Mahila Udyami Foundation and Kartikey Foundation recognizes an extraordinary woman whose commitment to accessibility, equal opportunity, and disability inclusion demonstrates that true leadership is measured by the barriers we remove for others.
NEW DELHI, INDIA — October 18, 2026 — In a powerful celebration of courage, resilience, and global leadership, Priscilla In a powerful celebration of courage, resilience, and global leadership, Garces, founder of Always Forward and an advocate for disability rights and inclusion, was honored with the prestigious Super Mahila of the Year 2026 Award during an international recognition ceremony organized by Mahila Udyami Foundation in collaboration with Kartikey Foundation.
The recognition was among the most meaningful moments of the Super Woman of the Year 2026 celebration, which brought together more than 200 women from around the world to recognize their contributions to education, entrepreneurship, humanitarian service, advocacy, and community development.
For Garces, the award represents something greater than an individual achievement. It recognizes a mission centered on making sure that people, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, have the opportunity to participate, contribute, and lead.
Her message is powerful: Inclusion is not a privilege extended to a few. It is a right that belongs to everyone.
𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
As a woman who is blind, Priscilla Garces brings lived experience to her advocacy for accessibility, dignity, and equal participation.
Her work challenges the assumptions and barriers that too often determine what people with disabilities are expected or permitted to achieve.
Rather than allowing disability to define the boundaries of possibility, Garces uses her voice and platform to advocate for a society where individuals are recognized for their talents, aspirations, and contributions.
Through Always Forward, she advances conversations about inclusion, representation, and the importance of creating opportunities for people who have historically been excluded from decision-making spaces.
Her leadership reflects an essential distinction: accessibility is not merely about helping individuals overcome obstacles. It is about ensuring those obstacles are not unnecessarily created in the first place.
For millions of people living with disabilities, barriers to education, employment, entrepreneurship, transportation, and civic participation continue to limit opportunities.
Advocacy leaders like Garces help bring these realities into public conversations while encouraging organizations and communities to adopt more inclusive practices.
Her recognition celebrates this commitment to change.
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Disability inclusion is frequently discussed in terms of awareness and compassion.
But awareness alone does not guarantee equality.
Real inclusion requires accessible systems, equitable policies, meaningful representation, and opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in economic and social life.
It requires listening to the individuals directly affected by exclusion and recognizing their expertise in identifying practical solutions.
Garces’ advocacy helps reinforce the principle that individuals with disabilities must not simply be included in conversations about their futures.
They must have the opportunity to lead those conversations.
This distinction is especially important for women with disabilities, who may encounter overlapping challenges related to gender inequality, inaccessible environments, economic discrimination, and limited opportunities for leadership.
Creating meaningful change requires addressing these barriers together rather than treating disability inclusion and women’s empowerment as separate issues.
An inclusive society recognizes that women are not a single, uniform group.
Their experiences differ, and policies intended to empower women must reflect that diversity.
𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐔𝐝𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲
For Dr. Virginia Rivera, President and CEO of Mahila Udyami Foundation, the decision to honor Priscilla Garces reflects the organization’s broader commitment to ensuring that empowerment includes women of different backgrounds, circumstances, and abilities.
The foundation’s guiding principle, “Women Are Infrastructure, Not Intervention,” emphasizes the essential role women play in strengthening communities and building sustainable economies.
𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙.
Women cannot participate fully in economic development if education, financial resources, employment opportunities, or decision-making spaces remain inaccessible.
Garces’ recognition demonstrates that addressing these barriers is not simply a humanitarian concern.
It is a matter of dignity, rights, leadership, and economic opportunity.
𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞:
Women with disabilities do not need permission to lead. They need the same access, respect, and opportunities afforded to everyone else.
Mahila Udyami Foundation’s recognition of Garces also highlights the value of advocates whose influence extends beyond their individual achievements.
By challenging exclusion, these leaders help create conditions in which future generations may encounter fewer barriers.
𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞
The Super Mahila of the Year 2026 Award was represented by an elegant commemorative trophy featuring a golden woman raising a jeweled pink crown.
The trophy symbolizes dignity, leadership, resilience, and the possibilities that emerge when women are given the freedom to realize their potential.
The Mahila in the trophy is looking up, symbolizing that we don’t see
For Garces, the symbolic imagery carries an especially meaningful message.
