Shiva Jayagopal’s Post

#Launch Join the #PurpleInnovations Challenge! Are you an innovator passionate about creating inclusive solutions for persons with disabilities (#PwD)❓ Are you eager to build an enterprise that contributes to the #PurpleEconomy❓ EnAble India and SELCO Foundation invite you to participate in the Purple Innovations Challenge, focused on fostering innovative, sustainable solutions designed for and by persons with disabilities (PwD). Why This Challenge?  Disability remains a significant issue in India, impacting millions. We aim to break down barriers to enable equitable access to livelihoods for PwD, particularly in rural areas. What We're Looking For:  We invite individuals with disabilities, innovators, designers, engineers, and social enterprises to develop solutions that enhance livelihoods accessibility for PWDs. What’s at Stake:  🌟Total Prizes Monies amounting up to ₹2 Crore* for selected teams  🌟Capacity building with EnAble India and SELCO Foundation's extensive networks  🌟Access to mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities  🌟Access to field testing and validation from EnAble India and SELCO Foundation’s partners and end-user community Key Dates📅:  ⌛Application Last Date: 30 November 2024 How to Apply:  Register via the provided link🔗: https://lnkd.in/g2Fm6tw8 Submit your idea or prototype (assistive technology or livelihood technology / product or product-service based) focusing on one of our thematic areas: Livelihood Solutions, Accessibility Solutions, or Learning Solutions. Join us in creating an inclusive and equitable future for persons with disabilities! For more details and to apply, visit🔗: https://lnkd.in/gjiKfqXj Together, let’s innovate for change! #PurpleInnovationsChallenge #DisabilityInnovation #InclusiveSolutions #EnableForChange #PurpleEconomy #EmpowerPwDs #InnovateForInclusion #AssistiveTechnology #LivelihoodAccessibility Rajesh Aggarwal | Dadhich Indrodia | Shanti Raghavan | Dipesh Sutariya | Harish Hande | Huda Jaffer | Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology Arman Ali | Alim Chandani

Disability is not a barrier - society is. Near my home in Bangalore, I have often noticed motor-enabled, battery-operated wheelchairs designed like four-wheelers. These innovations have always intrigued me, and recently, I had the opportunity to witness one in action. While picking up a Zomato order, I met a delivery partner who used such a wheelchair. He shared that he had traveled from another part of the country to work in Bangalore because these opportunities are not readily available everywhere. These motorized wheelchairs are provided at a subsidized cost, enabling individuals with disabilities to work and support themselves. What made this experience even more special was how it connected to my past. Back in 2017 - 2018, as part of my final year project at PES University , I created a prototype for a similar motor-enabled wheelchair. It was a passion project driven by my desire to design something unique and impactful. Seeing this idea already on the roads, empowering people, felt incredibly rewarding, even though it was backed by someone else. However, despite these initiatives by companies like Zomato, the delivery partner shared some disheartening realities. Many customers, even after knowing the food is delivered on a wheelchair, refuse to come down or step outside to collect their orders. They demand the delivery partner to come up, even in buildings or areas that are not accessible. It was heartbreaking to hear how society’s attitudes can create unnecessary challenges, overshadowing the efforts of these individuals to overcome their disabilities. This experience reinforced a powerful message: accessibility goes beyond infrastructure - it’s also about empathy and inclusivity. For differently abled users, society must become more understanding and supportive, ensuring they can work and live with dignity. Imagine a world where everyone can easily access goods, services, and opportunities, without being hindered by inaccessible roads, buildings, or mindsets. This is the #IncredibleIndia, I envision - where innovation meets inclusion, and where every individual, regardless of their abilities, is treated equally. Let’s strive to remove these societal barriers and create a truly accessible and equitable environment for all. Hashtags: #DiversityandInclusion #Inclusion #InclusionMatters #Disability #DisabilityAwareness #Pwd #AccessibilityMatters #AccessForAll #AccessibilityForAll #Awarness #AccessibilityTesting #Learning #DEI #Technology #India #Innovation #Future #Data #Management #Creativity #AI #DEIA #Diversity #A11Y #AccessibilityAwareness #Inclusivity #Accessibility

