Web Accessibility workshop at the Election Commission of India

Dr Satendra Singh, Amit Verma and Prashant Ranjan Verma at Election Commission of India

 We conducted a Web Accessibility workshop at the Election Commission of India on 1 February 2017. I took the inaugural session then Prashant Ranjan Verma (National Association for the Blind) and Amit Verma helped participants with hands on session on laptops. Disability Rights Alliance was involved in this too. We are happy to get opportunity to visit this organisation which is among the few respected by all.

Mr Vijay Dev (Deputy Election Commissioner) and Dr Satendra Singh

After the workshop participants from different states admitted that they were not aware of the barriers their websites had for person with disabilities and now they will try to comply with The web content accessibility guidelines WCAG.

Hope to see improvements in the election commission websites of Gujarat , Manipur, Urrarakhand and Uttar Pradesh soon.

'The Wire' has published a detailed article on our endeavours as how disability activists and EC worked to make assembly polls more accessible. It also highlights the pioneering work down by DM Azamgarh Suhash LY and his wife Additional DM Ritu Suhas in making elections disabled friendly.

Disability Activists and EC Work to Make Assembly Polls More Accessible (The Wire)

Special mobile apps, software, infrastructure, training for personnel and feedback mechanisms have been created to make voting easier for persons with disabilities.

Read the full article at this link.

#A11y #Accessibility #Inclusion #Disability

Chief Guests and Guest of honours with disabilities can bring true inclusion

I was invited as Chief guest & Nipun Malhotra as guest of honour at St Stephen's annual fest ‪Utkarsh16‬ organised by their Enabling Unit. Surprisingly the College Hall has big steps & there was no way we could have reached on the stage.

Either way, we were not going to even try that. The newly appointed Principal saw that & immediately came down.

The whole function kick-started at the same level thereafter.




 A level playing field.

The three of us gave prizes to all the students with disabilities.

This is what I call true inclusion!

Mr Verghese also added that, "I want a ramp not only for namesake but want it so that these students can come on this stage and collect awards.

Will you come?"

The College hall erupted in joy!

Compare this with the fad happening at Vigyan Bhawan where National Awards are given in the presence of President and prominent disability leaders.



 No body considers their dignity and the sham continues year after year. What we need is Chief Guests/ Guest of honours with disabilities and not insensitive politicians.

The icing on the cake would be visionaries like Mr John Verghese!

‪#‎Inclusion‬ ‪#‎accessibility‬

Source: Times of India, 23 March 2016

IDPD: the struggle continues

So, it's finally over. International Day of Persons with Disabilities came and went. None of the TV channels highlighted the theme for this year-“Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.’ We are the world’s largest minority and rightly we remained invisible this year too.

Sharing with the readers, my little effort where my RTI expose/interview got published in various print/electronic media on 3^rd and 4^th December.

We need to continue this fight. Let’s join hands.

Happy to be alive

Deccan Herald, 4 Dec:  Impossible is nothing when it comes to the specially abled

The Times of India, 3 Dec 2012 - Few ATMs disabled-friendly

Hindustan Times,  3 Dec 2012- Access denied: Delhi not for disabled

Health India, 3 Dec 2012 - IDPwD: How inclusive and accessible is our society?

Millennium Post,  4 Dec 2012 - Black armband silent protest against GTB Hospital

The Asian Age, 3 Dec 2012 - 33% of students with learning disability are gifted

Cross The Hurdle Magazine - TravelAbility: Inaccessible Sim's Park

A black armband silent protest on IDPD

A black armband silent protest against Medical Superintendent, GTB Hospital, Delhi

Issued on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2012

Protesting for a cause

As the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) today, I as a Coordinator, Enabling Unit (for PwD) & Equal Opportunity Cell; Chairperson, Equality & Diversity Committee; founder, Infinite Ability; and a faculty member at UCMS & GTB Hospital sit quite gloomy while trying to find out reasons to celebrate.

