Finding ability in disability

The shackles of disability can only be broken with the weapon of courage and determination. Apoorv Om, a Delhi based hearing and speech impaired artist is on a mission to prove the same to the world. This 24-year-old who advocates for inclusion of people with hearing disabilities (along with other specially-abled people) into the mainstream, recently received the 2019 National Youth Award from Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports. Om was the first deaf recipient of the award, which he received for his remarkable contributions in art and youth activism.

The youngster strongly believes that people with special abilities need inclusive education.  “I am a follower of Mandela, Gandhi, Kofi Annan and Swami Vivekananda and believe in their spirit of zero discrimination. Love, peace and equality is all that we need in society,” says Om, who has spoken about his ideas for youth development at the Youth development conference organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs. Om’s struggle for inclusion started early as he studied in a regular school where out of 40 regular students he was the only deaf student in his class.

He has received multiple awards for his work to provide free yoga, art and craft to the children and the youth, coming from under-privileged society. “My message to the whole world is more about ability, rather than disability. The award makes me feel like I can achieve my goals now,” says Om. Apoorv dreams of helping 12 million children and youth with disabilities join mainstream with the help of a digital revolution.