Culture plays a big part in reducing the role of disabled women in social, parental and economic situations, and in preventing participation in developmental activities. Disabled women in Calcutta not only cope with the serious challenges of daily living, but must also struggle with issues of identity in a culture that does not recognize, nor respect people with disabilities. The DPI Women's Committee hopes to facilitate the integration of disabled women and their issues into society. Also, it is hoped that by having disabled women form support groups, their needs and concerns can be identified and responded to more effectively. Some families and organizations in India still believe strongly in the charity model, which impedes the self-esteem of women and girls with disabilities.
Many families continue to be very protective of women and girls with disabilities.
They are not often let out of their homes, let alone encouraged to take part in programs to enhance their future. Because women with disabilities do not have an organized women's group where they can identify their issues, they have had little impact on DPI India. This has caused them to be left out of much of the development of the organization. The proposed women's programs in India will have a great impact on women because they intend to include both young and older women. The women from the Integrated Disabled Employees Association, which is a member of DPI India, selected Sreelata Gosh Chowdhury to assist in forming a women's program.