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Tag: Global Accessibility Awareness Day

  • Technology, Oh my GAAD!

    Technology, Oh my GAAD!

    Shruti PushkarnaToday marks the 13th edition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, commonly known as GAAD. A movement initiated in 2012 by Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion with the intention of taking accessibility knowhow to mainstream developers. And much has transformed thanks to this global drive.

     

    Technology, more specifically AI and Generative AI are the hot topics at every forum. Whether it’s the fear of losing our jobs to chatbots or driving business efficiencies with machine learning and artificial intelligence, tech innovations are rapidly altering the work culture.

     

    Accessibility is no longer an alien concept to average social media users, who stumble upon several tips to omit barriers in physical and digital spaces, using simple tech solutions. As an inclusion advocate, I believe technology enables and empowers everyone, including the most vulnerable.

     

    But do product developers, service providers, and industry experts understand how technology can mainstream marginalized communities like Persons with Disabilities?

     

    I’m not so sure.

     

    Last week, I was in the city of Nizams, or should I say the emerging IT capital of India, Hyderabad. I was attending an annual industry event focused on driving conversations in the space of HR Tech. A swanky summit showcasing workplace innovations empowering organisations to drive outcomes and human engagements. Sounds fancy and intriguing, right?

     

    Honestly, I was quite enthusiastic looking at the speaker line-up, exhibits and masterclass agenda. Every panelist propagated the new mantra, AI + HI = ROI (Artificial Intelligence plus Human Intelligence equals Return on Investment), laying special emphasis on empathy in this growing robotic era.

     

    Innovation. Technology. Empathy. Human Centric Approach. Almost music to my ears. Except it wasn’t. The scope of discussions was limited to present day work roles and current employee base. The futuristic innovations didn’t explore the possibilities of an accessible and conducive work environment for all.

     

    The two-day extravaganza could have been a perfect setting to introduce a new equation to CXOs, CHROs and CEOs,

    Innovation Quotient (IQ)+ Empathy Quotient (EQ) = Inclusion Equity Quotient (IEQ).

     

    Let’s rewind to the beginning of this month, where I had an altogether crippling experience with technology. Contrary to efficient and easy access, the processes at Max Hospital, a leading brand in healthcare hit rock bottom when it came to IP (In-Patient) Care. The computerised functioning and omission of paperwork had me thinking of myriad job roles that could be executed by persons with different disabilities in this setup.

     

    But my bubble was busted immediately as the colossal cracks in the system unravelled within hours of checking in to the ritzy facility. Health workers and care providers failed to administer timely treatment as the tech-powered processes held them hostage. It was a long chain of communication passing through layers of systemic approvals from doctors to assistants, to administration, to nursing, to pharmacy, back to nursing, and finally to the patient. And unlike AI, this was hardly intuitive or quick, it took hours to execute.

     

    By the way, speaking of AI, Chat GPT 4o was launched recently. Hardly a geek myself, I was browsing videos to understand what’s unique about the latest offering. That’s when I encountered a post by Open AI on X without captions or subtitles. Ironic, eh? Something that could easily be generated using that very AI!

     

    Say hello to GPT-4o, our new flagship model which can reason across audio, vision, and text in real time: https://t.co/MYHZB79UqN

    Text and image input rolling out today in API and ChatGPT with voice and video in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/uuthKZyzYx

    — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 13, 2024

     

    But it’s May 16 and GAAD, so I won’t end on a depressing note. Technology is a gamechanger for 1 billion people with disabilities across the world. People who would otherwise lose out on opportunities of engaging with the mainstream society, for work, education, entertainment and more.

     

    Sarah Moin, a girl from Lucknow, scored 95 percent in her ICSE Class X exams. She is blind, deaf and speech-impaired. How did she managed to study and score well? The answer is technology paired with grit and determination. Sarah uses an Orbit reader which is a 3-in-1 device that works as a book-reader, note-taker and a refreshable braille display. It connects to computer or mobile using USB or Bluetooth. This tech marvel enabled her to write her exams digitally.

     

    Ruhin Bhattasali is a 100 percent visually impaired girl from Hyderabad. She scored 491/500 in her CBSE Class XII exams. Belying the common stereotypes that blind students can’t pursue STEM subjects, Ruhin studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry. She wanted to pursue astrophysics but due to accessibility challenges, she has opted for Computer Science and is preparing for IIT JEE.

