Rabia Aziz is the Founder of an online support movement called Special Needs Pakistan which was created in 2013. Soon after, families and individuals from around the world joined her on her journey for raising awareness on Diversity and Inclusion. She is a motivational speaker, facilitator, social worker and professional. She has spoken at many diverse platforms, from Facebook, TEDx, WOW (Women of the World), Ponds, Unilever, Shan Foods, Engro Corp, Beyond Beauty, Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP), Wibcon, USAid, Tri-Pak Films, MatrixFit, Wellness Festivals, Youth Empowerment Programmes & Camps, Corporate Events, Social Media & Television, Rural and Low Income Areas, Government Hospitals and Educational Institutions all across Pakistan. In 2019, she had the privilege of mentoring both at Facebook and as a Ponds Miracle Woman. She is the force behind Aaliya's Care Packages, a social care initiative to help sick children and struggling maternity wards. Her created support network has transformed stigma of the differently abled into a miraculous narrative of powerful stories. During the Pandemic she initiated Live sessions to raise awareness for Mental Health issues and to promote mindfulness in the challenges faced for coping mechanisms for the community. The University of Toronto graduate also started a campaign called #ChooseKind, eight years ago to educate and inculcate awareness, tolerance and kindness into Pakistani global communities. The idea was sparked after the birth of her daughter Aaliya, who was born with Apert Syndrome. Rabia believes in the power of 'Knowing your Now'. She pursues the ideology that hard work and hope combined together unlocks all kinds of potentials.
panel
Caring for a child with a disability, whether autistic, living with Down syndrome, or facing any developmental challenge reshapes a mother’s world. For many, the journey begins with navigating therapies, schools, and daily routines. But for some extraordinary women, that journey expands outward: into creating awareness, championing inclusion, and even founding institutions that support countless other families.