The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), in association with AccessAbility and BarrierBreak Technologies, recently announced the awardees of The NCPEDP – MphasiS Universal Design Awards 2011. The awards which received an overwhelming response in its introductory year (2010) will be given away on the eve of Independence Day i.e. 14th August.
The winners of the NCPEDP – MphasiS Universal Design Awards are as follows:
CATEGORY A (Persons with Disabilities):
- Mr. Arvind Ramesh Prabhoo, Proprietor, Access4all, Mumbai
- Mr. Prasant Ranjan Verma, Freelance Access Consultant and ICT Trainer for people with visual impairment, New Delhi
- Mr. Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe, Accessibility Specialist, Product Technical Lead, Infosys Limited, Pune
CATEGORY B (Working Professionals):
- Prof. Abir Mullick, Fulbright Nehru Scholar in Residence, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
- Mr. Anupam Basu, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
- Mr. P.J. Mathew Martin, Extension Service Asst. (Mass Media), Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai
CATEGORY C (Companies & Organisations):
- Accessible Systems, Mumbai
- Lemon Tree Hotels Pvt. Ltd.
- Select Citywalk (Select Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.), New Delhi
- TBox Apps (Therapy Box), U.K. & UniqMove, Indore
The members of the jury who announced the awards here today included-
– Mr. Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM
– Dr. Govind, Senior Director, Department of Information Technology, Government of India
– Ms. Papiya Sarkar, Senior Architect, CPWD, Delhi
– Mr. Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA)
– Ms. Rema Nagarajan, Assistant Editor, The Times of India, Delhi
– Dr. Meenu Bhambhani, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, MphasiS
“There were no such awards in the country to promote ‘Access’ which symbolizes ‘freedom from barriers’ as far as persons with disabilities are concerned. Through these awards we are not only encouraging organisations and individuals promoting Accessibility, but are also showcasing some innovative and unique examples that can revolutionise the lives of persons with disabilities,” said Mr. Javed Abidi, Honorary Director, NCPEDP.
Accessibility not only means access to physical spaces but also means access to information, technology, transport, services, aids and appliances, etc. The NCPEDP – MphasiS Universal Design Awards are instituted to recognise & acknowledge organizations and individuals who are playing a pivotal role in making life more accessible for people with disabilities. The awards which propagate the need for universal accessibility also aim to create examples and inspiration for other organisations and individuals alike.
An effort has been made to make the logo of the awards resemble the true spirit of freedom & celebration for people with disabilities. The rationale behind the logo of the NCPEDP – MphasiS Universal Design Awards is:
-The figurine form is more evolved, suggesting the aspect of having succeeded in one’s pursuits
-Suggests freedom
-Brings out celebration
-Has a dynamic quality about it
-Suggests a forward motion
In time, these Awards will gain tremendous recognition and credibility and will encourage more and more people to work in the field of promoting access and Universal Design.
The awards are given under three categories:
- CATEGORY A: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Awards in this category are given to people with disabilities who have created an impact in accessibility and Universal Design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information and communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology in their personal/professional capacity. The work that the person has done can be in policy framework, grass-root level implementation, design and development, access audits, or even the rights movement/advocacy.
- CATEGORY B: WORKING PROFESSIONALS Awards in this category are given to people who work for the cause of accessibility and Universal Design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information and communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology. She/he may be an employee of an education institute / NGO / corporate / government body that has taken up the cause, or may be a consultant or freelancer who has devoted her/his time for the cause. Her/his individual contribution to the cause is a major reason for the success achieved by the organisation/firm/movement. She/he may also be an individual who is involved in the cause independent of any organisational support and has achieved significant success in the core objective of gaining accessibility for disabled people. Awards in this category will be given out to ensure that many dedicated people who have involved themselves in the cause get due recognition. This will not only help in sensitising the rest of the non-disabled community, but will also encourage young minds to join the cause as a career option.
- CATEGORY C: COMPANIES/ ORGANISATIONS Awards in this category are given to those companies or organisations who have taken up the cause of accessibility and Universal Design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information and communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology. Companies/ organisations that have implemented either/ all of these within their organisations, which has led to them to recruiting or serving people with disabilities and providing them equal opportunities to participate to the best of their abilities. These companies/organisations can be a role model for the rest of the society, and recognizing their efforts and giving them the encouragement will help the cause to reach out to many more. These can be any type of an education institute / NGO / corporate / government body – private sector, public sector, joint sector, SME or even proprietorship/partnership firms. The selection criteria will not only be for adopting accessibility policies, but also for implementing them at the workplace.
Notes to Editor
About National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP):
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.) was registered as a Trust in 1996, with a Board of Management which has representation from industry, N.G.O.s, disabled people and international agencies. N.C.P.E.D.P. stresses the need to move away from traditionally held views of charity and welfare to those of productivity and empowerment of disabled people.