Disha Pandya, hailing from Mumbai, was born with Achondroplasia Dwarfism, a condition that causes dwarfism from birth. She dreaded going to school because of the relentless teasing from her peers. The bullying sometimes made her so sad that she would cry in front of her teachers and parents. Her parents who were also dwarfs, often felt responsible for her condition.

Even getting a job was a humongous task for her. She faced rejections in 17 interviews, but she never gave up. Today, she is an international para-athlete and helps others find employment. Let’s read about Disha’s inspiring journey. 

Disha's career

Disha Pandya faced rejection 17 times in her job interviews. Determined to prevent others from going through similar experiences due to dwarfism, she decided to make a difference. Despite all the setbacks and facing rebuke from several interviewers, she worked for companies like HDFC Bank and Bisleri. With 12 years of experience, Disha is now a creative head in a company, excelling her role as a professional graphic designer.

The Little People of India

Disha founded ‘The Little People of India’ to support people with dwarfism. Currently, over 650 people are associated with the organization. This initiative aims to provide a platform for those with dwarfism and refine their talents to help them find employment. 

Organizing Job Fairs

In May 2024, Disha Pandya in collaboration with ‘Vividhta,’ organized a job fair at The Club Juhu in Mumbai. The event saw participation from people in the LGBTQ community, former military officers, acid attack survivors, and people from minority groups.

Two people with dwarfism benefited from the fair as they secured jobs at Amazon with the facility to work from home and provisions to meet their needs. Disha’s achievements as para-athlete also brought attention to her organization, helping to improve the lives of people with dwarfism.