University College of Medical Sciences is a premiere medical institution of Delhi and constituent college of University of Delhi. The associated teaching hospital is GTB Hospital which comes under NCT of Delhi. We are perhaps the only medical institute in India having a dedicated Enabling Unit for persons with disabilities (PwDs) as per UGC guidelines. We are committed to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all PwD, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Till now, I have enjoyed support of Principal, UCMS and we have done some good work as well. However, a lot needs to be done and I cannot reciprocate the same support coming from Medical Superintendent (MS) of GTB Hospital. The theme for IDPwD today is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.” We, the PwDs, are world’s largest minority and faces barriers in the form of physical, e-inaccessibility and attitudinal barriers. The legally binding UNCRPD protects our rights since India has ratified the convention in 2007.

Under my chairmanship, I formed an Equality & Diversity Committee consisting of faculty, students and non-teaching members, all being PwDs in line with the mantra ‘Nothing for us, without us.’  My students raised the issue of inaccessible conditions prevailing in GTBH campus and I circulated the minutes to higher authorities for immediate action. That was May 2012 and its 3^rd December now. My repeated requests and reminders to MS GTBH have fallen in deaf ears.

The new MCH block at GTBH has a dedicated ramp as well as accessible toilet but it is not yet functional.

The CRPD requires States to ensure “reasonable accommodation” of the rights of PwDs. The library, Conference Hall and MEU is without any lift and it therefore violates the right to education (article 24). Accessibility is essential to enable PwDs to live independently and participate fully in life-it is therefore an end in itself as well as a means to enjoy other rights. The inaccessible Post Office and Canara Bank in the campus defies article 19 and 27 of CRPD. I myself arranged a meeting of AGM, Canara Bank with MS in July where the former showed his willingness to shift the Bank branch on the ground floor. However, I am still awaiting for the minutes of that meeting.

It gives me great pain to know each day my students with disabilities have to encounter herculean task at the hostel which has a steep ramp without hand-railings. PwDs are not objects of charity; we are rather subjects with human rights. Government of India gives Rs50 lakhs under SIPDA to make a building barrier free. The complete apathy from Public Works Department, GTBH failed our proposal. I have requested many times to Hon’ble MS to look into these matters and I am still awaiting a response.

I take great pride in associating with UCMS & GTBH. I feel privileged and proud to be part of this great institution and hospital. I am however deeply distressed about the inaccessible issues prevailing in GTB campus and do not feel that I can start my day today at GTBH without indicating my feelings in a dignified manner on IDPwD.

I cannot in good conscience carry out my work today and ignore the fact that my disabled fraternity is feeling oppressed. It is impossible to ignore that nothing has happened since I started accessibility advocacy in April 2012. Although I am just another professional employee, I do have a conscience and feelings. I believe that if I, as Coordinator of Enabling Unit, remain silent today than it will be taken as a sign that either I do not care or I condone the inaccessible conditions prevailing in GTBH. I believe that it is important to stand up for what is right. Disability does not mean that I cannot stand up for our rights.

The harsh reality

I have struggled to think of an action that would be appropriate and that would not demean the official procedures. I would like to stress that I greatly respect the Hon’ble MS and all the hard work he is doing at GTBH.  However, the amount of communication sent to him is too much for comfort now.

On this special day and under the present circumstances I have decided that I will wear a black armband to mark my silent protest. In doing so I am highlighting the apathy towards PwDs. In doing so I am making a silent plea to Hon’ble MS to protect basic human rights of PwDs and show social accountability. In doing so I pray that my small action may help to expedite the process of making UCMS & GTBH a truly inclusive and accessible campus for one all.

