IDIA organizes its Annual Conference on Law & Storytelling in Delhi
“The Universe is made of stories, not atoms.” So said the poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser. Indeed, stories lie at the very core of our existence! They give meaning to our lives, enrich our cultures and help us make sense of a world that is both complex and uncertain. Stories play a particularly important […]
Inauguration of NLUO – IDIA Accessibility Lab: IDIA Odisha
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified by India on October 1, 2007. Under the Convention, the states are obligated to create an enabling, inclusive and accessible environment for all persons with disabilities in order for them to develop their capabilities, be self-reliant, and to lead a life of dignity. […]
IDAP Interview Series: Interview XVI with Isaac Lidsky
Source: Bigspeak This IDAP interview features Isaac Lidsky, a former clerk for US Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He is also the founder of various startups and nonprofits, a graduate of Harvard (cum laude), and New York Times best-selling author of his book ‘Eyes Wide Open’. In this interview, Isaac shares […]
IDAP Interview Series: Interview XV with Judge Ronald M. Gould
This IDAP interview features Judge Ronald M. Gould, who has served at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with distinction since his appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1999. Judge Gould, an alumnus of the University of Michigan Law School, was diagnosed with a progressive form of multiple sclerosis in 1990. While […]
Nikita Shukla – A Story of True Grit and Determination!
“Nothing can dim the light which shines within” – Anonymous On this note, we are pleased to introduce to you the latest addition to the IDIA Family – a young, bright and highly inspiring girl! A visually impaired aspiring lawyer, her spirit and attitude towards life and the challenges it throws are worth emulating! It is in the rarest of rare circumstances that IDIA takes on a scholar mid-way through his/her journey through law school. However, a student as exceptional as her deserves all exceptions to be made for her! Nikita Shukla is a third-year law student at Government Law College, Mumbai and has seen her fair share of hurdles in life. Her parents wanted to marry her off right after she finished school. However, Nikita was adamant on pursuing further studies so as to become financially independent and fight her own battles! Sadly, her parents refused to support her decision and she was asked to leave the house. Its been three years since – in this period, she made her way to law school and has been performing exceedingly well! Unfortunately, her family continues to sever ties with her and and she has not had any contact with her parents and her siblings. Read on to know more …
IDAP Interview Series: Interview VIII with Senior Advocate SK Rungta
We began this interview series with the principal objective of curating insights from lawyers with disabilities who can serve as ‘waypavers’ and ‘pathmarkers’ for law students and young lawyers with disabilities, in India and beyond. It would be no exaggeration to state that few people fit that description better than our next interviewee, Senior Advocate Santosh Kumar Rungta. Blind since birth, SK Rungta has surmounted challenges most would consider insurmountable and has successfully defied, and continues to defy, what most would consider incredibly difficult odds. Senior Advocate Rungta’s accomplishments would be noteworthy even if he was merely a practicing lawyer – he was conferred with the prestigious senior advocate title by the Delhi High Court in 2011 – but what sets him apart is the fact that he has generously devoted his skills and energy to breaking down many barriers that have prevented the disabled from realizing their full potential.
IDAP Interview Series: Interview VII with David Lepofsky
Lepofsky, a highly distinguished Canadian lawyer who happens to be blind. Born in 1957, David graduated from the Osgoode Hall Law School with honours in 1979 and obtained a Masters of Law from the highly prestigious Harvard Law School in 1982. Thereafter, up to 2015, David practiced law with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in such diverse areas of law as constitutional, administrative and criminal law.
IDAP Interview Series: Interview VI with Richard Chen
Richard is a highly accomplished counsel in the corporate and securities practice group at Arnold & Porter LLP. He received his B.A. with honors from Harvard College and he then went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1998. In this interview, Richard speaks to us, at length, about his corporate career spanning over 18 years and the challenges that he faced and overcame in college and at his workplace.
IDAP Interview Series: Interview V with Jack Chen
Our next interview in the IDAP interview series features Jack Chen, a highly accomplished patent attorney who works at Google in New York City.
Despite being completely blind for the last 25 years, Jack has scaled many peaks in his academic and professional life, having obtained degrees in computer science and law from Harvard University, UC Berkeley and Fordham University School of Law.
In addition to being an exceptional patent attorney, Jack has also competed in marathons and ironman triathlons. You can read more about his stellar achievements here.
We are particularly thrilled to be getting an opportunity to bring you this interview on the 3rd of December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. For it is our earnest belief that stories such as Jack’s are a testament to the fact that one’s dreams should not be handicapped by one’s disability; that having sight is not a prerequisite to having vision; and that, if provided appropriate support systems, there is no impediment too difficult to surmount for the disabled.
Not hereditary property; common property! – Justice Prabha Sridevan writes about IDIA
IDIA recently had the honour of Justice Prabha Sridevan writing about IDIA in a very popular Tamil daily – Dinamani. She talks about IDIA, our scholars, and opportunity to pursue education for all.