Energy, Inclusion, and Everyday Life: The untold energy stories of people with disabilities through PhotoVoice in Ahmedabad - Amita Bhakta

This blog was originally written for and posted on the Modern Energy Cooking Services programme website and available here.

By Katha Bhatt (Prabhat Education Foundation), Dr Amita Bhakta (Independent Consultant), Krishna Keshavani (Prabhat Education Foundation), and Pramila Silakari (Prabhat Education Foundation)

If you are a person living with a disability in a low- or middle-income country, chances are you have less access to electricity than able-bodied individuals. Yet, reliable and affordable electricity is essential—not only for operating assistive devices and electric cooking appliances but also for reducing exposure to polluting biomass sources that pose serious health risks. Despite this, very little is known about how people with disabilities access and use energy in their daily lives.

In ongoing research for the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, Prabhat Education Foundation and Dr. Amita Bhakta are using an innovative participatory method called PhotoVoice to delve deeper into the experiences of people with disabilities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. This study aims to uncover the unique challenges and adaptations in their energy usage, particularly in cooking and other household tasks.

Unveiling Stories Through PhotoVoice

PhotoVoice, or participatory photography, is a powerful tool that encourages people to critically reflect on their everyday realities. By providing cameras to individuals with disabilities—or taking photographs under their direction—we have documented the barriers they encounter in performing routine tasks, such as cooking meals, making tea, or simply turning on a light switch.

Through this process, we have worked with individuals with orthopedic and visual impairments from diverse socio-economic backgrounds across Ahmedabad. Each participant was encouraged to reflect on five aspects of energy use they appreciate and five challenges they face. Preparing for photography sessions in advance has been particularly beneficial, as it helps participants think critically about the moments they wish to capture.

Crucially, participants were given the freedom to choose:
✅ Whether they wanted to take the photos themselves or direct us to do so.
✅ Which moments and aspects of their daily lives they wanted to highlight.
✅ Whether they wanted their faces to be visible in the published images.

✅ Whether they wanted their own name to be attributed with the photos, which remain their copyright images, or a different one

This ensured that people with disabilities had complete ownership of the process, making their voices central to the study.

Unexpected Insights from the Field

One of the most striking stories comes from Hiraben, who is completely visually impaired. Initially, our team was uncertain about how PhotoVoice—a method that relies on visuals—could be used with someone who cannot see. However, as soon as we met her, Hiraben guided us on exactly when and what to photograph while she cooked.

Figure 1: “So that the hot Roti does not touch my hand and burn me, I will raise it higher with ‘Taavetha’ (flat iron instrument with a long handle to flip or turn food on the frying pan). It’s a little tough because the fear of being burnt is too much when flipping the Roti…” (Photo: Hiraben Purohit)

Figure 2: “I keep the edges of the knife a little dull so it’s easier to chop and cut vegetables in the process of cooking. Surely, it takes time but it saves me from knife-cuts.” (Photo: Hiraben Purohit)

Her experience revealed how different senses play a crucial role in cooking for people with visual impairments:
🔹 Her sense of smell helped distinguish between various masalas.
🔹 The texture of her rotis told her when they were fully cooked.

For individuals with orthopedic impairments, kitchen setups looked entirely different. Rekhaben and Shaheen both have mobility challenges, and their kitchens are designed accordingly—with stoves and essential ingredients placed at ground level within easy reach. These adaptations, captured through PhotoVoice, highlight how accessible energy use is not just about electricity but also about inclusive design.

Figure 3: “My mixer has a short wire and I can’t stand for long so I have to use the switchboard that is on the other side of the room each time I want to use an appliance. I can sit on the bed then and use the appliance which is easy but getting there is difficult.” (Photo: Rekhaben Rawal)

Figure 4: “I know how to install the cylinder but I cannot take it inside. I have to depend on someone else. I have to call my neighbours or my brother. Or if my husband is here, I have to ask him to install it or keep it inside so that I can install it. I need someone for this also. I cannot do it myself.” (Photo: Shaheen Parveen)

Illuminating Realities: Key Takeaways from PhotoVoice

🔹 It’s more than just taking photos—it’s about the process. The conversations, reflections, and personal narratives behind each photo provided deep insights.
🔹 The same image can tell multiple stories. A single photograph can depict both obstacles and strengths, depending on the participant’s perspective.
🔹 Verbal storytelling is equally impactful. Some participants found photography challenging but conveyed rich narratives through their words.

Challenges and Considerations

Successfully implementing PhotoVoice requires thoughtful planning:
📅 Time Commitment – Each session takes a full day, requiring flexibility in scheduling.
📸 Printed Photos Matter – Having physical copies helps participants rank images and provide meaningful captions.

Looking Ahead

PhotoVoice has proven to be a transformative tool in understanding the lived realities of people with disabilities in relation to energy access. It has revealed the deeply personal nature of energy use—what works for one person may not work for another. True accessibility requires a deep understanding of individual experiences before designing infrastructure or policies.

This research is just the beginning. There is an urgent need for further exploration and action to address the energy needs of people with disabilities. Through blogs, articles, and visual exhibitions, we aim to share these powerful stories—bringing them to the forefront of discussions on energy access and inclusion at both regional and international levels.