     

    Here’s more good news.

     

    Following a complaint against a leading app-based taxi service by a visually impaired consumer, the Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) issued a directive that will enforce disability-inclusive behaviour by cab aggregators. Corporate lawyer and Accessibility professional Amar Jain faced difficulty using the Ola app which didn’t adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The order from CCPD seeks appointment of an Accessibility Auditor and a Grievance Redressal Officer to ensure all existing and new features comply with accessibility standards as per law.

     

    Is it time for industries to drop inherent biases, explore out-of-the-box ideas, and widen their consumer base to include underrepresented groups?

     

    Wondering why MxMIndia publishes a disability advocacy column? Well, we strongly feel that the media can dramatically transform the world for persons with disabilities. This series attempts to help bring forth issues that the media must champion to create a truly inclusive and accessible India. Writing  this column is Shruti Pushkarna, a former journalist and now a disability inclusion advocate based in New Delhi. Her views here are personal. To access the archives of her 90-plus columns, please visit: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/ columns/shruti-pushkarna/

     

    If you have a view on the issues raise or would like to align with MxMIndia on this cause, write to us at editor [at] mxmindia.com.

  • On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Shruti Pushkarna interviews lawyer Amar Jain, DEI & talent specialist Akshay CM & rights advocate Tushar Viradiya

    Are digital products/services accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities?

    Amar Jain, Akshay CM and Tushar Viradiya

     

     

    By Shruti Pushkarna

     

    Shruti PushkarnaWhat’s the first thing you reach out for when you wake up? Or, what’s the last thing you use before turning in at night? In all likelihood, it’s your cellphone. An inseparable part of our lives, it’s the mode for all kinds of content consumption. Whether it’s managing your calendar, getting the news, or scanning social media feeds, cellphone is a constant presence and an enabler.

     

    Computers, smartphones, and other smart devices have not only made things easy but also improved our productivity levels. Most services including healthcare, banking, food delivery, and entertainment have gone digital. Now imagine, if one billion people encounter challenges in accessing mainstream digital products and services.

     

    That’s the number of people who live with some form of disability, worldwide. They experience lack of access to basic things which we take for granted in our daily routines. Reading the news, browsing Instagram, making a UPI payment, transferring funds to another account, or ordering a pizza!

     

    Today (May 18) is the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual celebration to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion of persons with disabilities. The theme of this year, ‘Keeping technology accessible for everyone’, is in line with the growing shift towards digital infrastructure.

     

    But what does accessibility mean in the context of disability? How can technology include or exclude people with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive disabilities? To answer these and more, I spoke to three professionals who live with different types of disabilities.

     

     Amar Jain is a corporate lawyer and a person with total blindness. Akshay CM is a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and Talent Management consultant and a neurodivergent individual with multiple invisible disabilities. And, Tushar Viradiya is a deaf individual who works for a Bengaluru-based NGO.

     

    Q: What does ‘accessibility’ mean to you?

    Amar Jain (AJ): Simply put, Accessibility = ability to access. People perceive information and user interface components of technology using three senses, as we can neither taste nor smell technology. And to me, accessibility is when all of the information and components I can use with more than one sense. For example, colour alone to convey information relies only on sense of seeing, whereas a colour indicated with text alternatives like a * sign, makes it accessible to other senses of hearing and touch for people who may have difficulty using one of their senses.

     

    Akshay CM (ACM): Accessibility, to me, means ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have equal access to information, technology, physical spaces, and opportunities to fully participate in society.

     

    Tushar Viradiya (TV): For me, accessibility means creating an inclusive environment and services, which are available to individuals with abilities or disabilities. For example, sign language interpreters play a vital role in making communication accessible for both deaf and hearing individuals.

     

    Q: Give us one example from your daily life where access or the lack of it significantly impacts you?

    AJ: As a lawyer, ability to read handwritten text, and different designs that people create using pen on paper like cutting down stuff, inserting new lines, making different signs to indicate intent impacts my daily life a lot because none of this is accessible to me as a person with blindness and I have to depend on others to obtain this information.

