Post Graduate and Doctorate in Psychology with specialization in Clinical and Rehabilitation Psychology having more than 34 years of experience in the field of Disability Rehabilitation programmes, policies, education and research.

An academic of Indira Gandhi National Open University served as Deputy Director and as Director Incharge of National Centre for Disability Studies, IGNOU from August, 2013 to April, 2016. Thereafter in April, 2016 proceeded for deputation as Deputy Chief Commissioner in the Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, D/o Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of SJ&E, Govt. of India and returned to IGNOU in August, 2021 after completing the deputation tenure. Previous working experience includes as Programme Officer in DEP-SSA, MHRD-IGNOU project and Sr. Programme Officer of Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

Presently serving as Director Incharge, National Centre for Disability Studies, IGNOU from October, 2021. The working profile includes management of activities of NCDS, networking with Government agencies and national level organizations, Universities etc, sensitization of faculty, staff and other stakeholders of the University about the rights of persons with disabilities and obligations of society towards care and cause of persons with disabilities.

Authored a book entitled “Psychological Management of Disability” and contributed a chapter titled “The Sustainable Development of Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries through Open and Distance Education” inedited book namely Optimizing Open and Distance Learning in Higher Education Institution (2018), published by IGI Global USA. Supervised five Ph.D. scholars in of Research Degree programme in Disability Studies in IGNOU from 2011 to 2018.

Dr. Hemlata is working in National Centre for Disability Studies as Additional Director. She has a rich experience in the area of Intellectual Disability, Disability Studies, Distance Education and Sociology. She has been the Director Incharge of National Centre for Disability Studies from February, 2009 to August, 2010 and again she was given the charge of Directorship from April, 2016 to September, 2021. She was the Programme Coordinator of M.Ed. Special Education, Foundation Course on Education of Children with Disabilities, B.Ed. Special Education programmes offered by IGNOU in the year 2009-2012. She has guided students for Ph.D. in Disability Studies at IGNOU and at present she is co-guide for Ph.D. Students of other Universities. She has presented many research papers at National and International Conferences. She has written two books on disability and contributed in writing several chapters on disability studies. She has written units for various programmes of IGNOU. She has developed many audio-visual programmes related to disability issues and conducted teleconference programmes. She has received Rajiv Gandhi National award for the best Rehabilitation Professional from Indian Association of Rehabilitation Professional in the year 2011. She is recipient of Erasmus Mundus fellowship from European Union in the area of Special and Inclusive Education in the year 2014-15. She is member of various committees of Government of India for framing the policies related to disability. She has been a member of screening committee for national award for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. She is member of board of studies/research/advisory committee of North Eastern Hill University, Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Uttrakhand Open University, Amity University and M. D. University.