Minimalist orange design showing two figures—one seated in a wheelchair, the other standing—reaching out towards each other, symbolizing unity, accessibility, and mutual support

Who we are

Formally launched in September 2021, the Centre for Disability Research and Training (CDRT), Kirori Mal College is the first centre of its kind in a college in India. At CDRT, we strive to explore and conceptualise the rich, untapped research possibilities of the experience of disablement. We engage with all aspects of disability, including its sociology, cultural and literary representations, politics, policies, laws, human rights, accessibility and universal design, inclusion and education, skill development, and employment.

Our Objectives

At the Centre, we strive to:

  • Promote and popularise disability studies within the Indian academia, particularly among undergraduate and postgraduate students.
A graphic depicting digital accessibility, showing a person in a wheelchair using a tablet. Surrounding icons include a crossed-out eye for visual impairment, a speaker with sound turned off for hearing loss, and a disability symbol, emphasizing assistive technologies.
  • Broaden the knowledge base of the discipline within the Indian context through committed research in the area.
A graphic depicting a diverse group of students and a wheelchair user interacting with a woman holding a tablet, highlighting accessibility and teamwork in educational spaces.
An illustration of two people engaging in conversation. The seated person, in a wheelchair, holds a smartphone, while the standing person gestures with one hand, holding a cup in the other. A speech bubble between them highlights their interaction, emphasizing communication and inclusivity.
  • Spread awareness about disability through sensitisation workshops and disability awareness campaigns.
A graphic depicting a wheelchair user positioned on a stairway, emphasizing the importance of inclusive design in architecture.
  • Create a level playing field for PwD students on campus and provide them with a wholesome inclusive education experience.
A group of three individuals working together, each lifting heart-shaped icons with hands in the center. Behind them is an image of the Earth, symbolizing global unity, inclusivity and outreach, support and collaboration.
  • Assist other educational institutions across the country to set up similar centres on their campuses.
Colorful illustrative hands form a circle, each displaying a symbol representing different disabilities: physical, auditory, visual, cognitive, and speech.

What we do 

 

Disability Studies today is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field of academic inquiry, rich with untapped research possibilities. These research possibilities need to be comprehensively explored and adequately conceptualised, if we are to move towards achieving the cherished goal of establishing a truly inclusive society. disability awareness campaigns.

In the pursuit of the above goal, the Centre organises a wide range of academic activities, from faculty development programmes and certificate courses to international conferences and webinars on disability studies. In the process, the Centre has enabled both students and faculty across the country to interact closely with internationally renowned scholars in the field like Lennard J. Davis, Tom Shakespeare, Nicholas Watson, Dan Goodley, Anne Waldschmidt, Fiona Kumari Campbell, Anita Ghazi, Amita Dhanda, Renu Addlakha, Shilpaa Anand, and others.

Illustration of colorful raised hands with smiling faces and a central hand integrated with a wheelchair symbol representing inclusion.
A stylized logo symbolizing inclusivity and support, with a central blue circle representing a person and curved, multicolored lines in green, orange, and red forming a circular pattern to convey unity, inclusion and diversity

The Centre also endeavours to broaden the knowledge base of disability studies within the Indian context by encouraging committed research in that area. We actively encourage undergraduate students to engage with disability research under the expert mentorship of renowned disability studies scholars. The Centre strives to function as a nodal institutional site to produce, systemize and disseminate academic knowledge about disability. 

In addition to fostering academic interest in disability studies, the Centre also organizes a number of sensitization workshops and community awareness campaigns on disability with the intention of creating an egalitarian society that appreciates the abilities of persons with disabilities, and willingly provides equal opportunities for all.

But above all, the Centre ceaselessly attempts to create an inclusive teaching and learning atmosphere on campus and foster a level playing field for students with disabilities so that they could realize the fullness of their potential and become significant contributors in India’s growth story.

A colorful illustration depicting six paper cutout-style human figures, including two in wheelchairs, holding hands to symbolize inclusivity, diversity, and unity."
A colorful circular infographic illustrating various aspects of disability inclusion, with icons of individuals representing mobility, visual impairments, wheelchair use, public speaking, shopping, and professional roles.

For this purpose, we profile the students with disabilities in college, identify their specific needs, evolve customized solutions catering to their needs, and provide them with support services, both human and technological, to maximize their potential. These include counselling services, volunteer support, provisions of reasonable accommodation and accessible content, distribution of assistive devices, computer training, skill enhancement and other capacity building programs, and career counselling sessions. The Centre, thus, strives to empower the disabled community through the creation of multiple opportunities and platforms for their sustainable socio-economic, academic, and professional upliftment.

Centre for Disability Research and Training

| Contact Us: cdrt@kmc.du.ac.in |