When a child enters a classroom, they bring their ways of seeing, sensing, moving, and being in the world.

For children with visible and invisible disabilities, the classroom can become a site of immense opportunities or exclusion. It is not the diagnosis but the everyday barriers, the unspoken biases, and the absence of support that shape their experience of learning and belonging.

Postcards brings to you yet another compelling episode which sheds light on disability rights, inclusive education, and the power of centering lived experience. At the intersection of identity, policy, and community, this episode reminds us that inclusion is not an add-on; it is a fundamental right.

In this episode, Nikunj talks to Pratik Agarwal, Executive Director at ASTHA Foundation, where we explore what it truly means to build classrooms that don’t just accommodate but embrace every child. Pratik takes us through the layered realities of disability in India, highlighting how systems can transform when they begin by listening to those most impacted. As we follow his journey into the field, we unfolded the stories, struggles, and solidarities that define the disability movement during the course of the episode. He reflects on:

1. The personal motivation that led him to work in the disability sector and the communities that shaped his path.

2.  The policy gaps and resources allocated for an equitable model for a child. 

3. The critical role of parents and communities in advocating for and nurturing children with disabilities.

4. The promise and pitfalls of AI and assistive technologies, and how tech must be guided by ethics, accessibility, and lived experience.

This episode urges listeners to recognize the everyday forms of exclusion that go unnoticed, and to imagine schools where every child’s dignity, agency, and potential are honored.

Hi and welcome to Postcards—your passport to people, policy, and politics! We're a platform dedicated to spotlighting issues often overlooked or underrepresented in mainstream discourse. With a commitment to amplifying diverse voices and lived realities, we offer systemic insight into unseen perspectives and unheard stories.

📅 Recording Date: 8th November 2025 

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