In a world that often overlooks the strengths of disabled individuals, Sara Minkara is a reminder that true inclusion means creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute and lead.
Written by Laila Zain, for SAYS, September 13, 2024
Sara Minkara is an internationally recognised champion for disability rights
Image via US Department of State: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor (Facebook)
As a blind, hijabi Muslim woman from the United States of America, Minkara has faced multiple layers of discrimination—racism, ableism, and sexism—but instead of letting those challenges define her, she uses them as a catalyst for change.
Today, the Lebanese-American is an inclusion and disability expert. As a disability rights advocate, she serves as the United States Special Advisor on International Disability Rights in the US Department of State.
SAYS sat down with her to learn more about disability advocacy and how everyone can help play a part.
Sara Minkara (left) sits down with Nandini Balakrishnan for an exclusive interview on SAYS.Image via SAYS
Minkara’s mission is clear: to reshape the world’s understanding of disability and to create spaces where disabled individuals are not only included but celebrated for who they are
As a globally recognised advocate for disability inclusion, Minkara’s work spans multiple sectors, from corporate inclusion consulting to activism.
She founded Empowerment Through Integration (ETI), an organisation aimed at dismantling the societal stigma around disability and creating opportunities for blind individuals and others with disabilities. Through this work, she has had the chance to bring her vision of inclusive leadership to the forefront, challenging the way society perceives people like her.
Image via US Embassy Japan
In a recent interview with SAYS, Minkara opened up about some of the most common misconceptions surrounding blindness and how society needs to shift its perspective
“Blindness is a spectrum,” she shared, dispelling the myth that there is a singular experience of being blind. “Some people can see partially, some not at all. I’m a visual learner — when I talk, I trace information with my finger so I can remember it. People are always shocked.”
This misconception of blindness as a monolith is just one example of the misconceptions she encounters. Perhaps more frustrating is the assumption that blind people, or people with disabilities more broadly, cannot excel in subjects like math and science.
“My sister and I are both blind, and we both majored in math and science,” she said with a smile, pointing out the glaring misunderstanding that visual impairments somehow limit intellectual capabilities.
Image via Sara Minkara
Another key part of Minkara’s advocacy focuses on how society interacts with people with disabilities — both consciously and subconsciously
She is quick to call out the harmful impact of assumptions, pointing out that they often create barriers for individuals in marginalised communities.
“When I walk into a room, people often label me as a blind Muslim woman and start making assumptions about me,” she explained. “What people need to do is delay those labels and assumptions, so they can get to know me as a person.”
For Minkara, the intersection of ableism with other forms of discrimination — such as racism and sexism — is a critical point of discussion. She experiences these ‘isms’ firsthand, not only as a person with a disability but as a woman of colour and a Muslim.
Yet, she also understands that every individual plays a role in both perpetuating and breaking down these harmful narratives. “We all create narratives and assumptions about others, and we need to become more conscious of how we label people in those first few seconds of meeting them.”
Image via US Embassy Japan
What frustrates Minkara the most, though, is how media and entertainment perpetuate limiting and harmful narratives about disabled people
“We’re either portrayed as suffering and struggling, or as superheroes,” she said, exasperated. “Disability is not normalised in our narratives.”
For Minkara, the solution lies in creating more complex, authentic portrayals of people with disabilities in everyday contexts, where disability is just one part of a person’s identity, not the defining characteristic.
Shows like Rami, where a character with a disability is included as part of the story without making disability the focus, represent a step in the right direction. But these instances are still rare. “The entertainment industry hasn’t yet brought that narrative to the mainstream,” she added.
Image via Sara Minkara
This lack of authentic representation extends beyond media into every sector of society, including the workplace
One of Minkara’s key insights is that inclusion cannot happen if the burden is always placed on marginalised individuals to advocate for themselves.
“When we talk about disability-inclusive employment, the focus tends to be on training the disabled individual. But are we training employers and management on how to be inclusive?” she questioned.
This shift in perspective, where inclusion is seen as society’s responsibility and not just the individual’s, is something Minkara emphasises in all aspects of her work. She believes allyship is crucial in breaking down the barriers disabled individuals face, but allyship is more than just offering help.
It’s about asking the right questions and creating spaces where people with disabilities feel empowered to speak up.
“We need to ask, ‘What do you need to thrive?’ That question creates an empowering space for people to bring their authentic selves forward.”
Image via Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers
Sara Minkara’s leadership and advocacy go beyond simply creating awareness
She is challenging the very fabric of societal structures that marginalise people with disabilities, making a strong case that inclusion benefits everyone. “When you exclude the disability community, you’re hurting your GDP, your innovation, your contribution,” she said, illustrating how inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative, but an economic one.
In a world that often overlooks the strengths of disabled individuals, Sara Minkara is a reminder that true inclusion means creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute and lead.
Through her work and her voice, she is ensuring that society moves toward a future where disabilities are not seen as limitations but as an integral part of the human experience.
Image via Sara Minkara