     

    ACM: When websites or apps lack proper captioning or transcripts for videos and audio content. As a neurodivergent individual, I heavily rely on visual cues and text-based information. Without adequate access to captions or transcripts, I face difficulties in understanding and engaging with the content.

     

    TV: Every day I visit YouTube channels and social media platforms that provide news and information in Indian sign language. Having sign language interpreters present during work meetings on Zoom enhances accessibility for deaf and hearing individuals. It becomes fully accessible for me.

     

    Q: Given the push towards Digital India and the changed environment after Covid-19, with an increasing transition of activities of education, employment, and entertainment in the virtual space, how important is ‘accessibility’ to you as a person with blindness/neurodiversity/hearing impairment?

    AJ: While technology is progressing and replacing almost every manual effort, at the same time, inaccessible design is creating exclusion and more barriers for persons with disabilities. From gadgets to work, to entertainment to everything else, technology is getting the centrestage. And given this push, it is equally important to have the technology which is inclusive, accessible and usable for everyone including people with disabilities.

     

    ACM: As a neurodivergent individual, accessibility is crucial in the digital space, especially considering the increased reliance on virtual platforms for education, employment, and entertainment. It enables me to navigate and engage with these activities effectively, enhancing my overall inclusion and participation. Unfortunately, awareness of the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is relatively low among content creators, particularly in the context of neurodiversity. Adhering to UDL principles could greatly improve the accessibility and inclusivity of their content.

     

    TV: Before Covid-19, deaf students faced barriers in accessing education due to limited resources and challenges in communication. There is very little awareness around the deaf and Indian Sign Language (ISL). There are mostly hearing teachers in special schools for the deaf, who do not understand sign language and expect the kids to understand through notes they write on the board. There is no explanation, context or description given. Now, there are online education channels which have content available in sign language which helps deaf people acquire knowledge. With the shift toward online learning in education, we need to ensure accessibility for deaf people. This includes, providing closed captions and sign language interpretation for education material, so they can fully engage in the learning activities. However, there are very few qualified ISL interpreters to cater to the needs of around 18 million deaf people!

     

    Q: This year, the theme of GAAD is ‘Keeping technology accessible for everyone’. How relevant do you think this is in the Indian context and how far or close are we from achieving this? Especially in the context of media offerings, whether it is e-papers, news websites, OTT platforms, etc.

    AJ: Accessibility can only happen when we have the right attitude and we understand the impact of inaccessibility. While things are changing in terms of policies, the implementation continues to be a daunting task.

     

    ACM: India has witnessed a significant digital transformation in recent years, with increased reliance on online platforms for various activities. However, the accessibility of these platforms, particularly in terms of media offerings like epapers, news websites, and OTT platforms, remains a pressing concern. Many of these platforms lack adequate accessibility features such as screen reader compatibility, captioning, and alternative text for images, making it challenging for neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities to access and engage with the content. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in ensuring inclusive and accessible technology for all.

     

    TV: TV news is not signed, and when it is, sometimes the interpreters are not good enough to be accurate, so it does not make sense to me. I depend on independent YouTube channels and social media that produce news updates in sign language for deaf people. Deaf individuals face challenges when it comes to accessing entertainment such as movies, TV shows, and live performances. However, there has been some progress. Closed captioning is widely available for movies and television programs.

     

     

    Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified that persons with disabilities can now approach the Chief Disability Commissioner to seek redressal under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, if ICT (Information and Communication Technology) products and services are not in keeping with the laid out standards of accessibility applicable to both government and private sector manufacturers and service providers. Will the government’s empowering move prove gamechanging in ensuring accessibility for all?

     

    So why are we publishing this column on an A&M site? Well, we strongly feel that the media can dramatically transform the world of persons with disabilities. And this series can help bring forth issues that the media must champion to create a truly inclusive and accessible India. To write this column, we invited Shruti Pushkarna, a former journalist who is now a disability inclusion advocate based in New Delhi. Her views here are personal. To access the archives of her 70-odd columns, please visit: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/ columns/shruti-pushkarna/

     

    If you have a view on the issues raise or would like to align with MxMIndia on this cause, write to us at editor [at] mxmindia.com.

     

  • On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Shruti Pushkarna asks wonders if we understand enough to care about accessibility

    Disability Inclusion: Should the media practise and propagate accessibility?

