When due diligence from Shark Tank turns into reality | In Season 2 of Shark Tank India, Namita Thapar asked a simple question: Whether Atypical Advantage provides post-placement support to candidates? What sounded like a due diligence question turned into something far more powerful. Recently, Atypical Advantage successfully placed 10 candidates with hearing impairment at Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, marking a first-of-its-kind inclusion milestone for the industry. In pharma manufacturing, hiring persons with disabilities often comes with layers of assumptions around operational complexity and perceived safety risks and frequently overshadows capability. The placements in Sanand challenge exactly that narrative. What began as a question on national television has now translated into a tangible workplace shift: 10 individuals, real roles, and a sector that is beginning to rethink what “possible” looks like on the shopfloor. A heartfelt thanks to Emcure for taking a bold step towards making the pharmaceutical industry more inclusive. | Inclusion begins with conversations, and this was a promising first step at Hindalco | We recently conducted our first disability sensitization session for the Finance team at an Aditya Birla Company group, Hindalco Industries in Pune, bringing together participants for an insightful discussion on disability inclusion in the workplace. What stood out was the team's genuine curiosity and engagement. Participants actively contributed to the conversation, asked thoughtful questions, and explored practical scenarios relevant to their day-to-day work environment. “This was a much-needed workshop, and we are looking forward to more such session with Atypical,” said the management at Hindalco. The organisation has taken this important step towards building a more inclusive workplace, and it definitely marks the beginning of a major change. | Not one or two, but eight sessions at Umoya Sports | In partnership with Umoya Sports, a sports-for-development organization, Atypical Advantage conducted not one, or two, but eight sessions of Indian Sign Language (ISL) Workshop Series throughout June. Led by Ms. Somiya Tiwari, the program combined virtual and in-person sessions to help participants develop basic to intermediate ISL skills and better communicate with persons with Hearing Impairment. With an overwhelming response from 150+ employees, including employees with Hearing Impairment, the workshop created an inclusive learning environment focused on Deaf culture, communication etiquette, visual grammar, and practical signing skills. Through interactive activities and hands-on learning, participants gained valuable tools to foster more inclusive communication and said that they feel that the gap is now minimized. | Accessibility milestone: NTA opens portal for PwD candidates for UGC NET 2026 | The National Testing Agency (NTA) has launched a dedicated portal for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) appearing for UGC NET June 2026 to submit their scribe details in advance. This step is aimed at improving exam accessibility and ensuring smoother accommodations for candidates requiring support, reinforcing more inclusive and streamlined examination processes. (Source: TOI) | 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. | |
