AccessAbility offers Environmental and Employment Solutions for Persons with Disabilitites in India

By Team AccessAbility - 2007-03-07 - Viewed 1828 times. Find more articles like this in our Accessible and Accessibility category.

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AccessAbility came in being in November 2006, although the intention of creating an organisation which tapped widely scattered professional resources and delivered end to end accessibility solutions to both the public and private sector enterprises, existed from much earlier.

AccessAbility was co-founded by three like minded individuals (Shivani Gupta, Vikas Sharma, Sachin Verma), who believe that an inclusive environment can significantly contribute towards making a better tomorrow for all and removing attitudinal barrier that comes from exclusion. All three of us, have had reasonably satisfying jobs, and even worked together in an organisation before we decided to quit our jobs and with very minimal funds and only a few prospective clients started AccessAbility.

Initially it was difficult for many to understand how we are any different from an NGO or a charity working in this sector, but it wasn't long before people started realising that we are a group of professionals who meant business. We brought along with us, our passion and commitment, a fresh perspective and innovative ideas that helped change many views. In a very short span of four months, we have had many organisations who have believed in us and include ITC-Welcomgroup, National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Office of the Chief Commissioner for persons with disabilities and Jamia Milia Islamia University to name a few.  

 Accessibility, as we strongly believe is the key to unlocking opportunities for persons with disabilities. Unlike what is commonly perceived, accessibility is a concern for all and not only for the disabled and most would realise this when they are either directly affected (due to old age, pregnancy, temporary injuries, pushing heavy luggage etc which are not just instances but a way of life for many) or come in close contact with people who are directly affected. Interestingly it is not very difficult to think of how many people we already know including ourselves, would benefit if our environment was more accessible.

 As a concept, Accessible Design or 'Design for All', better known as Inclusive or Universal Design was little known of, specially in India. With a booming economy, fantastic growth in the real estate and the ever increasing hunger to build, it became essential that we built right. Designs that are based on the principal of universal design aim to eliminate or at least minimise the barriers that confront all buildings, products or facility users without in the process, introducing new difficulties. In practice, where the guidance for accessible/inclusive design is followed, the accessibility and comfort of the environment will be enhanced for all users.

At AccessAbility, our approach is to empower people with disability;

by enabling the environment and making them independent;
by enhancing their ability and not the disability;
Services we offer:

1. Strategising company CSR

CSR is an essential component to any corporate wanting to add social value; it provides an opportunity to give back to the community. We assist in strategising an organisations CSR policy to incorporate disability at all levels.

2. Access Appraisal

We review architectural layouts and plans of the proposed buildings to incorporate access features at the planning stage itself.

3. Access Auditing

We conduct extensive physical Audit of the existing built environment and services to determine feasibility of use for disabled people who may be employees, members of the public, clients or visitors, and recommend improvements.

4. Access Implementation Strategy Planning

A post Audit implementation plan is developed to assist individuals or organisations in resource planning and prioritisation to attain maximum cost effectiveness.

5. Certification

Our Accessibility Certification rates a building and services for accessibility and all such certificate holders are prominently featured on our website and printed/promotional material.

6. Policy Auditing

We provide assistance to organisations in evolving disabled friendly policies, procedures and practices.

7. Training

We develop and impart customised and packaged training modules to assist individuals and organisations in areas like disability awareness, orientation in inclusive environments, training in access auditing, communication etiquette, assisting disabled clients, universal design, emergency evacuation etc.

8. E-Accessibility

We provide comprehensive guidance and technical support on designing accessible websites.

Our prestigious projects have included:

• We are Access Consultants for the ITC Welcomgroup. The tie-up is aimed at making their existing and forthcoming properties accessible for all. We have already access audited and presented recommendation reports for the following existing properties:

o Welcomgroup Mughal Sheraton, Agra

o ITC Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton Hotel & Towers, New Delhi

o Welcom Hotel, New Delhi

o ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai

o ITC Grand Central, Mumbai

o ITC Windsor Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Bangalore

We have also conducted the Access Appraisal for the following upcoming ITC Hotel property:

o ITC Gardenia, Bangalore

Presently we are also involved in the compilation of a Reference Manual for the Architects, Interior Designers and other Consultants who are

involved in planning, designing and construction for the ITC Welcomgroup

• We are Access Consultants for the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH), Dehradun. We are studying the large 48 acre campus with the aim to make it a model environment which provides complete access to persons with disability with emphasis on persons with low vision.

