National Dialogue on Bridging Academia and the Disability Movement.
On 24th Dec, Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), with support from CBM Global Disability Inclusion and Amplify Change, organized a National Dialogue on Bridging Academia and the Disability Movement in Nepal at Indreni Suites, New Baneshwar. The event brought together academicians, researchers, disability rights activists, OPD leaders, and development practitioners to examine the status of disability-inclusive academic discourse in Nepal, identify the gaps, and explore ways to integrate disability perspectives into teaching, curriculum development, research initiatives, and knowledge production.
In the dialogue, Dr. Neeti Aryal Khanal, the Assistant Professor of Tribhuvan University deliverd the key presentation while Dr. Bhagwan Aryal from Tribhuvan University, Mr. Jileshan Saha from Kathmandu University, Dr. Sunit Adhikari, the Research Practitioner and Ms. Anjana Shrestha, the disability rights advocate were present as the panelists.
During the dialogue, speakers highlighted that while disability issues are gradually gaining attention in research and policy, they remain insufficiently mainstreamed within academic discourse. A technical presentation by Dr. Neeti Aryal Khanal of Tribhuvan University traced the evolution of Disability Studies globally and in Nepal, emphasizing that the field has largely emerged through the advocacy of persons with disabilities themselves and the shift toward the social model of disability. Panelists further noted persistent challenges such as limited curriculum integration, attitudinal barriers within academic institutions, lack of accessibility in higher education, and minimal collaboration between academia and OPDs.
The dialogue concluded with strong calls for sustained collaboration between academic institutions and OPDs, dedicated funding for disability-inclusive knowledge production, and the development of accessible learning platforms. Participants welcomed the growing interest of universities, particularly Kathmandu University, in initiating Disability Studies as a formal discipline. Also, they welcomed the commitments of Martin Chautari that jointly initiating regular discourse on disability inclusion. In his closing remarks, BYAN’s Chief Advisor Kaladhar Bhandari emphasized that the dialogue marked the beginning of a continuous engagement process, reaffirming BYAN’s commitment to advancing rights-based, inclusive academic and research practices in Nepal.