Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, experts explain the need for digital and infrastructural inclusivity

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May to encourage inclusive designs utilities and access to digital spaces for Persons with Disabilities PwD In an age where almost everything is online most digital products do not serve everyonersquos requirements yet To mark the day Sarthak Educational Trust SET will host an online talk titled Breaking Barriers Ensuring Accessibility for All on YouTube to help us understand the current status of digital and physical accessibility in IndiaCorporates must ensure accessibility needs of employees are metFounderCEO Dr Jitender Aggarwal tells us that the online talk will cover accessibility across three broad domains mdash public infrastructure accessibility accessibility of airports highways and railway stations and IT accessibility including websites digital spaces news and radioDr Jitender AggarwalldquoTo make India accessible the Government of India launched the Accessible India Campaign in 2015 SET and other organisations are helping the government achieve its targetsrdquo Dr Aggarwal notes Taking us through the targets set and its review he continues ldquoToday of 3000 government buildings to be made accessible the audit of 1600 buildings has been completed and only 800 buildings are made accessible to PwDThere is a need to improve accessibility for PwD across all public buildings to encourage inclusivenessItrsquos important that all public buildings be made accessiblerdquo About inclusive transportation facilities Dr Aggarwal states that while our international airports have inclusive utilities work is still underway at domestic airports The founder adds ldquoSimilarly when you think of movies and television not much is accessible to PwD Some programmes have audio scripts for nonverbal cues but not all It should be a mandate for the entertainment industryrdquoA training session by vshesh on life skills and use of assistive technology held for persons with neurodivergenceLeading the way with digital inclusion SET has created products that comprise accessibility features and information for PwD They include CapSarathi a mobile app for information about government schemes policies and provisions government private and nonprofit health education skill employment and rehabilitation services providers details on assistive device providers online resources for braille online audiobooks matrimonial and counselling services and more SET has also started an online job portal for PwD called Rozgar Sarathi Next month the venture will launch a global elearning management solutions portal called Gyan SarathiOn May 18 4 pm to 5 pmLog on to Sarthakeducationaltrust on YouTubeSeamless linksOnline platforms or apps are the first points of interaction for companies Different tools need to be integrated with specific features for different needs whether that is the interface of an app proper subtitling instead of autogenerated captions corporates integrating digital inclusion in their communications and more We also need to convey correct information online about infrastructural accessibility and the utilities available Accessible digital spaces connecting with accessible physical spaces will help create a comprehensive networkSiddhant Shah access consultant and founder Access for ALLAllinclusiveMost regular activities are online whether itrsquos ecommerce net banking filing our returns or making payments If Applications and websites are inaccessible to PwD we will be excluding them from everyday life When we speak about digital accessibility we need to include gadgets that can be operated by persons with different disabilities like larger keypads for people with a physical disability For people with visual impairments there should be access to information through audio narration or magnification People with hearing disabilities will need access through visual media captions or sign language We need to ensure an inclusive format of communication using simple language or larger text for those who are neurodivergent or with intellectual disabilitiesRadhika Agarwal cofounding team vshesh an impact enterprise that prepares job seekers with opportunities and organisations with disability inclusion