Leadership vacuum: Why are there less leaders with disabilities in India?

Around the globe, people with disabilities regularly face discrimination and range of disabling barriers to education, health care, employment and other public facilities. Stigmatized attitudes, societal prejudices and negatives stereotypes about individuals with disabilities has profound influence on the integration of such marginalized group into the society. People with disabilities are often underrepresented in leadership positions. Generally, it inspires and empowers people to see faces that look like them in leadership positions. It provides a feeling of being accepted and hope that they too could one day accomplish success like their role model. In India, people with disabilities have received little attention in leadership positions in different platforms of our society. Since there is very little research conducted concerning the topics of leadership and people with disabilities in Indian context, this provides ample opportunity to investigate, hence may be the best starting point for conducting research in this social realm. After reviewing the literature, many multi-dimensional observations were reported. This article focuses on the core themes of disability and leadership qualities. Additionally, explores challenges faced by individuals with disabilities from taking space in society as leaders which has been lacking in generations for a long time. This research leads to a better understanding of the complexities of cultural, socioeconomic, and professional barriers that people with disabilities encounter when navigating life and practicing leadership. This article will offer qualitative information, cases, and suggestions for public organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), social workers, policy makers, academicians, researchers and above all, people in context. It is the belief that this notion of mindset change will become even more advantageous in the years ahead.