# Abha Khetarpal ## Posts - [A Letter From A Daughter To Her Mother](https://abhakhetarpal.com/a-letter-from-a-daughter-to-her-mother/): A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Mother As you turn 80, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful journey we’ve shared. Your hands, though worn by time, have always been a symbol of unwavering love and guidance. You held me through every challenge, every joy, and shaped me into who I am today. Now, as life comes full circle, I find myself holding your hand, just as you once held mine. There are moments when I must step into the role of caring for you, gently becoming the mother to my mother. But this is not a duty—it’s a privilege. It is my way of giving back the love, wisdom, and strength you’ve always shared with me. Your hand in mine remains my greatest source of comfort, a reminder that no matter how much time passes, the bond between us is unbreakable. - [A Look at Love for People with Disabilities in Indian Society on Valentine's Day](https://abhakhetarpal.com/a-look-at-love-for-people-with-disabilities-in-indian-society-on-valentines-day/): Valentine’s Day often overlooks the challenges faced by people with disabilities in India. This blog post explores the barriers they face, from physical accessibility to societal perceptions, and suggests how we can make this day more inclusive, hopeful, and meaningful for everyone. - [A Journey Through Advocacy, Aging, and Post-Polio Syndrome; Understanding Spoon Theory Through Lived Experience](https://abhakhetarpal.com/a-journey-through-advocacy-aging-and-post-polio-syndrome-understanding-spoon-theory-through-lived-experience/): For over five decades, I’ve defied the odds as a polio survivor and disability rights advocate, achieving national and international recognition. But as I now face the realities of aging and Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS), I’ve come to understand how limited energy—both physical and mental—impacts my daily life. The Spoon Theory, coined by Christine Miserandino, is a metaphor that helps explain how those living with disabilities manage their energy. This simple yet powerful framework has provided me with a lens to articulate the quiet struggles of living with a disability, especially as the years take their toll. My journey is one of constant adaptation, learning to manage my energy in a way that continues to support my advocacy, while also taking care of my health. - [Inclusion Audit vs. Accessibility Audit: A Critical Examination](https://abhakhetarpal.com/inclusion-audit-vs-accessibility-audit-a-critical-examination/): "While accessibility audits focus on removing physical barriers, inclusion audits go beyond that by examining how people with disabilities are socially and culturally integrated. Inclusion audits ensure that environments are not just accessible, but truly inclusive, promoting full participation and equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of disability." - [If Minds Got the Same Care as Ankles](https://abhakhetarpal.com/if-minds-got-the-same-care-as-ankles/): A first-person satire from a disabled counselor asking a simple question: what if mental health got the same care as a broken ankle? Humor softens the truth. Policy and kindness do the healing. - [Social Media: The Flea Market of the Digital Age](https://abhakhetarpal.com/social-media-the-flea-market-of-the-digital-age/): Social media feels like a digital flea market where everyone’s trying to sell something, but is it really effective? Discover the truth behind attention-seeking behavior and fleeting validation in the world of social media. - [World Mental Health Day: The Need for Accessible and Affordable Mental Health Services for Persons with Disabilities](https://abhakhetarpal.com/world-mental-health-day-the-need-for-accessible-and-affordable-mental-health-services-for-persons-with-disabilities/): As a psychotherapist and counselor who uses a wheelchair, my personal journey has shown me how critical it is for individuals with disabilities to have access to mental health services. The challenges of navigating physical and societal barriers often take a toll on one’s emotional well-being, and yet, many people with disabilities struggle to access the care they need. Mental health should be a right, not a luxury. For individuals with disabilities, it is essential that counseling services are made both accessible and affordable. By creating inclusive environments that understand the unique struggles of this community and offering specialized, affordable care, we can help break the barriers that prevent so many from seeking support. On World Mental Health Day, let’s advocate for a future where mental health services are accessible to all, regardless of ability. - [Beyond Sympathy: The Everyday Habits That Build True Inclusion](https://abhakhetarpal.com/beyond-sympathy-the-everyday-habits-that-build-true-inclusion/): True inclusion goes beyond policies. Discover how small, everyday actions—beyond sympathy—can build a truly accessible and equitable world - [The Missing