Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part L (2025)

In Kashmir, the disability movement has grown to be a strong but little-researched force that is fighting systemic stigma, changing public opinion, and defending the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. Disability activism in Kashmir, which has its roots in a territory characterized by decades of political violence, socioeconomic instability, and a lack of institutional assistance, has developed from lone voices of suffering to group initiatives aiming at structural change. Although attitudes toward disability have historically been molded by cultural beliefs, conventional conventions, and ongoing marginalization, there has been a slow but notable change in recent decades. Social, institutional, and political spaces for people with disabilities have started to be reclaimed by civil society initiatives, parental associations, grassroots action, and rights-based organizations. However, this change is still unequal and calls for careful scholarly investigation. This research paper aims to investigate how the disability movement in Kashmir promotes opportunities for social involvement, legal acknowledgment, and policy reform while challenging ingrained stigma. It aims to investigate the methods, stories, and day-to-day challenges that people and groups use to negotiate citizenship, visibility, and dignity in a complicated socio-political setting. The study emphasizes the transformational potential of disability activism as a social movement and a site of identity construction by examining lived experiences, advocacy methods, and institutional reactions. Additionally, the study intends to record the empowerment discourses that are developing within the movement, especially those spearheaded by parents, youth leaders, and individuals with disabilities themselves, and how these contribute to more general societal change in the area. The rationale for undertaking this study arises from the scarcity of scholarly work on disability activism in Kashmir, despite its growing relevance in contemporary debates on rights, inclusion, and social justice. Existing literature on disability in India often overlooks regional disparities, conflict-affected contexts, and the specific challenges faced by Kashmiri communities. Moreover, disability continues to be framed within charity-based or medicalized paradigms, which obscure the political agency and collective strength of disabled individuals and their families. This research therefore addresses an important gap by foregrounding the voices and aspirations of disability activists in Kashmir and by situating their efforts within the larger struggle for equality and human dignity. Ultimately, the paper argues that challenging stigma and claiming space are central not only to the disability movement but also to the broader pursuit of a more inclusive and just Kashmiri society.