The colourful world of US special advisor on disability rights

Sara Minkara is a senior diplomat for disability rights. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights at the US Department of State.

My first encounter with her was at the AmCham Summit 2024, a bustling event brimming with influential figures and ground-breaking ideas. Her team had reached out to me beforehand, requesting that I greet the adviser from the United States. I was unaware that she was blind.

As I approached her, her team meticulously described my outfit to her. Sara extended her hand, gently touching the fabric to feel its texture. Her fingers moved delicately, and she asked me about the colours I was wearing.

What captivated her most was my green hair. This experience was profoundly eye-opening, highlighting how far we still have to go in achieving true inclusion for people with disabilities in many parts of the world.

"People with disabilities, like everyone else, have strengths, weaknesses, and multifaceted identities. They don’t seek pity but understanding and equality," she said.

Sara’s office is a beacon of hope, dedicated to changing narratives and implementing legislative policies for the rights of people with disabilities. They champion values of empathy, love, and human visibility, striving to be seen and respected.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Sara approaches the world in a unique, out-of-the-box way. She’s not a conventional creative person but a visionary who thinks beyond traditional boundaries.

Her focus is on achieving goals in disability inclusion, leveraging her love for numbers and statistics to drive change.

"Don’t read me poetry; it goes in one ear and out the other I am a visual learner who loves to see the world through the lens of data," Sarah explained

Every time Sara saw me, she was keen to know what I was wearing, always needing a full description. Her curiosity and attention to detail were remarkable.

When I asked her about her goals, she shared three clear and compelling objectives: Making the creative industry accessible, disrupting the narrative normalizing disability through inclusive practices fostering a society that embraces diversity and rejects stereotypes, and bringing inclusivity to the creative economy.

Her dedication to inclusivity is evident in her practical suggestions for change.

Fashion designers need to create clothes that everyone can wear, regardless of their physical abilities. Similarly, movies with subtitles help people with disabilities focus better, enhancing their viewing experience.

The economic implications are significant. When people with disabilities are not integrated into the economy, it affects the GDP by as much as eight per cent. In Kenya, the creative industry contributes 5 per cent to the GDP, and failing to harness the potential of people with disabilities means losing out on this economic contribution.

Her vision also extends to sustainability and farming. Accommodation in all sectors is vital to include people with disabilities effectively.

In Kenya, connecting ministries with relevant policymakers and technical offices in the US is a step towards achieving this inclusivity.

One impressive project in Kenya involves a partnership to train 1,410 farmers with disabilities, breaking down supply chain barriers. Coca-Cola has committed to ensuring three per cent of their retail distributors in Kenya are women with disabilities.

Technology plays a role too, with accessibility features like blind voice-over for emails and messages, although touch screens can pose challenges in hotels where switch buttons are preferred.

The lack of comprehensive data on disability further marginalizes this community, and AI can perpetuate these biases if not addressed correctly. Movies and shows often misrepresent disability, focusing on tragic narratives instead of embracing all identities.

Society’s perception impacts how individuals feel about themselves, and for her, understanding and embracing her disability was a journey.

Sara said it took a long time to overcome people’s pity.

During wedding ceremonies, people would tell the mother "Abelek". The Arabic term "Abelek" suggested the younger brother would marry before her and her blind sister, which saddened her mother, making her feel inadequate.

However, her mother assured Sarah and her blind sister that if they were meant to get married, it would happen.

Curious about her taste in men, I asked what kind of guy she would be attracted to. Laughing out loud, she said; “He has to carry me, smell good, and be intellectually stimulating.”

Sara's insight and humanity are truly illuminating. Her work is a testament to the power of inclusion and the potential for a more equitable and vibrant society.