Virali Modi [1] (born 29 September 1991) is a disability rights activist and motivational speaker from India. [2] She spent much of her youth in the United States, but after a visit to India she entered a coma due to contracting malaria. [3] She survived, but could no longer walk. [4] She came second in the Miss Wheelchair India contest in 2014 and as a result gathered a large following on social media. [1] She began a Change.org petition titled "Implement Disabled Friendly Measures in Indian Railways." [5] Her efforts to make railways more accessible landed her in "100 Women (BBC)" for 2017. [6] She has given multiple TEDx talks on her experiences and struggles due to her disability. [7] [8] [9] She has started campaigns to promote accessibility for disabled individuals one titled #MyTrainToo which she began in 2017 as well as another titled #RampMyRestaurant. [5]
