A graduate in sociology and political science from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, Akashdeep wanted to become a doctor. It was at the insistence of his professor that Akashdeep took up a Masters degree in social work. “My thought process and my ideas would contribute to society, according to my professor”, he reminisces. It was during his masters degree in social work that a colleague egged him on to apply for the Youth For Development program, which he did in 2007.

 
His first choice was to volunteer at Umang, an initiative based in Jaipur, dedicated to providing equal opportunities for differently-abled children. “Part of the reason to go to Umang was that I wanted to go to Jaipur and that I’m a vegetarian”, he smiles.
 
In his own words, Akashdeep was neither nervous nor apprehensive about the 6 month long YFD programme. “I was 100% confident that I would accomplish the tasks given to me”, he describes his initial feelings days before the programme began.
 
Once at Umang, Akashdeep recounts his initial approach, “I wanted to learn and understand about disabled children before I could start working on the issue of learning disability”. His assignments during his 6 month stint included being a teaching assistant cum substitute with various advocacy tasks.
 
The most challenging task according to him was covering for teachers in lower classes. “There is a need to become sensitive about the needs of disabled children. It is not easy in a classroom where you have to keep one eye on the students even while writing on a blackboard”, he says.
 
Another one of his tasks was to write slogans for the World Disability Day and a campaign to raise election awareness during the Rajasthan state polls.“At least 3% of the poopluation is disabled. This means that in a country of 1 billion there are 3 crore disabled people. If our constitution talks about Equality, then this population should be made part of the political process. If their votes can win them a representative of their own choice, then decisions will tend to take them in to account”, he describes the importance of his awareness campaign. “What democracy is it, if it doesn’t take in to account the opinion of 3 crore people”, he explains the need for inclusiveness in a fair and just system. 
 
Akashdeep credits a lot of his success to the director of the organisation, Deepak Kalra. “The director’s guidance was crucial to the effective completion of my tasks”, he says. Akashdeep also stresses the need for sensitivity, creativity and immense patience to work with young children. But all the hard work notwithstanding, he has happy memories of working with the children at Umang. “I will never forget the innocent faces of the autistic children I used to work with”, he smiles as he recounts his fond memories.
 
The biggest eye-opener of this volunteering stint has been his changed attitude towards disability. Encapsulating the YFD experience he says, “I had stereotypes about disabled children. Superstitions abound on why there is disability. I learnt how to put myself in another person’s shoes, and to understand their point of view”.
 
Quantifying the benefits of such a program, he says, "Today I have acquired skills to help and assist disabled people. Having said that, I think a lot of research needs to be conducted in the field of disability”. His future plans include to continue working in the development sector. "I wish to continue an association with the issue of disability”.

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