'Different, Not Difficult': UAE Disability Advocate Shobhika Kalra Shares Inspiring Journey in New Memoir

Despite a throat infection on the day of our interview, disability advocate Shobhika Kalra is in good spirits ahead of the launch of her memoir, The World Wasn't Built for Me, So I Built My Own, at the Sharjah International Book Fair on November 11. The 36-year-old has navigated life with Friedreich's ataxia, a progressive neurological disorder diagnosed in her teenage years, which has gradually impacted her mobility and speech. Yet, Kalra remains a dedicated campaigner for disability access in the UAE, where she has resided since the age of four.

Through Wings of Angelz, a volunteer initiative co-founded with her sister Ruchika in 2014, Kalra has been instrumental in making over 1,000 locations across Dubai wheelchair accessible, significantly enhancing freedom and independence for individuals with disabilities. "I actually never thought of it as a very difficult life," Kalra shared with The National. "My life is very different. Different does not mean difficult." Her memoir details her journey, from the hurdles of growing up with a condition that progressively affected her mobility to her unwavering resolve to live life on her own terms. It is a narrative of resilience, gratitude, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of happiness amidst life's challenges.

Kalra was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia at 13, a rare inherited disorder that damages the nervous system, progressively affecting balance, muscle coordination, and movement. As the condition advanced, she experienced increasing weakness, difficulty walking, impaired speech, and swallowing issues, along with potential cardiac and other health complications. While there is no cure for Friedreich's ataxia, treatments can help manage symptoms and slow progression. The diagnosis also brought social challenges, as Kalra recalls friends distancing themselves and a general shift in how people acknowledged her. "My life changed completely," she stated. "My friends stopped speaking to me. People who used to keep praising me all the time, they stopped acknowledging me. Everything changed, you know." By 15, feeling "broken" as her physical abilities declined, she found strength in her family's support, particularly her mother's encouragement of independence and her sister Ruchika's unwavering friendship.

The realization that the world was not designed for people with disabilities became apparent through experiences like her classroom being on an inaccessible upper floor at her Abu Dhabi school, despite her parents' requests for a ground-floor location. A particularly impactful incident occurred during a cinema visit in India, where she and her sister encountered a lack of accessible seating, requiring four strangers to carry her. "I found this very disturbing," Kalra recalled. The cinema manager's dismissive comment about the lack of wheelchair users highlighted a critical issue: accessibility barriers prevent people with disabilities from participating in public life. This realization fueled the creation of Wings of Angelz.

Founded in 2014, Wings of Angelz systematically identified and addressed accessibility gaps in public spaces across the UAE. Kalra and her team engaged in persistent advocacy, approaching businesses and following up to emphasize the importance of ramps and accessible infrastructure. Early campaigns focused on Dubai Metro stations, where, despite accessible station design, surrounding pavements and walkways posed significant obstacles for wheelchair users. Kalra, a daily metro user, often relied on assistance to navigate these areas. Her efforts led to persuading a Roads and Transport Authority official to witness the challenges firsthand, resulting in improvements at multiple stations.

The initiative's impact extended beyond transportation, leading to over 1,000 wheelchair ramps being installed by 2019, earning Kalra recognition for her advocacy. While acknowledging significant improvements in accessibility across the UAE, Kalra now emphasizes the importance of inclusion beyond physical access, focusing on employment opportunities and greater visibility for individuals with disabilities. She believes that their absence from workplaces and public life perpetuates societal unawareness of the barriers they face.

The process of writing her memoir involved revisiting painful memories, a deeply emotional experience for Kalra. "It was a very emotional writing process. It wasn't very easy to write the book." She hopes her story will inspire others facing challenges, urging them to "keep going on" and "don't give up." Her core message to those attending her book launch is simple: "Never give up."

Regarding her future with Friedreich's ataxia, which is progressive, Kalra focuses on the present. "I don't know actually what my future is, but until now I think I'm living pretty well," she stated, expressing pride in her accomplishments. Her ambition is to "keep doing my best every day," recognizing that dreams may or may not materialize, but they do not define one's identity. Kalra's philosophy is to "live in the moment, enjoy everything you can and to do it now."