When Shruti More met Sonali in a remote village, she knew she had to act. Today, through Samphia Foundation, she’s bringing life-changing therapy to children with disabilities in Himachal Pradesh. 1. Therapy on Wheels: Reaching remote areas with essential therapy. 2. Many children with disabilities are now receiving personalised care. 3. 5+ years of creating inclusive communities and breaking stigma. Why It Matters: 1. Globally, 1 in 6 children lives with a disability, but many in rural India are hidden away due to stigma. 2. 70-80% improvement in developmental outcomes is possible with early intervention. Samphia Foundation is reshaping lives, but their story is best told through the eyes of those they’ve helped. SDGs Addressed: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities We are committed to bringing you stories of many such real heroes solving grassroots problems. You can find their stories on our website: www.JaiHindProject.in or Youtube channel. Be Capeable. Together, we can change lives. 📞 Shruti Ji’s Contact: +91 - 9418606898 ✉️ Email: samphiafoundationkullu@gmail.com #JaiHindStories #JaiHindProject #DisabilityAwareness #TherapyOnWheels #InclusionMatters #SDGs #BeCapeAble Vineet K. K. N. 'Panchhi' | Pallavi Misra Chaturvedi  | Atul Bokhandi  | Falguni Chaturvedi  | Derrick David  | Rohit Naithani  | Himanshu Golwa | Deepak Negi  | Arindam Katiyar | Sneha Mishra  | Matt Langdon  | Narayan Krishnaswamy  | Advocate Anurag kukreti  | Nishant Khanduri  | Thomas Sartor

𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀𝐁𝐁 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐏𝐃’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 Pioneering inclusion, ABB India and The Association of People with Disability (APD, India), Rehabilitation on Wheels initiative brings life-changing rehabilitation services to underserved communities, breaking barriers of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. A transformative partnership driving empowerment and equity. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/g9ZaibJD #InclusionMatters #CSRImpact #AccessibilityForAll #SocialInnovation #DiversityAndInclusion Dr. N.S. Senthil Kumar, PhD (Rehab) Gnv Subba Rao Ruchika Kumar Somesh Menon Shrishti Rao Shweta Singh Kuhu K Govind Kumar Sonal Dutta Arya Ameshi Ayush Kumar Patel

Today, as the world observes World Disabilities Day, we pause to reflect, celebrate, and recommit to building a truly inclusive society. Days like these are not just dates on a calendar—they are milestones that spotlight the ongoing efforts, challenges, and triumphs of individuals with disabilities, their families, teachers, coaches, and supporters. At Umoya Sports, every day is a celebration of inclusion. We strive to ensure that no child, youth, or adult is left behind in the pursuit of their dreams, whether on the field, in classrooms, or in life. We hold this day special, not as a one-off occasion, but as a moment to honor the relentless efforts of those who work tirelessly to make equality a reality: the parents who nurture unwavering hope, the teachers who foster learning with empathy, and the athletes who show us the true meaning of resilience and determination. However, we must not let this day become just another token gesture. Real change is not confined to a single day—it is the cumulative impact of small, consistent actions throughout the year. It is in the accessibility of a playground, the encouragement of an inclusive classroom, the creation of opportunities for all, and the dismantling of stereotypes that limit potential. Let today inspire us to keep asking ourselves: Are we doing enough? Are our efforts reflecting the inclusive world we envision? Together, let us celebrate the spirit of determination and inclusion not just today, but every day. Let us commit to actions, big or small, that bring us closer to a world where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive. We also are grateful to all our partners, mentors, funders, friends who have enabled us and fueled our vision. Join us in celebrating this day along with all our partners. Catch a glimpse of the celebration of one of our partners, Janmadhyam. Here’s to a future where inclusivity isn’t a goal, but a way of life. #WorldDisabilitiesDay #PlayBeyondBarriers . Aditya KV | LOKESH JUREL | Dikshita Gupta | Ayush Singh | Ujjval Yadav | Tripti Someshwar | Adnan Ahmad | Teach For India | SVP India | InnovatED | Tech Mahindra foundation | Powerlinks Transmission Limited | Diksha S. | Luis Miranda | Shridhar Sethuram | Ujwal Thakar | Amit Malik | Govind Iyer | Wipro Foundation | UnLtd India | Anshu Bhartia | Sudhir Shenoy

𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 through Technology, Awareness and Education: In India, as per the National Family Health Survey-5, approx. 𝟲𝟯.𝟮𝟴 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 are under disability spectrum. In the connected world driven by AI, access to technology is center to creating #inclusive community and #equitable future. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, sensitization, awareness & access to rights & social welfare, skilling / education and opportunities for economic mainstreaming are significantly important for the inclusive development. There is also a need to further propel an enabling ecosystem which offers the access and opportunity through a collaborative framework with government, academia and civil society. Microsoft has been collaborating with various stakeholders viz., Nonprofits, Governments, Private Sector, Academia and Tech innovators to promote & foster Disability Inclusion. We advocate for #WorkplaceReadiness and #workforce sensitization through collaborating with Private Sector, Practitioners, Nonprofits and Civil Society organizations. We have collaborating with NGOs, Academia, Government and Civil Society organizations with the aim of extending technological innovation to Persons with Disability in the spectrum of Hearing & visual impairment, Orthopedic disability, neurodiverse & learning disabilities. Our partnership with Tech Mahindra Foundation aims at equipping competencies and skills for Persons with Disabilities which enables PwDs career opportunities within ITES and BFSI industries. The initiative works to deploy 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 & Digital Skilling Labs, awareness & sensitization workshops and employment opportunities for the PwDs. With #AI innovating the technological transformation, we envisage a huge opportunity to leverage the power of #GenerativeAI to create more opportunities, enablement and digital inclusion for PwDs. It is crucial that we strive to bridge the gaps for persons with disability through skilling, awareness & sensitization and workplace readiness, technological enablement & collaboration, policy measures are critical to achieve it. #DisabilityInclusion #PersonsWithDisability #DigitalInclusion #DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #Microsoft #AIforSocialImpact Chetan Kapoor, Sajid Ali, Supriya Bhatt

As we conclude the extraordinary year 2024 at Young Indians Chennai, I'm honoured to have played a worthwhile role as the Chapter Chair for Accessibility for 2024. India is home to an estimated 80 million people living with disabilities, who often face challenges such as low literacy rates, limited job opportunities & social stigma, leading to their exclusion from mainstream society. Recognizing this disparity, Young Indians has launched the Accessibility initiative to ensure equal access and opportunities for #PwD. Our goal is to address their needs comprehensively, raise awareness about different types of disabilities and promote etiquettes on how to interact with them respectfully. Accessibility as a project of Yi has been actively engaging the Youth towards various aspects of disability empowerment, including education, employment, social security, providing barrier-free environments, fun and engagement including sports, cultural and educational. Through our year long initiatives, we strives to enhance opportunities for people with disabilities to participate actively in societal and cultural spheres, thereby ensuring their full integration and contribution to national development and providing Youth Leadership in this segment. We have been collaborating with established organisation in the field of Inclusion, support system and government especially by advocating the inclusive policies, facilitating capacity-building programs, and collaborating with different stakeholders at various levels. Few of our initiatives plays a crucial role in fostering a more equitable and inclusive society where persons with disabilities can realize their full potential and lead dignified lives As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we have initiated Job Fairs tailored specifically for individuals with disabilities under our #Accessibility vertical. We are conducting basic audits of buildings to assess their accessibility and working towards making public spaces more inclusive. Under the Yi Accessibility vertical across India, we have successfully implemented initiatives such as disability-friendly malls, temple adaptations for enhanced accessibility, and projects to make railway stations more accessible. Yi Chennai won the "Best chapter with Yuva initiatives for Accessibility" Annual Awards at #TakePride2024 in Kolkata. This achievement is a testimony to the incredible passion, dedication and team effort from the members of Yi Chennai and the Yuvas - college students who are excelling at being the Enablers of Change and impacting many people with disabilities. We are fueled up and will continue to mentor and guide the team to strive greater engagement and empowerment for #Peoplewithdisabilities

