Release of “Accessibility Handbook and Website Portal on Rights and Entitlements of Person(s) with Disabilities”

New Delhi : The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) in its pursuit to ensure every child’s right in Delhi has prepared the “Accessibility Handbook and Website Portal on Rights and Entitlements of Person(s) with Disabilities”, which was launched Raaj Kumar Anand, Minister of Social Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi on Friday, 3rd February, 2023 at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

The Accessibility Handbook, (to download, click https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rb7Ep2nY7laCSVNNgeki6mXY1vPVBhPk) which is available in English, Hindi and Audio form, is a single repository of schemes, financial assistance, concessions, entitlements, etc for children as well as adults with special needs. The Handbook covers education, health, social security and protection themes. All information such as entitlements, timelines, documents required, authorities details, grievance redressal process are mentioned. This handbook has been possible because of partnership between Ashoka University and DCPCR through its child rights fellowship.

The Website called “The Right Guide”, http://rpwd.dcpcr.delhi.gov.in/ was also launched which makes the content of the Handbook more accessible by filtering out the relevant information for the user based on their requirements. The Website also has other accessibility options like Dyslexia friendly text, contrast and saturation changing options, option to change text spacing, alignment and size, and more. The website has been possible because of partnership between DCPCR and British Asian Trust as part of child protection efforts.

Releasing the Handbook and the Website called “The Right Guide”, Raaj Kumar Anand appreciated the efforts of DCPCR and said “inability of a person to do something isn’t due to any disability in them, but disability of the system, in the system. Let’s collectively enable children & person(s) with disabilities through assistive technology & what not”.

The conference focused on how assistive technology can dignify the lives of people with disability and assist them in performing everyday functions. The main technologies included:

1. Torch It (Sarthi & Jyoti): Innovative product used to sense the surroundings by the visually impaired people. Attached to white cane, the user will sense obstacles in the form of vibration.

2. Dextroware: An affordable head-wearable device that enables hands-free operation of computers & smartphones. The mouse movement can be controlled by head movement.

3. Trestle Lab: A technology to scan hardcopy printed and handwritten documents to listen, translate, digitise and audio’tizeTM content.

4. Touch Vision: TouchVision Smartkit enables affordable independent portable access to any form of printed text for persons with visual impairments

5. Saksham Trust : Assistive devices/ technologies for visually impaired person

6. AADI “Sambhav” Simulation : Assistive technologies & design simulation for Cerebral Palsy

7. Mission Accessibility : Demonstration on making Digital content accessible for PwDs

8. Sangath: Photovoice stories developed by people from the transgender and disability community.

9. CogniAble : Machine learning-driven assistive technology for early detection and affordable treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

10. Neo-motion Wheelchair & Neobolt Product: Innovation to help wheelchair users move around independently within the house, to work, and to shop.

The launch event featured a panel discussion on the themes “Making Assistive Technologies Accessible to All: Scope & Challenges”. The panel discussion had Dr. Rashmi Singh (Commissioner , State taxes, Jammu & Kashmir Administration), Arman Ali (Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People), Gita Dang (Chairperson, Skill Council for Persons With Disability) and Prateek Madhav (Co-founder & CEO, AssisTech Foundation) as panelists. The discussion was moderated by Dr Satendra Singh (Medical Doctor & Disability Rights Activist).

The event witnessed a rich audience ranging from officials from Department of Social Welfare, Department of Education, Department of Health and Family Welfare, IAS/DANICS officers, Principals, Teachers, Special Educators, Medical Representatives, Assistive Technology Organisations, District Magistrates, Academics & Professors, Think-tanks & NGOs, and several people from legal backgrounds.