Australia Awards South and West Asia

Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Australia Awards – South Asia and Mongolia’s Regional Women in Leadership Network hosted an online seminar titled “An Intersectional Look at Being a Woman with Disability.” Held on 26 November, the event brought together participants from across South Asia and Mongolia and featured three dynamic speakers: alumna Saira Ayub from Pakistan, alumna Arefeen Ahmed from Bangladesh, and disability consultant Zel Iscel from Australia.

Despite their diverse backgrounds, common themes emerged in their stories, including the crucial role of a supportive environment, the pervasive challenges of societal stigma, and the resilience required to overcome these barriers. Each speaker highlighted how their intersecting identities—being women, having disabilities, and belonging to culturally diverse backgrounds—shaped their experiences and fueled their advocacy for inclusivity and empowerment. Their journeys underscore the urgent need for greater awareness, accommodation, and systemic change to create a more inclusive society for all.

Zel Iscel, representing Maven, Palladium’s disability consulting service, shared her experiences on intersectionality, focusing on her identity as a woman with disability from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. She emphasized that these intersecting aspects shape her identity and experiences. Zel discussed the challenges she faced growing up, including overprotection due to her disability and isolation in mainstream schools. She highlighted the difficulty of being identified solely by her disability, which overshadowed other aspects of her identity. “People characterized me by my disability. I was nothing else but my disability,” she said.

Zel at an earlier Australia Awards event

Despite these challenges, Zel found enrichment in her diverse identity. She shared how societal perceptions impacted her career prospects and personal life, noting the importance of inclusive attitudes and practices. “I hope this has given some indication of how intersectionality can play out in a person’s life,” she concluded.

Saira Ayub shared her story, starting with her childhood in Pakistan. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age ten, she faced societal prejudice and infrastructural barriers. Despite these challenges, her parents emphasized education, which she pursued with determination, completing a Masters in Economics.

Saira faced discrimination at work but overcame it through resilience and dedication. She became a popular lecturer and joined the National Forum of Women with Disabilities, which empowered her to embrace her disability and advocate for others. “Meeting friends with disabilities who had achieved remarkable things made me embrace my own disability and enjoy life,” she said.

Saira pictured during her time as a scholar at Flinders University

In 2020, Saira commenced a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) at Flinders University with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. She appreciated the inclusive education and accessible facilities in Australia, which provided her with a sense of independence. “I enjoyed the disabled-friendly transport and the beautiful, accessible beaches,” she shared.

Shortly before she was due to return to Pakistan from Australia, Saira suffered a profound personal tragedy. Despite this, her family encouraged her to finish her studies. Since her return to Pakistan, Saira continued her advocacy for inclusive education and now serves as an associate professor of economics in Pakistan.

Arefeen Ahmed, a social inclusion entrepreneur from Dhaka, shared her experiences of growing up with a vision impairment. Arefeen’s father, a former diplomat and freedom fighter, provided a supportive environment that encouraged Arefeen and her sister, who also has a vision impairment, to explore their surroundings and strive for independence. “A girl’s or a woman’s support system plays a very impactful role in her upbringing. This support must start from within the home and then beyond as well,” she emphasized.

However, her school years were not without challenges, as she faced significant difficulties due to a lack of understanding and accommodation for her disability. Despite these obstacles, Arefeen remained motivated and engaged in various extracurricular activities, including music and sports, and learned not to limit herself. “As a person with an impairment, I’m equally able and unstoppable,” she asserted.

Arefeen speaks at an event at the Australian High Commission in Dhaka.

Her pursuit of higher education took her to Australia, where she completed a Master of Communication at RMIT University with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship in 2015. Reflecting on her time in Australia, Arefeen noted that the experience broadened her horizons and helped her rediscover herself on many levels.

Arefeen’s professional journey includes significant roles in the development and humanitarian sector, working with organizations like BRAC and RTI International. She now runs a startup called Rise and Shine, which provides an inclusive platform for people with physical disabilities to access the job market. The startup teaches participants how to write effective job applications, apply for jobs, and adapt to fast-paced environments. Arefeen emphasized the importance of inclusive advocacy and collaboration, aiming to create a diverse and productive workforce and decrease the social exclusion gap.

Following the presentations, the alumni engaged in a question and answer session, covering topics such as educating children about disability, reducing stigma, and the importance of self-care when facing multiple levels of obstacles due to intersecting identities.

Alumni expressed their gratitude for the speakers. Puvaneswary Ponniah of Sri Lanka said, “Thanks for the wonderful speakers who are also advocates for sharing your personal experiences. Together we should create awareness collectively. I strongly believe change is possible.”

Maldivian attendee Aishath Nazhath summed up the spirit of advocacy shared by the speakers by reflecting on her own experience as a wheelchair user. “I try to empower women. And to show them the ability that they have, not the disability… It’s us who have to stand for our rights and we have to be self-inspired as well. Wherever I go, if there’s no ramp, I just keep on requesting that they [the authorities] put the ramp there.”

The stories shared by Zel, Saira, and Arefeen highlight the profound impact of intersectionality on the lives of women with disabilities. By sharing their journeys, these women not only advocate for greater awareness and inclusion but also inspire others to embrace their identities and strive for inclusivity and empowerment in all aspects of life. By doing so they reflect the theme of the 2024 International Day of People with Disabilities: “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.

The Facebook group for the Regional Women in Leadership Network is here.