 This edition brings together three powerful stories of inclusion. At GE Aerospace, Bangalore, 120+ employees experienced disability inclusion through an Immersive Inclusion Zone designed to challenge assumptions and build empathy. At Svatantra, a farewell cake baked by an autistic baker became a meaningful example of how everyday opportunities can create confidence and livelihoods. Meanwhile, the Infosys Employability Programme continues to connect candidates with disabilities to the workplace, with placements and more opportunities in progress. | | What if you could experience inclusion instead of just talking about it: GE Aerospace | At GE Aerospace, Bangalore, 120+ employees stepped into an Immersive Inclusion Zone, and trust us, this wasn’t your regular awareness session. From Lost in Translation, which used every day email designs to show how communication can become the barrier, not intelligence, raising awareness on people with intellectual disabilities, to a Neurodiverse Experience Zone that highlighted how the right accommodations can be a real game-changer, every booth offered a new perspective. Participants also stepped into the world of hearing impairment through sign language activities and became an Assumption Detective, challenging disability myths and catching the assumptions we often make without even realising it. Artist and UI/UX Designer with hearing impairment, Karan Arora, brought another dimension to the conversation through his live artwork, where every element he drew represented how easily invisible disabilities can go unnoticed and why they deserve the same understanding and acceptance. The co-created artwork also gave participants a chance to leave their own mark on the experience, making it deeply personal. | A sweeter cake for a special farewell: Svantantra | It was Mr. Jayesh Shah's, CEO of Svatantra, last working day. There were speeches, teary eyes, warm wishes for what comes next and, as expected, a cake to mark the occasion. But this wasn’t just another farewell cake. It was baked by Varun, a baker on the autism spectrum. For him, being asked to bake a cake for the farewell of the CEO himself, was another reminder that someone believed in him and his skills, yet again. And that’s what made the cake taste even better. Even after baking hundreds of cakes, cookies and muffins, every new order brings a warm smile to Varun and his family. So, while everyone at Svatantra was celebrating Mr. Jayesh that day, someone else was quietly celebrating a bakery milestone too. | From training to the workplace: Infosys Employability Programme | We recently completed two batches of our Employability Training Program in collaboration with Infosys, with candidates training in communication, business and interview skills. So far, many candidates have already secured placements and for the rest of the cohort, the work continues. Job drives are underway, mock interviews are giving candidates a chance to practise and refine their approach, and our teams are working to connect them with the right opportunities. There’s a lot happening in the background, and we’re hopeful it will translate into many more success stories in the months ahead. | Kerala High Court Upholds 4% Disability Quota Reservation in Job Promotions | The Kerala High Court delivered a major ruling affirming that the statutory 4% reservation for persons with disabilities applies to promotions within state government positions. The judgment reinforces legal protections under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, guaranteeing fair career advancement for PwD employees. (Source: The Indian Express) | Atypical Advantage is India’s largest livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities(PWD). Whether it is a singer looking for a show, a visual artist looking to sell their paintings, or job seekers with disabilities looking for career opportunities, it bridges the supply & demand side inefficiencies so that Persons with Disabilities can earn a dignified income. We have a large pool of 50,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 500+ corporates within a short span of 5 years. We were also featured on Shark Tank Season 2 and were declared the winner of the prestigious National Startup Award for Social Impact, and the National Award for Best Organization empowering persons with disabilities in 2024, conferred by the Union Government. For more information, visit our website here. | |
