Taking a dip in double layers of Inclusion at Jio Star | At Jiostar, we recently conducted a Neurodiversity and Doodling session that brought together 300+ participants for an engaging and insightful conversation around inclusion in the workplace. Through the virtual neurodiversity session, we witnessed incredible level of participation. The chat section remained constantly active, filled with thoughtful questions and the curiosity to learn more about neurodiversity was remarkable to witness. The experience was further enriched through on-site doodling workshops conducted across multiple locations including Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Gurgaon. Our artists with different disabilities but united by the same talent, interacted with employees through the universal language of art. Artists with hearing impairment like Karan, Archana, Uday and Shreya connected with employees through sketches and expressions while Rohan, artist with Down Syndrome and Sandeep, artist with locomotor disability, found their own ways to engage with participants. Many employees shared that these interactions made all the difference to their overall experience, leaving behind conversations and memories that stayed with them long after the session ended. | Accessibility wear multiple hats at Dasra’s report launch | Last week, we were honoured to be a part of “From Promise to Practice”, a disability landscape report launch event hosted by HSBC India and Dasra in Mumbai. What made the event especially meaningful for us was seeing inclusion reflected not just in conversations, but throughout the experience itself. The report cover featured artwork created by Shaily, our artist with locomotor disability, while accessibility at the event was supported through sign language interpretation by Akhil, ISL Interpreter at Atypical Advantage, along with accessibility consulting and digital accessibility support to ensure the report could be accessed and navigated by everyone with ease. Our Founder, Vineet, and Head of Corporate Partnerships, Juhi, were also present at the event, and it was inspiring to witness leaders across sectors come together to drive meaningful conversations around disability inclusion and collective action. | Experiencing Inaccessibility Firsthand | As part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), we conducted an engaging virtual accessibility awareness session with 1,000+ participants at Cognizant. Designed to be highly interactive, the session featured activities such as “Keys to Accessibility,” “Lost in Communication,” and the “Alt-Text Challenge,” allowing participants to experience accessibility barriers firsthand while exploring practical inclusive solutions. We demonstrated how tools such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other digital accessibility features enable seamless participation and productivity in professional environments. Adding further depth to the session, Deepak, hearing impaired trainer at Atypical Advantage, shared lived experiences around inclusive communication and highlighted accessibility features that support more effective workplace engagement and collaboration. What began as just another awareness session for many participants soon transformed into a deeply memorable and eye-opening experience, driven by the immersive activities, meaningful conversations, and perspectives they encountered throughout the session. | Innov8Ability aims to make India’s research ecosystem more accessible for pwds | India Rising Foundation, in collaboration with Santosh Lad Foundation, has launched Innov8Ability, an accessible research and development platform designed for researchers with disabilities. Backed by a proposed ₹10 crore corpus, the initiative plans to build accessible research labs, provide mentorship, funding, assistive technology, and fellowship opportunities to improve participation of persons with disabilities in India’s innovation and research ecosystem. (Source: Economic Times) | Archana is a talented artist from Bengaluru who expresses her love for nature and wildlife through vibrant, captivating artwork. Embracing her hearing impairment as a part of her journey, she creates pieces that are full of life, detail, and emotion. Loved this painting? Click here to explore more of her beautiful creations. | 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. | |
