Mumbai hosts Europe's Biggest Technology Event to Promote Accessible and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities
Techshare India 2008 showcases the latest IT products available in assistive technology
Tweet-- Royal National Institute of the Blind (UK) and BarrierBreak Technologies today hosted in Mumbai, Techshare - Europe’s biggest technology event to promote accessible technology for people with disabilities. Techshare India 2008, held on the premises of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped in Bandra, was inaugurated by Ms. Supriya Sule, Rajya Sabha MP.
In a first of it’s kind activity in Mumbai, Techshare India 2008 highlighted the importance of implementing accessibility standards and complying to different accessibilities laws. In addition, Techshare India 2008 also showcased IT products and services that allowed visitors to browse through the latest in assistive technologies available for people with disabilities. On display were products for software accessibility and accessibility on the move for mobiles and PDAs.
“India alone has 60 million disabled people and it is imperative that assistive and accessible technologies are made available to people with disabilities in order to create an inclusive environment for them”, said Ms. Shilpi Kapoor, Managing Director of BarrierBreak Technologies. She also emphasized on the commercial opportunity available in catering to the growing market represented by people with disabilities in terms of products and technologies; and highlighted the need for business houses and the Government to play a larger role in this field.
With the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in place, it is important for India to look at the laws and implementation of the same to create an inclusive society.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Supriya Sule, Member of Rajya Sabha said, “Every citizen of India is a global citizen and has every right to education and the basic accessible infrastructure. We have to spread awareness and be sensitive to the needs of differently abled people and create an all-inclusive environment.”
Other speakers who shared their rich experience in the field were Ms. Nina Screwvalla, Global Head, TCS Maitree and Mr. Vickram Crishna, Chief Executive, Net Radiophony India Pvt. Ltd.; amongst others.
Notes to Editor
About Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), UK:
RNIB is UK’s leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight loss. Their pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem – not just with braille and Talking Books, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. Their projects such as Talk and Support and Parent’s Place make a difference to people’s lives. They campaign extensively to eliminate avoidable sight loss and support research into the causes and latest treatments of eye disease.
About BarrierBreak Technologies:
BarrierBreak Technologies is an innovative firm that provides solutions in the field of Accessibility for People with Disabilities. BarrierBreak works with corporates, institutions and individuals to provide accessibility training, accessibility testing and accessibility consulting services that would empower people with disabilities to avoid discrimination and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
To know more about Techshare India 2008 – go to: www.barrierbreak.com
Techshare India 2008
600 million people with disability in the world. India alone has 60 million disabled people. In addition, India has ratified the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities.
India has the Persons with Disabilities Act that focuses on equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation for people with disabilities. But we have not succeeded in main streaming people with disabilities into society. The answer lies in building and creating awareness about the needs and potential of the people with disabilities and not in the legal framework alone.
BarrierBreak Technologies is organizing a series of conferences and exhibitions that will bring together the entire ecosystem - the government, the corporates, the NGOs, the disabled, the product companies and the education providers for the first time under one roof. The conference will be a platform to share insights and learning’s.Since 2000, Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), UK, has been organizing Techshare in Europe. BarrierBreak Technologies has brought Techshare to India for the first time in 2008.
Techshare offers workshops and presentations. In addition, it provides an opportunity to meet with other professionals working in this area from all over the world as well as browse the exhibition space. A special attraction is to experience people with disabilities working with assistive technology in the first ever Experiential Lab at Techshare.
Techshare India is a pan disability conference and exhibition. Addressing the issues in the areas of Mindset, Infrastructure, Education & Technology. The vision is to break these barriers and include people with disabilities into main stream society.
Objectives of Techshare India:
· Creating awareness about accessibility
· Building a platform for knowledge sharing
· Exploring assistive technology