Voices of Disabled Writers in Indian Literature](https://abhakhetarpal.com/the-missing-voices-of-disabled-writers-in-indian-literature/): Indian literature is celebrated for its diversity of voices, yet one group remains strikingly absent—disabled writers. While disability often appears in novels and films, it is usually reduced to stereotypes of pity or inspiration. What we rarely encounter are authentic stories told by disabled authors themselves. Their absence is not due to lack of talent but because of systemic barriers—education gaps, publishing gatekeeping, and societal stigma. Until we create space for these voices, Indian literature remains incomplete. True inclusivity will come only when disabled writers are not on the margins but at the heart of our literary landscape. - [Class 7, Chapter 4: How Not to Be Ableist](https://abhakhetarpal.com/class-7-chapter-4-how-not-to-be-ableist/): Ableism isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it whispers behind your back at family gatherings, smiles with pity, or applauds your existence like it’s an achievement. As a disabled woman in India, I’ve lived through more unsolicited blessings and backhanded compliments than I care to count. This post calls out the everyday ableism we sweep under the rug—with sarcasm, sharp truths, and a reminder that I’m disabled, not doomed. - [🌈 The Story Behind the Disability Pride Flag: More Than Just Colors](https://abhakhetarpal.com/%f0%9f%8c%88-the-story-behind-the-disability-pride-flag-more-than-just-colors/): Discover the powerful story behind the Disability Pride Flag—its colors, meaning, and why it’s more than just a symbol. Redesigned for accessibility in 2021, this flag represents the diversity, resilience, and pride of the disability community. A must-read for Disability Pride Month. - [They Sterilized Her Without Asking”: Medical Violence Against Women with Disabilities](https://abhakhetarpal.com/they-sterilized-her-without-asking-medical-violence-against-women-with-disabilities/): Forced sterilizations, inaccessible care, and digital exclusion — women with disabilities are facing medical violence in the very systems meant to protect them. It's time to speak out, demand change, and reclaim bodily autonomy for all. - [Crip Time and the Heart of Real Inclusion](https://abhakhetarpal.com/crip-time-and-the-heart-of-real-inclusion/): We live in a world obsessed with speed. Deadlines. Hustle. Getting more done in less time. The clock has become a quiet taskmaster, ruling our days with expectations of constant productivity. But not everyone moves at the same pace. And not everyone can — or should — conform to the rhythm that our society demands. That’s where the idea of crip time comes in. Crip time is a concept from disability justice and crip theory. And while it may sound unfamiliar at first, its meaning is both simple and profound: “Rather than bend disabled bodies and minds to meet the… - [Bleeding in Silence: Navigating Periods as a Disabled Woman in a World Not Built for Us](https://abhakhetarpal.com/bleeding-in-silence-navigating-periods-as-a-disabled-woman-in-a-world-not-built-for-us/): Discover how periods impact people with disabilities and explore inclusive menstrual hygiene solutions that empower everyone for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. - [From Ramps to Representation: Why Accessibility is a Feminist Issue for Disabled Women](https://abhakhetarpal.com/from-ramps-to-representation-why-accessibility-is-a-feminist-issue-for-disabled-women/): Policy and Legal Framework: Progress and Gaps India has made progress in disability rights over the years. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act), in 2016, recognizes the rights of disabled persons to access public spaces, education, and work. Still, there are many gaps in the legal system when it comes to fulfilling the specific requirements of disabled women. The RPWD Act and other rules, which emphasize disability in a broader sense, hardly take into account the gendered difficulties disabled women experience. Often disregarded, are problems including caring responsibilities, abuse, and lack of gender-sensitive accessibility legislation. Moreover, while… - [क्या 'स्पेशल' कहना सच में विकलांगता को सम्मान देता है?](https://abhakhetarpal.com/%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%af%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%b6%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b9%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%9a-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82-%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%bf/): भाषा का जादू या जाल? जब किसी को ‘स्पेशल’ कहा जाता है, तो यह सुनने में मधुर लगता है। लेकिन क्या यह वास्तव में सम्मानजनक है? या फिर यह शब्द हमारे समाज की गहरी जड़ें जमा चुकी सहानुभूति और भेदभाव को ढंकने का एक सुंदर आवरण मात्र है? सवाल यही है कि क्या इस एक शब्द से विकलांगता के प्रति हमारा दृष्टिकोण बदलता है या यह केवल शब्दों की सजावट भर होती है? ‘स्पेशल’ शब्द: सम्मान या सहानुभूति? ”स्पेशल’ कहने का इरादा भले ही अच्छा हो, लेकिन इसका प्रभाव कई बार उल्टा पड़ता है। यह