Community inspires a sense of belonging, support, and connection, which contribute to a happy and balanced life. This is doubly true for people living with disabilities, who may struggle to access education and employment and subsequently become socially isolated and dependent on family for care. With the right opportunities, they can build a rich social life, live independently, and realize the benefits of a community.

Meet Indhu Nagarajan. The 31-year-old was born near Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, India with very limited mobility. With the support of her family and community, Indhu has been able to pursue education, employment, and stability. These efforts culminated in a job at Vindhya e-Infomedia Pvt Ltd, an Indian business process outsourcing company where 30 percent of its 2,600 employees are persons with disabilities, alongside women and talent from marginalized communities. Accion invested in Vindhya to help scale its efforts to connect people like Indhu with meaningful employment, low-cost accommodation, and a path to financial independence.

As a customer support executive, Indhu enjoys the challenge of building rapport with customers. “My work needs convincing skills, and I enjoy coming up with ideas on how to make sales,” she says. As a child, her parents could not take care of her, so her grandparents took her in. Her grandfather went so far as to carry her to and from school until they found an orphanage that would provide education and, ultimately, a surgery that improved her mobility. She pursued higher education and realized she would need to take care of herself after she graduated.

Vindhya e-Infomedia is an impact-sourcing enterprise and business process services company focused on enriching lives by creating dignified, respectful livelihood opportunities while delivering high-quality, technology-enabled BPO solutions to customers worldwide. Founded in 2006, Vindhya combines business excellence with social purpose. With five delivery centers across India and a presence across BFSI, Healthcare, E-commerce, and IT industries, Vindhya serves as a trusted partner to 50+ leading organizations. As a solution-driven and consultative partner, Vindhya focuses on driving value, efficiency, and inclusivity in every engagement, demonstrating that inclusion and business performance can go hand in hand.

After graduating, Indhu learned about Vindhya from a fellow guest at a wedding she attended. She persuaded a friend to interview with her. Now, both have worked there for three years and live in company-subsidized housing. Instead of depending on family or charity, she supports herself. The experience has been transformational. As she describes it, “Now, I buy my own clothes, my own jewels, I do everything. Everything has changed.”

“I have seen how Vindhya has created opportunities for people with disabilities,” she continues. “If I get in the position someday, I will also create opportunities for people with disabilities.” Beyond supporting herself, Indhu sends money to her grandfather, now 74, widowed, and struggling with low vision and heart disease. Despite the distance, she travels to see him during festival seasons. She also saves money for two boys at the orphanage where she grew up, so they can also pursue their education.

“Don’t think that if you are a person with a disability, then you can’t do anything. You are just like everyone. Just go into the room and do what you want to do. Take the opportunity.”

Since its inception, Accion Emerge has founded, invested in, and helped operate innovative financial service providers like Vindhya so that underserved people around the world have access to services and jobs that meet their needs.

Surrounded by colleagues and friends, Indhu says she now has a community to cheer her up on hard days and celebrate with on good ones. She wants the same for others like her, saying, “I would say, don’t think that if you are a person with a disability, then you can’t do anything. You are just like everyone. Just go into the room and do what you want to do. Take the opportunity.”