Dr. Shubhangi Vaidya is a trained sociologist, specialising in the study of disability and gender. She joined IGNOU as an Assistant Regional Director in 2000 and is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies. Dr. Vaidya did her M.Phil and Ph D. from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. At IGNOU she has also served at the Regional Centre, Jaipur, and at the Regional Services Division. She teaches Social Anthropology and gender issues in labour for the Masters programmes of the School. Dr. Vaidya’s research interests include the Sociology of Disability (specifically Autism Spectrum Disorders), Gender and Diasporic Literatures.