Dr Satendra Singh

TravelAbility: Inaccessible Sim's Park, Ooty

Crossing the hurdles for the sake of beauty

I love venturing into the Nature and travel places to explore the natural beauty scattered throughout our beautiful country. My love of lakes leads me to Ooty this year and I also climbed the highest point of Ooty with the help of my crutches-my better half in quest of all my adventures. While coming back I stopped at Coonoor. The picturesque Ooty and Coonoor are talukas in the Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu. No visit in the Nilgiris is complete without a trip to the very famous Sim’s park of Coonoor.

The park is maintained by the Nilgiris district’s Department of Horticulture, Government of Tamil Nadu. Sim’s Park is an unusual park-cum-botanical garden that was developed way back in 1874 by the secretary of the Madras Club Mr. J.D. Sims and Major Murray.

Naturally occurring trees, shrubs and creepers, are in the park as are many unusual species of plants that have been brought in from a variety of places around the world. The park is situated in a deep ravine on the northern side of Coonoor and covers twelve acres of undulating land. This botanical park is located at a height of 1780 meters above mean sea level. The key attraction of the park is the annual fruit and vegetable show held in May.

This park has resulted by the introduction of many rare species including Rudraksh and Cinnamomum. Most of the plants here are exotic and introduced from almost all the countries. There are graceful trees like Araucaria, Quercus, Phoenix, Magnolia, Pine, Turpentine, Tree ferns, Camellia Eucalyptus, Acacia, Pinus, Cinnamomum etc.

There is a glass house housing different ornamental plants and flowers. On the other side of the park rose garden are maintained. This park can take legitimate pride in having secured more than 1000 species of 255 genera’s belonging to 85 families widely covering almost all the different group of the plant kingdom.

The park is a natural garden and divided into 8 major sections (terraces). Each downward terrace have colorful flower beds, lawns and rockeries carefully laid out to give a symmetric look to the park. You will have to walk down the hill lined with exotic and old majestic trees Shola forests are left undisturbed and they add mystery to the park.

Owing to the unique tropical mountain climate, the garden receives ideal climatic conditions. Uniform rain distribution and less temperature variation enable a long flowering season. This tourist place is situated in Coonoor at a height of 1780 meters above mean sea level. Here the maximum temperature goes up to 30 degree Celsius and the minimum falls to 5°C. The average rain fall of this garden is 150 cm. It extends over an area of 12 hectares of undulating land and possesses a number of natural advantages.

Further down one can see the island garden, where boating is also allowed. The Lily ponds add beauty to this serene place and fishes in the pond add extra delight to kids. The botanical garden is partly developed in the Japanese style and is a favorite destination of tourists.

So far so good. Unfortunately I have to pay heavily for this whole description. Not in turns of money but inaccessibility. If you happen to be a person with disability then this whole pleasure becomes a torture. I have physical impairment and use caliper in my right leg. With this I perform most of the daily activities without much problem.

When I entered the Sim’s Park my first experience was that of delight. I climbed down few stairs and it was then I realized that the whole Park is designed on a downhill. The real problem was that subsequent terraces were having stairs but without any side support or hand railing. There was nothing by which you can take support on your either sides. I had two options. One, cursing the authorities and leave the park; and second to fulfill my desire see the whole park albeit with assistance. I opted for the second.

I called my taxi driver and requested him to send my crutches. Braced with my new armory, I explored every corner of the park.The winding footpaths all over the higher slopes of the park may look the most distinctive and picturesque feature of this park but they tease PwD’s as if saying, “You are not welcome.” I also was destined to take up the challenge and despite shedding lot’s of my electrolytes, I conquered the inaccessibility.

As you move down you see great variety and colour which are great feasts to the eyes. But the sight of a disabled or as a matter of fact an elderly struggling at uneven steps, small kids falling due to lack of support, pregnant females giving this park amiss are not hypothetical sights but a harsh reality which the administration needs to address. Why your accessibility should be different as mine? Why can’t we envisage a place which is accessible to ALL- not only to PwD but also to elderly, pregnant females, small kids and even extra-terrestrials?