The crown represents more than recognition or prestige.
It represents the right of every woman to be acknowledged, valued, and empowered—without having to conform to society’s expectations of what strength or success should look like.
The recognition also challenges traditional narratives about disability.
People with disabilities should not be celebrated merely for living with a disability or accomplishing everyday tasks.
Their leadership deserves recognition for the same reasons as anyone else’s: the ideas they contribute, the work they accomplish, the communities they serve, and the positive change they create.
In honoring Garces, Mahila Udyami Foundation and Kartikey Foundation celebrated not disability itself, but the impact of a woman committed to advancing inclusion and opportunity for others.
𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲
The October 18 ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, educators, entrepreneurs, humanitarian leaders, and advocates from diverse countries and professional backgrounds.
Hosted by Linda Pereira, Chairperson of Mahila Udyami Foundation’s Global Advisory Board, the celebration featured personal testimonies, reflections on women’s leadership, and messages of international solidarity.
Garces participated in the virtual gathering alongside women whose work spans education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, social justice, community service, and economic development.
Although their professional journeys differed, the women shared a common commitment to creating opportunities for others.
The event also underscored the importance of recognizing advocates who work outside traditional positions of authority.
Leadership is not defined exclusively by corporate titles, political offices, or institutional appointments.
Sometimes, leadership begins when an individual recognizes an injustice and decides to challenge it.
Sometimes, it begins with a person speaking up for someone whose voice has been overlooked.
And sometimes, it begins with a determination to make sure the next generation does not have to confront the same barriers.
This is the leadership that inclusion advocates bring to communities worldwide.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
Priscilla Garces’ recognition also offers an important challenge to institutions, policymakers, businesses, and community organizations.
Celebrating diversity is meaningful, but lasting progress requires action.
Accessibility must be considered when educational programs are developed, workplaces are designed, public services are delivered, and leadership opportunities are created.
Economic empowerment initiatives must recognize that women with disabilities may face additional barriers to acquiring skills, obtaining financing, establishing businesses, and accessing professional networks.
Removing those barriers can strengthen not only individuals, but entire communities.
When organizations become more inclusive, they expand the range of talent, experience, creativity, and perspectives available to address society’s challenges.
This understanding aligns with Mahila Udyami Foundation’s commitment to advancing education, entrepreneurship, skill development, and financial autonomy.
A society cannot claim to empower women while leaving some women outside the circle of opportunity.
True empowerment requires recognizing every woman’s right to participate.
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: 𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
The name of Garces’ platform, Always Forward, reflects a powerful philosophy.
Progress may be challenging.
Barriers may persist.
Change may take time.
But moving forward requires commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to challenge existing systems.
Her recognition as Super Mahila of the Year 2026 places an international spotlight on the importance of disability inclusion and the role of women advocates in advancing meaningful social change.
It also serves as an invitation for other women to use their experiences, knowledge, and platforms to support those who remain underserved or excluded.
The lesson is not that every individual must overcome every obstacle alone.
It is that communities have a responsibility to remove unnecessary obstacles together.
𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
As Mahila Udyami Foundation continues expanding its international initiatives, the recognition of Priscilla Garces reinforces a central commitment: empowerment must be accessible to all women.
The organization, whose roots began in Puerto Rico and the United States in 2016 and whose global headquarters are being developed in India, seeks to connect women’s leadership with education, entrepreneurship, economic autonomy, and sustainable community development.
Through its global network, the foundation encourages women to share experiences, establish partnerships, and create opportunities that extend beyond national and cultural boundaries.
Garces’ advocacy adds an essential dimension to that mission.
Her work reminds the international community that inclusion is not a supplementary objective.
Inclusion is the foundation upon which genuine equality must be built.
As the celebration concluded, one message resonated beyond the commemorative trophies and certificates:
A woman’s potential should never be measured by society’s limitations.
Priscilla Garces’ recognition as Super Mahila of the Year 2026 is a celebration of advocacy, representation, dignity, and the belief that meaningful progress is possible when every individual has an opportunity to contribute.
Her leadership reminds us that creating a more inclusive world is not the responsibility of one person or one organization.
It is a collective commitment.
And when we remove barriers for one person, we create possibilities for many more.
Because a truly empowered world is one in which no woman is left behind.
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