• Enhancing accessibility at the visa facilitation centers managed by Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) India Private Limited.

• Conducted several presentations and training workshops at various forums including Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Institute for Public Administration (presentation for District Collectors), Asia Pacific Regional Seminar of Key Resource Personnel in Accessibility to the Built Environment (Colombo, Sri Lanka), NASSCOM Foundation (presentation on Infrastructure in-Accessibility), various Schools of Architecture, and schools of Occupational Therapy.

• We have been regularly approached by and have assisted Office of Chief Commissioner for Disabilities (CCD) with access auditing of several Government buildings including the Shashtri Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi railway station, Bangla Sahib, Part of Delhi University, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, few Government Hospitals in New Delhi, etc. Also Coordinated for a series of training workshops ‘Access for All’ organised by the office of Chief Commissioner Disabilities (CCD) with participants from all States & Union Territories of India.

• Co-auditing for the fourth edition of a book titled "Access in London", a guide for people with reduced mobility authored by Couch, Forrester & McGaughey, and published by Quiller Press, London

• Authored the Manual "Planning a Barrier Free Environment" for the Office of Chief Commissioner for Disabilities. The manual is recognized by the government of India as a training tool for architects and NGO workers and also the CPWD. The book has also been referenced by the

FHRAI for its publication: ‘Manual for Guidelines for providing facilities for physically challenged persons in Hotels and Restraunts’.

Our Team:

• Shivani Gupta, a Hotel Management Graduate from IHM (Pusa), went on to study Architecture and further on a post-graduation in Inclusive Environments from UK. She has been a recipient of several awards including the National (Role Model) Award given by the President of India (2004), Neerja Bhanot Award (2002), Red and White Social Bravery Award (1999) and Sulabh International Women of the Year Award (1996) for her consistent inputs towards improving lives of persons with disabilities. She has also been endowed with Educational Scholarships from Tata Trust, Sminu Jindal Trust and the Snowdon Award (UK) for her academic creditability.

• Vikas Sharma, an Occupational Therapist with a post-graduation in Inclusive Environments from UK, is a specialist in Assistive Technology, Ergonomics, Manual Handling and Universal Design. With over 8 years of professional experience as an access consultant, he has held various advisory, trainer, lecturer and membership positions both nationally and internationally.

• Sachin Verma, equipped with Masters in Information Technology from Australia, is a person dedicated to bring positive change. His specialty includes Business Development and enabling access to Information Technology for persons with disabilities. He has gained valuable insight on the needs of persons with disabilities through his experience working in the corporate social responsibility sector in India.

Testimonials:

"We never thought that we could do so much to improve accessibility in our hotel properties. The comprehensive recommendations have extended beyond merely suggesting physical changes by pointing out areas where further enhancements are possible by provision of assistive technology, changes in policies and procedures, and staff training."

-- Mr. Niranjan Khatri, General Manager, Welcom Environ Initiative, ITC

" the Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disability, has appointed you as a Member of National Core Access Committee…….We wish to share your expertise in making public and private buildings totally accessible for persons with disabilities."

"This is to congratulate you and your dynamic access audit team for the excellent job done at a short notice at Shastri Bhawan, I do hope and pray this spirit will continue for many more audits to come."

-- Dr. Uma Tuli, (Former Chief Commisioner Disability)

"activities included conducting access audits and recommending solutions for retrofitting barrier free features in various buildings, conducting workshops and compiling manuals on "Planning a Barrier Free Environment" for Government of India which is widely used by Architects, Engineers, Designers, Planners etc."

-- Lalita Prasad, (Secretary, Government of India)

accessability.co.in Contact us at contactus@accessability.co.in

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