Expanding your interests: AKASA case study – Part 5

In the above video, Kamala describes the contributions she and her organisation, AKASA, have made to expanding opportunities for women with disabilities in war-affected communities in rural Sri Lanka and to ensuring their basic needs were met in times of war and hardship. She also describes how she has been able to unite women with disabilities across cultural and ethnic barriers and foster supportive communities and relationships.

Over the past five weeks, you have seen various examples of the contributions Kamala has made within her local community, as well as on a global stage — from enabling women through livelihood projects, to introducing a wheelchair ramp to the Ruwanwelisaya stupa, to representing Sri Lanka in the Paralympic Games.

Talking points

• How does Kamala’s work expand ideas about what it means to contribute?
• How did Kamala’s insights into the needs of people with disabilities — as a disabled person herself — help her to identify opportunities for contributing?
• Do you think it is important for people with disabilities to talk about or showcase their contributions?

In the next step, we look at disability arts as a form of contribution.