Dhanya was born with a rare genetic disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). She is known as India’s glass women and is a recipient of State and National awards. She is a TEDx and JoshTalk speaker as well.
Academics & Profession
She was tutored at home until 10th grade by Mrs Victory and distant education; Bachelor of Preparative Program from India Gandhi Open University and Online Novel Writing Certificate Course from The Climber Knowledge and Careers Private Limited (An NSRCEL IIM Bangalore incubated company).
She is a sought after speaker in educational institutions and private establishments. It was her early life difficulties of having more than 200 fractures in her body and a lack of awareness regarding rare diseases that compelled Dhanya to be the voice for the disability community. Dhanya has addressed more than 4000 people globally. She has personally inspired many differently-abled people to improve their lives and careers.
She is active in mobilisation and sensitisation for OI, rare diseases and disability community individually and collaborates with different non-profit organisations (NGOs) in India and USA. She advocates for a more inclusive society and strives to raise awareness about rare genetic conditions. Dhanya is also one of the founder trustees of Aasmaan Foundation Trust and one of the facilitators for an inclusive dance group called ‘The Invincible’. She also volunteers for audio reading for persons with visual impairments.
Her life stories and her experience of meeting different people around the globe through the Disability Awareness and Advocacy Program have brought her many testimonials. During the lockdown, she has been part of many webinars for college students and cooperates and has spoken on topics like inclusivity, mental health, social responsibility etc.
She is a freelance content writer, digital marketer and disability evangelist. Dhanya advocates the need for a more inclusive society and strives to raise awareness about rare genetic conditions. There is no permanent cure for OI but she wishes to bring in a policy wherein it is mandatory to screen for genetic diseases at the early stages of pregnancy. She is actively functioning with empowering projects at various Non-profit organisations and most importantly, playing a key role in creating awareness about the disease through public speaking, news shows, interviews, theatre performance and raising funds for drugs to treat rare diseases of people who fight with similar challenges.
Public Speaking & Activism
It was in her early 20s, a newspaper report compelled her into something she identifies as her purpose in life. She was instrumental in the formation of this organisation and was an active member of the organisation from 2010 to 2017. With Amrithavarshini, she began creating awareness about OI through public speaking, news shows and TV interviews.
She has appeared on television programs including Idea Star Singer – 6, Ningalkkum Akam Kodeeswaran (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) and Ashwamedham (quiz show), Happiness Project and two times TEDx to name a few. She has been a part of many rare diseases program by raising campaigns through talks, social media, short film, theatre drama and participation in walkathon and marathons.
Recent Activities
- Volunteered to raise awareness of Covid-19
- Raised funds for the essential needs by AFT during the lockdown
- Nartana, inclusive dance by differently-abled individuals by AFT on August 15, 2020
- Helped raise 1,58,000 Lakh for people with rare diseases for their medical and assistive aids through crowdfunding. (2019-2020).
- Conducted India’s largest fashion show for differently-abled individuals by #AFT on February 29, 2020
Awards & Recognition
- Recipient of D-30, 2020 by Diversability
- Walking Mind Docudrama | Bharath Chand | Sandeep Balan
- Celebrating inclusiveness on World Environment Day-2020
- Lack of awareness, stigma affects people diagnosed with Brittle Bone disease, Wishbone Day 2020
- Personality Development | Dhanya Ravi | Josh Talks Malayalam
- Recipient of Kerala State Award for the empowerment of persons with disabilities (Best Private Sector Employee – 2019)
- Winner of Spoorthi special award 2019 by Karnataka Women Achiever Award
- Recipient of National Award 2018 in the Role Model category by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, India
- TEDx Speaker 2019 decoding with disability
- One of the facilitators for an Inclusive Dance called ‘The Invincibles’
- Speaker at KWAA – Karnataka Women Achievers’ Awards
- Speaker at Snehadeepam 2018 fundraising event, Boston, Massachusetts
- Speaker 2018: International Autism Conference hosted by Cadrre the Autism Center, Trivandrum
- Visibly Invisible – interact One Step at a Time
- Won annual Inspired Indian foundation award (IIF) 2014 for initiating activities for social causes (from the governor of Karnataka, His excellence H. R. Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru, Karnataka)
- Speaker at We The Women Asia at Mumbai in 2018TEDx speaker 2017 Celebrating the joy of pain
- Speaker at Bangalore Tech Summit 2017 (Bio-Technology session for Rare Diseases)
- Won Certificate of Appreciation from ICICI Bank (advantage women)
- Have addressed motivational talks at various platforms including schools, colleges, corporate companies and public events (Kerala, Karnataka, Mumbai and U.S.A.)
- Recipient of Brave Bangle Award 2012 for the extraordinary women by film-brew (Kochi, Kerala)
- After witnessing her physical struggles, the building authorities at a hostel hall created accessible space (Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2019) in Bangalore
- Appreciation and messages on disability empowerment from some of the most influential people in India for enabling persons with disabilities to live independently and participate in the community-based program
- Many articles about her life journey were published in journals like DailyMail (U.K. edition), The News Minute, Times of India, Deccan Herald, Indian Express, The Better India, Your story, Vanitha Magazine, Manorama News, World Through My Eyes (Singapore edition) and Mathrubhoomi news.
Dhanya’s disability taught her to unlock her potential. This action of being able to connect those who could help with those in need helped me recognise a higher sense of purpose in her life. With a desire for Rare-disease free and inclusive India! She continues her journey by spreading social awareness and supports the community within her limitation.