     

     

     

    By Shruti Pushkarna

     

    Shruti PushkarnaMay 19, 2022 marks the eleventh edition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Founders, Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion teamed up in 2012 to initiate the famous GAAD movement following a blogpost (by Joe) and a thread on Twitter (spotted by Jennison).

     

     

     

    The objective is to raise awareness and know-how on how to make the digital environment (products and services) accessible for one billion people across the world, who live with some form of disability.

     

    Through various events, talks and hackathons, everyone gets talking, thinking and learning about digital inclusion and access. India has been an active participant in the movement. But other than the usual suspects, including disability advocates, potential beneficiaries of accessible ecosystems, accessibility testers and consultants, most of us don’t really care about this annual observance.

     

    In fact, unless one is aligned to the disability sector in some way, the term GAAD is probably alien.

     

    Before we (society and media) can propagate the removal of barriers in access, it is imperative to understand the problem and its magnitude.

     

    Imagine not having access to online services like banking, food delivery, social media, maps, search engines. Feels strange, right?

     

    In the digitally connected world, we cannot fathom making physical trips to the bank, telecom provider, grocer, fruits and vegetable vendor, chemist et cetera for essentials.

     

    It’s almost paralysing to think of a life without our handy gadgets: smartphone and computers.

     

    Persons with disabilities live with physical, mental or sensory limitations. But technology can enable them to lead less crippled lives.

     

    Here are just a few scenarios citing how digital inclusion can alter the rules of engagement.

    1. Booking flight tickets online

    A person with hearing or speech impairment, vision impairment or locomotor disability can access travel booking apps or websites using computers and assistive technology (or devices). However, an inaccessible audio or image Captcha can prevent them from independently closing the transaction.

     

    2. Internet banking

    A disabled person confined to his or her home because of the barriers in the physical environment, can avoid the hassles of visiting a bank for financial transactions. Most of us are empowered by the ease of digital payments today. Persons with disabilities can also use payment gateways, online banking and mobile wallets to seamlessly transfer money. Again, the platforms need to be compatible with assistive tools and technology.

     

    3. Ordering food, medicines, other essentials

    Persons with disabilities don’t have to depend on another for everything. There are a lot of daily activities and needs that can be met independently. Like ordering groceries, medicines, vegetables, fruits or scrumptious food, using popular websites and apps that deliver stuff to the doorstep.

     

    4. Reading

    Whether it’s catching news updates or reading fictional accounts, e-publications and audio books make reading easily accessible for a larger population, including print disabled. Needless to say, this impacts inclusion in educational institutions as well as the workplace.

     

    5. Social engagements

    Access to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram helps expand a disabled person’s social circle. They can interact with a wider and diverse group in a virtual setting, without being constrained by their disability.

     

    So why should we care about ensuring access to this section of the population?

    The numbers are huge.

    We are talking about 15 per cent of the world’s population that faces challenges in accessing websites, mobile applications, or other digital products, if developers and designers don’t adhere to accessibility guidelines. And these include people who are educated, employed and even taxpayers.

     

    Disabled folk are caught in a vicious cycle of marginalisation.

    Excluded from opportunities of education, employment and entertainment, persons with disabilities continue living on the margins. Access to digital services, especially in a world driven by technology, can help them attain personal and economic independence.

     

    Equal access implies increased participation that helps in refuting stereotypes.

    Picture an inclusive classroom where students with and without disabilities can access books and lessons through computers, smartphones or assistive devices. Quality education can reduce the burden on reservations and benefits, with more and more disabled folk pursuing jobs based on merit and aspirations. Gradually belying the stereotype of lifelong dependency.

     

    Seeing the disabled as active citizens.

    The ability to attend school, work a job, participate in an online forum, make financial investments, argue and opine on social media, transforms the disabled from an invisible majority to active citizenry. A natural progression towards ‘person first’ narrative follows, where disability becomes inconsequential.

     

    Untapped human resource can impact the economy.

    The International Labour Organisation suggests that including persons with disabilities into the workforce can positively impact the GDP by 3 to 5 per cent.

    Accessibility not only paves way for an inclusive society but also makes perfect business sense to make products and services available to a wider pool.