Dr. Vaishali Kolhe, working as Associate Professor and former Chairperson of The Centre for Disability Studies and Action, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Mumbai campus. She joined TISS in June 2002 as an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Medical & Psychiatric Social Work (Currently as Centre for Health and Mental Health). After restructuring of the institute she was shifted to Centre for Disability Studies & Action in June 2006. 

Her academic engagements are teaching, training, research & consultation in the field of disability,Inclusion Accessibility, Higher Education, Health, mental health, early intervention, Skill development, disability laws, policy initiatives, barrier-free environment, convergence, and sustainable development goals with reference to disability. She is currently engaged in two field actions, research initiatives with a people-centred approach and disability inclusion programmes at universities. 

In 2003-2005, she actively engaged in field based work with mental health issues of children, youth, women and Child labourers in Dharavi slums & M Ward worked towards their education, vunerability, Health, and skill-based empowerment for three years. 

In 2004, she worked in the TISS Tsunami Disaster Relief Activities at Cadloor district at coastal villages on needs assessment,trauma Counselling and crisis intervention. 

In 2011-2015, she presented various papers on National and International Conferences such as International Conference on Education for All” University of Warsaw, Poland 2011. She had been to the University of Gothenburg, Sweden as a faculty exchange Programme for teaching and collaborations during April 2011 for two weeks. 

In 2016 Organised the First International Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion in India followed by Organising National Conference on Disability, Accessibility, Inclusion and Wellbeing in 2017,2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 as part of FAP, the initiative to create a national platform for all professionals to dialogue on emerging Issues in the context of RPWD Act 2016 and legal and policy practices & bring best practices in the country on disability inclusion and innovation inviting WHO/UN representatives. 

NEP 2020 & Covid -19 Initiatives- 

1.Organized National Webinar on “E-Learning and Digital Technology for Persons with Disabilities in light of New Education Policy” on 10 September 2020, webinar organized by I Access Rights Mission, Centre for Disability Studies and Action, TISS in collaboration with National Institute of Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities,(Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, MoSJ&E), Saksham Trust,Daisy Forum of India. 

2. Organised National Webinar on the Implementation of Rights for Persons with Disability and Covid 19 Scenario. Dec 3, 2021, on the eve of World Disability Day at TISS by inviting law professors from renowned universities. 

Policy Initiatives  

1. Drafted GR dated 4/3/2017 and 28/09/2018 on Students with Disability in Higher Education for the Government of Maharashtra released by Joint Secretary, Shri Sidharth Kharat. Dept of Higher and Technical Education.  

2. Drafted Disability Policy in Higher Education for Maharashtra with the Directorate of Higher Education while working with 14 State Universities and stakeholders in 2021 and submitted Policy draft to the Chief Secretary, Secretary HE, MoSJ and CM of the Government of Maharashtra. The said draft disability policy in Higher Education was endorsed by the State Human Rights Commission of Maharashtra.  

Publications: 

Editor of TISS Journal of Disability Studies and Research (Half Yearly, Peer-reviewed Journal) ISSN: 2583-603X (PRINT) 

Conference Convener: 

The National Conference on Disability, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Wellbeing has been organized at the TISS every year. It aims to bring together researchers, teachers, students, and experts under one platform to dialogue on disability as a development agenda. It fosters debate and re-imagines disability inclusion in society by discussing the emerging issues of persons with disabilities to develop strategies and a roadmap for the future. Also, there is scope to share best practices and inclusive strategies to promote the value of inclusion among all academic disciplines and recognize the multidisciplinary approach required to design needs-based interventions/services for persons with disabilities to facilitate equal access to resources and ensure a dignified life for persons with disabilities.