 Atypical Advantage: Redefining Inclusion for People with Disabilities In a world where talent often goes unnoticed due to social barriers, Atypical Advantage is transforming the landscape for individuals with disabilities by providing a platform to showcase their skills and secure meaningful employment. Founded by Vineet Saraiwala, who lives with a degenerative eye condition, Atypical Advantage is India’s largest inclusive platform dedicated to generating livelihoods through talent, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Vineet was motivated by the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing job opportunities. His experience in the corporate world highlighted the lack of visibility for disabled talent, especially in creative fields. Determined to bridge this gap, he established Atypical Advantage to empower individuals with disabilities, ensuring they are recognized for their capabilities rather than their limitations. The platform operates on three core pillars: Talent, Art, and Store. 1. Talent connects disabled individuals to organizations seeking skilled professionals, whether for corporate roles or freelance gigs, matching them with opportunities that fit their skill sets. 2. Art provides a platform for artists with disabilities to showcase and sell their creations, from paintings to sculptures, allowing their talents to shine on a national stage. 3. Store serves as a marketplace for products made by individuals with disabilities, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting financial independence. A significant partnership with Flipkart Samarth enhances Atypical Advantage’s impact, enabling disabled individuals to sell their artwork and products online. This collaboration not only boosts visibility but also provides a confidence-boosting experience for many artists. Atypical Advantage is more than just a platform; it’s a movement for social change, challenging societal perceptions of disability by highlighting what individuals can achieve. With its growing community and strong corporate partnerships, Atypical Advantage paves the way for a more inclusive future, proving that when barriers are removed, human potential can truly flourish. E-Cell, IIT Bombay Inspiria Knowledge Campus #AtypicalAdvantage #DisabilityInclusion #Empowerment #Talent #Creativity #Entrepreneurship #SocialChange #NEC2024 #article #ecelliitbombay

Media coverage ⭐ We are thrilled to share that our founder, Akashdeep Bansal, has been featured in Hindustan Times. The article, "Startup Mantra: Turning Disability into Opportunity," beautifully captures Akashdeep's inspiring journey from being diagnosed with the sight-robbing Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), pursuing a Phd at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, to steering SaralX in revolutionising digital accessibility. This story is not just about overcoming personal challenges but about transforming adversity into innovative solutions that empower others - millions of individuals with disabilities and senior citizens. “Take a look at any app or any digital platform. How many are designed in ways that a person who cannot use his hands, or hear, or speak, or can’t see, or has a learning disability or autism can access it? Globally 3-4% apps are usable by persons with disabilities, even fewer in India. Don’t they have a right to access, availing benefits, and participation? But how can one do that if information is not accessible?” 🔗 Dive into the story to discover how our commitment to inclusivity is making a tangible impact in the tech community: https://lnkd.in/gNpyAGWX #Leadership #Innovation #DigitalAccessibility #Accessibility #TechForGood #Impact #Disability #Inclusion Link image description: Close-up portrait shot of Akashdeep Bansal, wearing a blue jacket. There are trees in the background.

I'm truly inspired by the recent initiative taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) with the launch of the Saksham app. In a country as diverse as ours, ensuring the active participation of every citizen in the democratic process is not just a goal but a fundamental necessity. The Saksham app is a significant step towards making our electoral system more inclusive and accessible, particularly for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) who constitute a substantial portion of our electorate. Notably, PwDs comprise 4.61 lakh of the total electorate, alongside 6.14 lakh individuals aged 85 years and above. By providing tailored services and assistance through this user-friendly mobile application, the ECI has reaffirmed its commitment to leave no one behind in our journey towards a more equitable society. Furthermore, technology-driven solutions like the Saksham app can be replicated in other areas, such as healthcare and education, to ensure equitable access for all individuals, including those with disabilities. For instance, healthcare apps can offer tailored services and accessibility features to accommodate diverse needs, while educational platforms can provide inclusive learning materials and tools for students with disabilities. Workplaces can adopt inclusive practices by implementing accessibility features in their infrastructure and fostering a culture of diversity and acceptance. This can include providing reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, offering training programs on disability awareness, and promoting inclusive hiring practices. In addition, public spaces and transportation systems can be designed with inclusivity, ensuring they are accessible to individuals of all abilities. From wheelchair ramps to sensory-friendly environments, these initiatives can enhance accessibility and promote social inclusion for everyone in our society. Overall, by following the lead of initiatives like the Saksham app and prioritizing inclusivity in their design and implementation, future endeavors have the potential to create a more equitable and welcoming society for all individuals, regardless of their abilities. #technology #ECI #sakshamapp