Woman Born With Cerebral Palsy Once Struggled to Write. Now 32, She’s a Lecturer, Poet and Disability Advocate (Exclusive)

Vinayana Khurana, a 32-year-old lecturer at Delhi University, is challenging perceptions about disability and accessibility through her work as a poet and disability inclusion activist. Born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and balance, Khurana has dedicated her life to advocating for inclusivity, drawing from her personal experiences to foster understanding and remove barriers for individuals with disabilities.

As a child, Khurana faced significant challenges, particularly in communicating and performing daily tasks. She struggled initially with traditional writing methods, but the advent of digital tools transformed her ability to express herself. “I discovered that communication is not limited to one particular method. It is about finding a way for your voice to be heard,” she explains. This epiphany allowed her to delve into various forms of writing, poetry, and storytelling, which have since become central to her identity and activism.

Humour plays a vital role in Khurana’s narrative. She believes it serves as a powerful tool to confront misconceptions surrounding disability. “Humour is one of the ways I reclaim my voice and tell my story on my own terms,” she says. With her work spanning poetry, comics, and relatable anecdotes about daily situations, Khurana strives to make discussions about disability more approachable and engaging.

Now, as a lecturer, Khurana combines her teaching role with her advocacy work, increasing awareness around disability issues. Through social media platforms, she has built a robust following, where her relatable content resonates with thousands. For her, the most gratifying aspect of sharing her journey is the connection it fosters with others who may feel isolated due to their own experiences. “When someone with a disability tells me that my writing or videos have made them feel understood, it is more meaningful to me than any accolades,” she reflects.

While Khurana is open about her condition, she consciously emphasizes that it does not define her entire identity. “Cerebral palsy is part of my life, but not the entirety of my identity,” she asserts. She has made a conscious effort to embrace her disability without allowing it to overshadow other facets of her life, such as her aspirations, thoughts, and personality. As she matured, Khurana has developed a greater sense of self-acceptance, prompting a deeper understanding of her childhood struggles.

Reflecting on her younger years, she expresses compassion for her past self, recounting the difficulties faced while trying to navigate a world that often lacks support for individuals with disabilities. “Disability is not just an individual experience; it is shaped by societal attitudes, opportunities, and the accessibility of our environment,” she points out.

Khurana’s activism urges a broader understanding of accessibility, which, according to her, extends beyond physical adaptations like ramps and wheelchair access. “Accessibility should encompass the entire experience,” she explains, highlighting that many seemingly accessible buildings can still present challenges due to transport links, environments, and the attitudes of those within them.

She emphasises the need for a shift in perception regarding accessibility. It is vital to view it not as special treatment, but as the removal of obstacles that hinder equal participation for everyone. “Accessibility is about creating a level playing field, allowing all individuals the opportunity to engage fully,” she states.

Khurana advocates for the inclusion of diverse needs from the onset when designing any public space, educational institutions, workplaces, or digital platforms. “Only by integrating comprehensive accessibility measures from the beginning can we truly create environments that benefit the whole community,” she concludes. Through her advocacy and personal narrative, Khurana continues to inspire others while actively dismantling the barriers faced by many in society.