Ashoka community for (Dis)Ability Initiative

(Dis)Ability Initiative is a joint project of 24 Ashoka Fellows from 18 countries across the world. Fellows from Ireland, Canada, Argentina, Poland, India, Spain and Germany initiated the project which was subsequently joined by Fellows from Brazil, Egypt, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Mexico, USA, France, Turkey and Czech Republic, whose international impact make the initiative truly global.

Ashoka Fellows in (Dis)ability Initiative

Javed Abidi, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), India - Javed created the advocacy movement and networking to change government policy towards the disabled.

Alito Alessi, DanceAbility International, Mexico/US - Alito used the universal language of dance to break barriers of isolation between the disabled and non-disabled. Through mixed-ability, inclusive dance workshops, Alito changes the relationships between the disabled and society though exploration and communication through motion. His organization, DanceAbility, is operating in 18 different countries.

Ola Abu Alghaib,  Stars Of Hope, Palestine – Ola is empowering and integrating disabled women into the society.

Caroline Casey, Kanchi, Ireland – Caroline is transitioning from a non-profit to a social business and encouraging business to focus on the ability side of disabilities.Her organization os the founder of Ability Awards International.

Annibal Coelho de Amorim, Instituto Municipal Nise da Silveira, Brazil - Annibal de Amorim, neurologist, has successfully demonstrated a way to democratize public human service institutions that (1) break down prevailing health and human services models in which "the expert treats the passive patient;" (2) enable local citizens to initiate new volunteer-based solutions; and (3) stimulate further citizen action.

Ndèye Dagué Gueye Dieye, Section féminine de ANHMS, Senegal - Ndèye Dagué advocates for rights and social position of women with disabilities, at the same time working with issues related to reproductive health.

Minal Doshi, India – Minal is working with individuals, educates communities how to create life opportunities for children with disabilities.

Al Etmanski, Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, Canada – Al is enhancing quality of life and the security of the disabled, is weaving a safety net of family and friends networks and increased financial independence.

David Green, Project Impact, USA – David is enabling developing countries to produce, distribute, and service high-quality, affordable health care products. He established the Deutsche Bank Eye Fund.

Isabel Guirao, A Toda Vela, Spain – Isabel helps people with disabilities to discover their potentials and overcome their disability, through engaging them in sports a leisure activities.

Andreas Heinecke, Dialogue in the Dark, Germany – Andreas is using exhibitions as incubators for social change, redefines disability as ability and otherness as likeness. His project was successfully replicated in more than 20 countries as a social venture model.

Maha Helali, ADVANCE, Egypt – Maha created special education program for people with autism, providing them skills that enable them to function fully in the society.

Anna Machalica-Pułtorak, "Open Door" Association, Poland – professional activation of marginalized groups through mutual support of beneficiaries with various abilities and needs.

Drahoslava (Daja) Kabatova,  Letohradek Vendula, Czech Republic - Daja created a complex program to activate people with disabilities through traditional crafts. The beneficiaries of the program build a community of mutual support.

Cosmas Okoli, Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Centre, Nigeria – through manufacturing special prostheses, manual car controls, and sports equipment for the disabled, Cosmas creates society where the disabled can be active.

Piotr Pawłowski, Friends of Integration Association, Poland – while changing awareness of the society regarding people with disabilities, Piotr struggles for the accessible job market and public space, to encourage people with disabilities to be active.

Beatriz Pellizzari, La Usina, Argentina – Bea is changing attitudes of the community towards people with disabilities through creating inclusive social enterprises. Read more

Ryadh Sallem, Cap Sport Art Aventure Amitié, France – Ryadh is redefining the concept of disability by bringing the non-disabled to the world of the disabled through sports.

Victoria Shocrón, Fundación DISCAR, Argentina – Vicky is engaging the world of art and media to inclusion activities – integrating disability and ability worlds. Read more

Shudarson Subedi, Nepal Disabled Human Rights Center (DHRC-Nepal), Nepal – Shudarson pioneered human rights movement in Nepal, fighting for the rights of people with disabilities to be respected.

Ame Thiam, Association Handicap.sn, Senegal - Ame provides access to information and computer techniques to people with disabilities, thus preventing their exlusion in the modern computerized world.

Ercan Tutal, Alternative Life Association, Turkey -  Ercan runs a number of projects based on the volunteer movement to integrate people with disabilities into the society through sports (such as scuba diving and horse riding), education and vacation.

Estella Villareal Junco, UNIDOS, Mexico – using modified recreational spaces to facilitate interaction between disabled and nondisabled youth, Estela promotes mainstream integration for people with special needs and changes attitued towards disability. Read more

Howard Weinstein, CEFAC, Brazil – Howard is working on sustainable global economic empowerment programs for people with disabilities made by people with special abilities, such a solar powered hearing aids made by talented deaf workers.

Maria and Michał Wroniszewski, Synapsis Foundation, Poland – through direct work with people with autistism, Michał and Maria make good practices and solutions systematic. Based on individual work with autistic children, they achieve systemic changes. Thanks to their work, the problem of autism was recognized in Central and Estearn Europe.