The theme of the International Day of PwD’s this year is – ‘Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.’ For people living with disabilities, the situation of inaccessible parks is an illegal denial of our Human Rights. I hope Government of Tamil Nadu will take an access audit of this historical venue at the earliest and come up with an appropriate strategy to make the Sim’s park experience a memory to cherish rather than ruing it as another torture for PwD’s.

(This article was written by me for the inaugural edition of quarterly e-magazine of Cross the Hurdles. Abha Khetarpal launched this magazine on the eve of IDPwD. The complete December 2012 issue is available here.)

IIT Kanpur designs convertible, stair climbing wheelchair

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has bagged the GE India Innovation Award. Shanu Sharma, was recognized as the winner this year for her innovative design to create a convertible manual, stair climbing wheelchair.

GE India presented the 2nd annual GE India Innovation Award at CII’s annual event, ‘Decade of Innovation: India @Year 2’. The award by GE India is in line with its focus on localized innovations and efforts to foster and fuel a robust ecosystem for innovation in India. The award strives to honour individuals and corporate organizations across sectors who have contributed positively towards the development of the society through their designs and innovation.

Dr Gopichand Katragadda, managing director, GE India Technology Centre presented the cash prize of Rs.1,00,000 to the winner today at New Delhi.

Wheelchairs available today are not suitable or favourable to stair climbing and are a major constraint to accessibility for differently-abled people. But the wheelchair designed by Shanu Sharma, codenamed ‘Vardaan’, is designed for climbing stairs with mechanical benefit via lever ratchets system and braking system. A Y-shaped wheel has been designed and incorporated within the frame for better grip and optimum braking for climbing up and down a flight of stairs.

Presenting the award, Dr Katragadda, said that the design was simple and an effective mechanical concept to enable wheelchair users to manoeuvre over stairs. It is a common need especially in countries where wheel access is not ubiquitous. The most important step forward now is for hospitals and wheelchair manufactures to help make this concept a commercial success.

“Such examples showcase how innovation results in localized cost-effective approaches to solve problems specific to the markets they address. We, at GE, are focused on building capacity to solve India’s toughest challenges across energy, health and home, transportation and finance sectors. These in-country products have the potential to eventually disrupt developed markets as well,” he added.

Further, he highlighted the importance of emerging markets driving innovations in times of global uncertainty, the pre-requisites for an ideal innovation ecosystem in these markets and the need to promote it from a long-term growth perspective.

The innovation award was announced last year by GE as another initiative to encourage innovation in India. The company is committed to develop localized products and solutions in India which bring about a positive impact in the lives of people.

Theme for Human Rights Day 2012

Every year, Human Rights Day, on 10 December, is an opportunity to raise global awareness of human rights issues.

This year, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will focus on inclusion and the right to participate in public life.

Fulfillment of the right to participate is fundamental to the functioning of a democracy and an effective human rights protection system.?Inclusion of all those who have been traditionally locked out of the process is an essential precondition to the achievement of both.

The theme draws directly from Articles 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which speak of the right to freedom of expression and opinion, the right to freedom of assembly and association and the right to take part in government, either directly or through freely chosen representatives.

This Human Rights Day, OHCHR aims to highlight that 'participation in public life' can only achieve its full meaning and real significance when everybody is included in decision-making processes.

The theme is in accordance with the theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2012 which is "Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all." Let's hope the two events address the urgent issue of accessibility in depth.

WCAG 2.0 approved as an ISO/IEC International Standard

Europe Oct 18, 2012

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), the world’s leading standards body in electrotechnology, and the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), through the Joint Technical Committee JTC 1: Information Technology, and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) have announced approval of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 as an ISO/IEC International Standard (ISO/IEC 40500:2012).

“This important accessibility standard, which is already widely deployed internationally, can now benefit from additional formal recognition from IEC and ISO national bodies,” noted Jeff Jaffe, W3C CEO. “Such recognition is expected to increase internationally harmonized uptake of WCAG 2.0 by governments, business, and the broader Web community.”

