What If the Limitation Is Ours? | Uttam Kumar | TEDxHyderabad

What happens when a person cannot see or hear the world around them? More importantly, what happens when society is designed as though everyone can? Drawing from over two decades of working with persons with deafblindness, Uttam Kumar shares stories of isolation, resilience, dignity, and possibility. From children hidden away from society to young adults creating livelihoods and employment, this talk challenges us to rethink who is truly excluded and why. At TEDxHyderabad's Fire Up, this talk invites us to ignite something deeper than awareness: a willingness to redesign our world so that everyone belongs "Uttam Kumar is a senior development leader with over two decades of experience championing inclusive social change, specifically focusing on disability inclusion and the rights of persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. As the Chief Executive Officer of Sense International (India), he provides strategic leadership for multi-country programmes across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, guiding the organisation’s long-term vision and sustainable growth. Under his leadership, the organisation has significantly expanded its impact through robust partnerships with governments, civil society, and global development partners. Uttam excels in managing complex programme portfolios, building high-performing teams, and mobilising resources from international donors. Beyond programme management, Uttam actively shapes policy dialogue and inclusive development practices across South Asia by contributing to vital journal articles, publications, and knowledge resources on deafblindness." This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx