Vicky Roy’s photographs look at the abilities of people living with disability

Everyone is Good at Something, first launched as an online exhibition of photographs that portrayed the real stories of people living with disability, now comes to readers in the form of a book. The exhibition has been converted into a photo-book published by India Inclusion Foundation. It is a curated collection of 100 powerful stories that shine a light on the everyday courage, quiet resilience, and often ignoredabilities of people with disabilities across the country.

In a world where stories of disability too often focus on what is missing, photographer Vicky Roy and inclusion advocate V. R. Ferose gave it a different perspective. The photographs depict Vicky’s journey through towns and cities, meeting people whose lives are rarely noticed. Ferose, who lives in California shaped the stories.

Inspired by the storytelling style of Humans of New York but rooted firmly in India’s lanes and backyards, Vicky says, each story, is about seeing ability, not disability. “The way you see a photo changes if the context changes positively,” he says.

Covering over 21 disabilities and more than 200 stories, the project breaks stereotypes. Instead of sad headlines, we see a blind man (Gobinda Majumdar) shaving with a mirror in hand; Amer Hussain, a boy with a locomotor disability chasing dreams and many others dreaming big despite all odds.

Vicky’s work has depth; he travels long distances to frame each story, often spending hours with families to build trust. He does not see this as charity. “It is a circle of giving back to the society that shaped him. The blessings I receive from families are worth more than any reward. When someone says thank you, I sleep well,” he says.

Vicky’s project is about much more than images. “The more you serve, the more you feel alive,” says Ferose. If a small donation — a laptop, a cricket kit, a sewing machine — can help someone grow, our team steps in, he adds.

The Ministry of Social Justice has supported the mission by helping Vicky and Ferose find people whose stories may have otherwise gone unheard and unseen. Each week, the duo carefully balance stories of men and women because they believe every voice must be heard.

Running a project like Everyone Is Good At Something has not been easy. Each story in the early days cost ₹25,000 — covering travel, time, accommodation. To cut down this cost, Vicky often doubled the number of stories per trip, travelling long hours, sometimes covering two stories in a day.

The e-exhibition and the book, also break the myth that disability is always tragic. Instead, each photo reflects warmth, honesty and a familiarity. The people in them are not models; they are neighbours, colleagues, friends we may never have paused to see .

“Behind every face, there is an act of courage — sometimes as small as stepping outside for a photo shoot, sometimes as big as living independently against all odds. These are not stories staged in studios. They are real, alive, and honest,” says Vicky.

The mission is an open invitation to look deeper, ask questions, and believe that ability is all around only if we choose to see it.