intersects with biological, social and economic factors, emphasising that over one billion people (about 16 % of the world’s population) live with some form of disability, and that nearly 80 % of these individuals reside in developing countries.
She highlights three major areas of concern:
- Structural discrimination and social exclusion: People with disabilities are often marginalised due to inadequate laws, poor enforcement, inaccessible infrastructure, and persistent stereotypes.
- Economic marginalisation: Employment disparities remain stark, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with disabilities face higher unemployment rates and limited access to secure, fair employment—particularly women with disabilities.
- Healthcare and oral-healthcare disparities: Despite greater health needs, people with disabilities encounter multiple barriers to healthcare. Dr Rijal draws attention to the neglect of oral health within disability-inclusive health planning and the challenges faced by those with cognitive, sensory, or developmental impairments.
Dr Rijal advocates for inclusive solutions that involve persons with disabilities in policymaking (echoing the principle “Nothing about us without us”), reform health systems to improve accessibility and training, and shift societal narratives through awareness and empowerment.
She concludes that disability-related issues extend beyond medicine—they are matters of human rights, social justice, and equitable development. True progress, she notes, depends on moving from awareness to action by ensuring access to healthcare (including oral health), education, and employment, while building societies that respect and celebrate the dignity and potential of all.
Many thanks to ADAPT for amplifying the voices of all contributing authors and the diverse topics of research raised through the journal.