शब्द विकलांग व्यक्तियों को सामान्य… - [Celebrating Indian Heritage on World Heritage Day: Global Respect of the Bhagavad Gita](https://abhakhetarpal.com/celebrating-indian-heritage-on-world-heritage-day-global-respect-of-the-bhagavad-gita/): Today we celebrate the Bhagavad Gita's acknowledgement on World Heritage Day, therefore honouring the preservation and global acceptance of cultural legacies. - [Understanding Resilience from Being a Gender and Disability Advocate](https://abhakhetarpal.com/understanding-resilience-from-being-a-gender-and-disability-advocate/): Advocacy is a journey of resilience, shaped by self-acceptance, empathy, and community support. From overcoming personal challenges to empowering others, every step brings us closer to a more inclusive and just society. - [Disability, Language & Sexuality](https://abhakhetarpal.com/disability-language-sexuality/): “But you look ‘normal’ in your pictures”, was of the kind of messages that I used to receive from the men to whom I disclosed my disability to the men showing interest in my profile on Tinder. What do they mean by the word ‘normal’? My disability instantly made me feel ‘abnormal.’ There came up a symbolic frontier between the ‘normal’ and the ‘deviant,’ and I suddenly lost my identity as a woman and, above all, as a sexual being. Innumerable terms have been, and are, used to define what is meant by disability as well as persons with disabilities… - [सेक्स, और विकलांगता: चुप्पी तोड़िए; सवाल पूछिए](https://abhakhetarpal.com/%e0%a4%9a%e0%a5%81%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%a4%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%a1%e0%a4%bc%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%8f-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%82%e0%a4%9b%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%8f/): भारत में जब विकलांगता की बात होती है, तो ज़्यादातर बातें व्हीलचेयर, पेंशन योजना, या एक्सेसिबल रैंप तक ही सीमित रह जाती हैं। लेकिन एक बड़ा और लगभग पूरी तरह अनदेखा किया गया पहलू है — सेक्स और विकलांगता। क्या एक विकलांग व्यक्ति को यौन इच्छाएं नहीं होतीं? क्या उन्हें प्रेम, स्पर्श, और साथी की तलाश नहीं होती? इस पर समाज लगभग पूरी तरह चुप है। यह चुप्पी सिर्फ असहजता की नहीं है — यह अधिकारों की उपेक्षा है। सेक्स और विकलांगता: मिथक बनाम हकीकत भारतीय समाज में विकलांगता को अक्सर एक ‘निर्जीव’ स्थिति की तरह देखा जाता है। जैसे… - [Who Gets to Decide What Activism Looks Like?](https://abhakhetarpal.com/who-gets-to-decide-what-activism-looks-like/): “You should be out there. If you’re not out there, you’re not impacting people as well the government agencies. If you want to write you must sit at home and continue writing”. ## Pages - [My Books](https://abhakhetarpal.com/my-books/): Over the years, I have authored various books and manuals that center on the voices, rights, and lived experiences of persons with disabilities. Each publication reflects my commitment to creating accessible, inclusive, and empowering resources—guiding someone through breast cancer self-examination, advocating for menstrual hygiene, or amplifying self-advocacy and career possibilities. These works span critical areas such as disability rights, gender, health, inclusion, and self-care, with a strong focus on intersectionality. Several of them have been translated into regional languages to ensure broader reach and impact. From biographies to anthologies, career handbooks to rights-based manuals, each book is a testament to… - [Contact Us](https://abhakhetarpal.com/contact-us/): Get in Touch In case of any query do contact! Address Subhash Nagar, New Delhi 110027 Email abha.khetarpal@gmail.com Follow Me Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram Contact Me Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Submit - [About](https://abhakhetarpal.com/about-us/): Who am I? I am Abha Khetarpal – a writer, speaker, and advocate for change. My journey has been shaped by experiences that challenged me, empowered me, and inspired me to use my voice for something greater. I live with a disability, but it does not define me — it refines me. It has given me a deeper perspective, a stronger will, and a clearer purpose. Over the years, I have used writing as a powerful tool to raise awareness, break stereotypes, and connect with people on a deeper level. My work revolves around disability rights, inclusion, women empowerment, and… - [Home](https://abhakhetarpal.com/): Empowering Through Words A Journey of Thoughts and Insights Read My Articles See My Courses Ink & Insight Explore Thoughts That Speak to the Soul Ink & Insight Celebrating Indian Heritage on World Heritage Day: Global Respect of the Bhagavad Gita Dr Abha KhetarpalApril 19, 2025 Today we celebrate the Bhagavad Gita's acknowledgement on World Heritage Day, therefore honouring… Read More Ink & Insight Understanding Resilience from Being a Gender and Disability Advocate Dr Abha KhetarpalApril 18, 2025 Advocacy is a journey of resilience, shaped by self-acceptance, empathy, and community support…. Read More Ink & Insight Who Gets to Decide… [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)