“ISO/IEC JTC 1 is very pleased to bring on board this most important of W3C accessibility standards, given the increased interest in accessibility among JTC 1 National Bodies in recent years,” said Karen Higginbottom, Chair of ISO/IEC JTC 1. “We also expect that IEC and ISO recognition will encourage greater convergence around WCAG 2.0, further driving development of supporting tools and software.”

WCAG 2.0 has been adopted or referenced by many governments and organizations. Following the passage of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an increasing number of countries have been seeking solutions to address their treaty commitments for information technology accessibility for people with disabilities.

“The ISO/IEC imprimatur increases the avenues for adoption of W3C technology and guidelines,” noted Judy Brewer, Director of the Web Accessibility Initiative at W3C. “In some countries, policies require that nationally adopted technical standards must be ISO/IEC. Formal approval by JTC 1 of WCAG 2.0 will increase deployment, reduce fragmentation, and provide all users with greater interoperability on the web.”

WCAG 2.0 was first submitted to the ISO/IEC JTC 1 process for Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) in October 2011. W3C has been an approved JTC 1 PAS Submitter since November 2010, and is one of nine organizations that are currently approved. To learn more about W3C and the ISO/IEC JTC1 PAS Submission process, see the W3C PAS FAQ and the JTC 1 website.

As an ISO/IEC JTC 1 Standard, WCAG 2.0 is now also available from IEC and ISO, while it remains a stable international W3C standard with extensive supporting resources. JTC 1 recognition neither changes nor supercedes the existing standard, which remains freely available from the W3C website along with multiple W3C authorized translations of WCAG 2.0.

I am more than you think you see

I may not see as well as you do

And I may stumble a time or two

But I find delight in refrain

Feel sunshine, hear rain

As well, nay better, than you do.

I may not be formed in a way that you are used to

And my clumsiness may slow down our games too

But you should see what I do

With a paintbrush or two

I could teach you about beauty. And poetry too

 I may not be the brightest in my batch

And my speech may not be up to scratch

Though my thoughts are confined

I am loving and kind

My heart is open, generous and quite a catch.

Your words, I don’t hear them at all

And music can never hold me in thrall

But I can feel all you feel

And see all you reveal

I can’t hear; doesn’t mean I can’t sense it all.

By Dr Upreet Dhaliwal, Professor of Ophthalmology, Medical Humanities Group, UCMS & GTB Hospital, Delhi.

The poem was written by her on occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) 2011 for my group 'Infinite Ability'.

Photo credit:

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2125

One of the very few accessible temples in India

India is a land of temples. There are million temples for devotees. However, the situation is pathetic when it comes to the rights of disabled devotees. Though I am not a religious person but inaccessible temples further restrict me to even have a chance visit. I did my specialization from Rohtak medical college. There is a Sai temple in the outskirts on the Delhi-Rohtak road. The temple is the perhaps only one where I feel happy in visiting. Reason-It's accessible to PwD's.

I shifted to UCMS, Delhi in 2008. This year in the scorching heat of June, I got an invitation from the medical college to take few guest lectures. Since I was on summer vacation, I agreed. I took my family as well to meet some old friends there. Driving down in my modified Alto, my wife requested me not to forget to stop and pay visit at Sai temple.I happily agreed. I was in for some more surprise when I saw more improvement in the accessibility standards of the Sai temple.

There was wheelchairs at the entrance now. The 2-steps earlier at the entrance were converted into ramp and white gratings. The single side step was sloped so that wheelchair users can go in the garden as well. Railings were fitted on the ramps which were earlier lacking. Here are the evidences for one of the very few accessible temples in India- Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Kharawar, Rohtak, Haryana (All Photos: Dr Satendra Singh).

Blessings for all in true sense and spirit! For more pics on accessible and inaccessible places visit my Flicker album at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enablingunit/