Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Technology
  • #TechThursdays – EMx turns the spotlight on early intervention & inclusive education in the 3rd edition

#TechThursdays – EMx turns the spotlight on early intervention & inclusive education in the 3rd edition

Technology June 13, 2019
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Launched in 2015, Enable Makeathon has fostered some incredible breakthrough innovations in assistive technologies. The third edition, EMx is looking at technologies that can help address critical gaps in early intervention & inclusive education.

From access to early diagnosis to support/intervention to accessible reading materials, the gaps faced by children with disabilities in India when it comes to education are many and varied. They become even wider for children from economically disadvantaged families.

A realisation that led the team behind Enable Makeathon to focus on early intervention & inclusive education in its third edition, EMx.

The first edition focused building hardware solutions for physical disabilities while the second edition focussed on hardware, software/application & Process based solutions was on visual and hearing disabilities in addition to physical disabilities. This time too, extensive consultations were held with domain experts from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) to disability rights organizations like Association of People with Disabilities (APD) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, to mention a few.

Going ahead, we want to develop as many solutions as we can for children with developmental disorders. The goal is to develop a suite of products, right from when the child’s journey starts, i.e. intervention in the early stages of life at the home, solutions required on his or her way to school, accessible education in the school, the therapies that are available and the products that can help them further on in life. – Manas Tiwari, Partner, Inkludo Consulting and Advisory.

There are a lot of products developed in the West, but as Manas points, these are first world solutions. “If we want products that the Indian population can use, we have to make them in India because products coming from the West cannot be used here even after they are improvised to the Indian context. We need to design in India, for India.

While middle- and high-income families are relatively better off, it’s children from low income households that are worst hit. Poorer parents depend on the school administration when it comes to their children’s development. Few schools are equipped to shoulder this responsibility.

The result, as EMx Co-founder Tarun Sarwal points out is that a large number of children with disabilities are completely excluded. “There are certain communities like the deaf communities where 80% of people are coming out without even basic knowledge of writing or reading.

Given the weaknesses in the system, there is an urgent need to develop local solutions emphasises V S Basavraju, State Commissioner for Disabilities, Karnataka, and strong supporter of the EMx process. “Look around and we see a lot of children with learning disabilities that the system is ignoring. They are being put through a huge ordeal and we need to look at how to solve the problem by developing indigenous products and techniques.

What sets the EMx apart is that the technologies are developed in close partnership with the disabled community which gives the innovators a detailed, in depth insight into their needs.

“This will help develop products that are suitable in the gap areas such that the children and parents are empowered and less dependent, says V Rajasekharan, Co-founder, vshesh, the impact enterprise that is an EMx partner. “Right now, most of the services offered by NGOs and the government involve various stakeholders coming together which leaves the person dependent on someone else.

Nearly 700 start-ups are likely to apply for the third edition and the founders hope to see products that will offer innovative and unique solutions. “We are looking developing products that can satisfy people 18 years ahead, so we are talking about a whole generation of kids who by 2030 should be in a position to have proper support, says Tarun, Managing Partner, Inkludo Consulting & Advisory.

Watch in Sign Language

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

#RareDiseases - Coping with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy powers Karan's passion to help others

Get-hooked

Understanding Essential Oils for Autism, ADHD

Get-hooked

Check out 20-year-old Vinamra Arolkkar's skills on his YouTube channel 'The Special Cook'

Get-hooked

#LovePossible - Newlyweds Shilpa & Danish Mahajan are setting serious couple goals

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.