Hey everyone! We’re back again with another Global Accessibility Day Event (GAAD) event. As before, registrations are free, questions are invited and you are too!
Who are we?
Did you know the websites, products, and apps you use everyday cannot be accessed by everyone? Like physical spaces, the digital spaces also pose obstacles for those with disabilities. Yet there are a few simple measures that platforms can take to promote a culture of accessibility, and inclusivity for audiences with all kinds of disabilities: visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive. After all, isn’t technology supposed to change the world?
helloA11Y is a community that anchors discussions on accessibility and inclusivity across the digital sphere. We hope to continue these conversations, and work towards spreading awareness, sharing resources, and creating inclusive digital spaces to provide an equitable learning platform for all.
Our Topics
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How does the awareness of assistive technologies by professors impact students with disabilities’ success at the college level?
Humberto Hernandez -
How to create accessible JavaScript widgets with basic HTML components
Joshua Muheim -
Urban Accessibility Challenges for Persons with Disabilities
Apoorv Kulkarni -
Accessible charts using music and haptics
Sukriti Chadha and Yatin Kaushal -
Digital Accessibility - Building for Scale
Shilpi Kapoor -
Start Your A11y Journey: How to Become an Accessibility Advocate
Todd Libby
To know more about the topics and speakers, visit the submissions page.
To know more about us, visit https://www.helloa11y.com/
Aditya Sujith Gudimetla
@captainlazarus
Urban Accessibility Challenges for Persons with Disabilities
Submitted May 15, 2021
Abstract
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) form the largest minority group in India with non-government estimates pegging the number over 100 million. PwDs need safe, accessible, reliable and affordable transportation for accessing a variety of socioeconomic opportunities. However, in India, accessibility considerations often get overlooked during the planning phase of urban transport systems – an observation further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This, in turn, perpetuates the exclusion of PwD from accessing various opportunities. An economy pays the cost of such exclusion in the form of reduced productivity of the Persons with Disabilities, as well as their carers, such as family members, who otherwise would have a higher economic output. According to the International Labour Organization, the cost of excluding Persons with Disabilities from the workforce could be as high as 7% of GDP representing a huge economic loss. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve accessibility of urban transport systems and to make them more disability inclusive.
This session will include:
- The urban travel experience of Persons with Disabilities
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel experiences of PwD
- Select recommendations for improving the accessibility of urban transportation
About the Speaker
Apoorv Kulkarni : Apoorv has established and drives the Accessibility & Inclusion track at The Ola Mobility Institute (OMI). OMI is a policy research think tank operating at the intersection of mobility, innovation and public good. He champions the rights of Persons with Disability and is working towards making the urban mobility ecosystem Universally Accessible. Before OMI, he was a part of Ola’s Product team and strove to make Ola’s customer app accessible. He also mentored the tech & design teams to improve the experience of the Driver Partners on the platform. In addition, he collaborated with the Human Resource teams that pioneered inclusive hiring in Ola and its group companies.
He is also a member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, working to make corporate India more aware, sensitive and committed towards inclusive business practices. He is also on the Advisory Board of National Institute of Urban Affairs and supports their efforts to make urban environments accessible for the PwD. He routinely writes for the Financial Express, Business World, the Daily Guardian and other news publications to raise awareness around opportunities to improve urban transport accessibility.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorv-kulkarni-a1499854/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apoorvkulkarni
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