I walked in as a mentor. I walked out feeling mentored.
It was an honor to serve as a Master Mentor for the pilot program organized by Dheya Career Mentors and Bal Kalyan Sanstha, Pune.
Our goal was to provide career guidance for children and young adults with disabilities.
In reality? It was a humbling check on my own privilege.
We often complain about minor inconveniences in our careers. Yet I spent 6 hours with students who face immense daily challenges with grit and quiet brilliance.
We used both psychometric and sensory assessments to better understand each student. Our focus was not on their disabilities, but on finding their strengths.
I am sharing these stories without names to respect everyone’s privacy.
Here are a few examples of the talent that inspired me:
- A 16-year-old student who is blind could recreate sounds with amazing accuracy and used technology better than many adults I know.
- A 21-year-old working toward her BA in English overcame a learning disability with impressive social intelligence.
- A 15-year-old blind student listened to a story once and repeated it word-for-word.
- A 19-year-old woman with a motor disability translated easily and played cricket very well.
- A 14-year-old non-verbal boy stood out for his physical strength and dedication to cleanliness.
What I realized is this:
People have different, sometimes rare, abilities. They do not need pity. They need guidance, access, and a society and workplace that includes them.
I am truly grateful to the companies leading CSR and inclusion efforts to hire people with disabilities. You do more than fill jobs. You help build dignity and hope.
Thank you, Dheya & team, for this meaningful experience.
I arrived to offer guidance, but I left with a new perspective.
A question for you:
If you work in hiring, HR, or CSR, what is one practical step your company can take this quarter to improve disability inclusion?
(Example: accessible interviews, skills-based roles, internship pathways, workplace accommodations, or manager training.)