Reliance Retail celebrated in-store inclusion with customers and store managers | What happens when you arrive to sensitize people about disability and find persons with disabilities in the audience? You adapt, and you include. With thoughtful interventions by Deepak and Abdin, deaf and hard-of-hearing participants at Reliance Retail were actively brought into the experience and it was one of the most meaningful sights to witness. From in-store sensitisation for store managers and customers across two Reliance stores in Bangalore and Mumbai to a disability sensitization session with 200+ managers, by Laharee, inclusion took centre stage at Reliance. | Macquarie takes up Inclusion in conversation and expression | To mark the launch of Spark India ENG at Macquarie, a compelling fireside chat brought together Pranav Bakshi, India’s first male model with autism, his mom Anupama, and Balpreet, Macquarie’s employee with locomotor disability for an honest conversation on what inclusion really looks like in practice. The discussion spotlighted the power of implicit support, mindful behaviours, and inclusive workplace practices that enable true belonging. To add to this, dancers with hearing impairment from Nav Utthan, graced the event with their powerful performances. “The stories and performances shared during the event deeply resonated with our audience, fostering greater awareness and understanding of neurodiversity. The impact was truly uplifting, inspiring many and opening doors to building a more inclusive culture within our organization. Thank you for your dedication and partnership in making this event a memorable and meaningful experience for all,” says Sunil Sharma, VP, Macquarie Group. | Cognizant’s approach: Connection first, understanding later | Cognizant took a thoughtfully designed approach to neurodiversity by first creating connection, and then building understanding. The day began with a doodling session led by Varun Naren, an artist with fragile x syndrome, where employees engaged firsthand. The session was highly interactive, with Varun in constant conversation with participants, sparking excitement to an extent that employees eagerly shared photographs of their doodles on the chat, turning the session into a lively, shared experience. This was followed by a neurodiversity sensitisation session by Juhi, Head of Hiring, Atypical Advantage and the response was telling. Over 700+ employees joined in, reflecting a powerful shift from engagement to intent to learn. Having already experienced neurodiversity in action with Varun, participants came with sharper questions and a stronger desire to understand. This proves, when people connect with lived experience first, learning becomes more meaningful. | Atypical Advantage signs MoU with the MP Government to support persons with disabilities | | Recently, Atypical Advantage signed two MoUs with the Madhya Pradesh Government, one with the Department of Social Justice and another with a divisional ITI college, marking a shared commitment to upskilling and enabling meaningful employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. A step forward that reinforces how sustainable inclusion is built when intent, policy, and action come together. | Mattel India launches first autistic Barbie, co-created with autistic Indian designer | Mattel India has introduced its first-ever autistic Barbie doll, designed in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and autistic Indian artist Aarushi Pratap. The doll includes thoughtful design elements such as slightly averted eye gaze, noise-canceling headphones and sensory-friendly clothing to reflect experiences some autistic individuals relate to. This launch builds on Barbie’s ongoing efforts to improve representation in toys and helps autistic children see themselves reflected in play. (Source: Money Control) | Supreme Court urges corporates to view disability inclusion as a strategic advantage | The Supreme Court of India has urged companies and investors to treat the inclusion of persons with disabilities not merely as compliance or charity but as a strategic advantage that strengthens business performance and societal impact. The Court emphasized that true workplace equality requires disability rights to be integrated into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the social component of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. This direction came while instructing Coal India Ltd to create a supernumerary post for a qualified woman with disabilities after she was wrongly denied employment. (Source: The Hindu) | 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. | |
