Unveiling the journey of researching with people with physical disabilities: my personal reflections

This article reflects on my journey as a PhD scholar in India, exploring the lived experiences of adults with physical disabilities. It describes the personal experiences that motivated my research, the challenges of navigating ethical approval processes, and the power dynamics encountered during fieldwork. While many reflective accounts examine researcher–participant relations, this piece situates these issues in the Indian context, where disability studies are still emerging. Drawing on both personal encounters and existing scholarship, I highlight the limitations of conventional frameworks, persistent ableist assumptions, and the lack of mechanisms to protect researchers and participants in sensitive research. I argue for a participatory, inclusive approach that recognizes people with disabilities as knowledge producers rather than passive subjects. This reflection aims to foster awareness and empathy among researchers in the disability field.