New Delhi: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on the 18th.th in May 2023, with the vision of building an inclusive society in which persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities to grow and develop to live productive, safe and dignified lives.
DEPwD Government of India under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal point for the country’s development program for persons with disabilities. In addition to its central mandate of ‘inclusion’, the ministry will conduct events with 65 institutes/organizations associated with DEPwD at over 80 locations across India. It was celebrated on the 3rdrd Every year on a Thursday in May, GAAD’s goal is for everyone to talk, think and learn about digital-web, software, mobile, etc. on access/inclusion for people with different disabilities.
Aligned with the goals of GAAD and with the aim of making technology accessible and usable for people with disabilities, the Department organizes seminars/webinars on topics such as website accessibility, social media platforms, mobile/PC and banking systems, universal design, assistive technologies and disability representation. Even distribution camps should be organized to distribute aids and teaching material kits (TLMs), launch new aids and aids, and further show accessible short films among other awareness programs.
All events are attended by technological accessibility experts, academics, industry leaders, policy makers, among others. In addition, thousands of people with disabilities and many experts in the field of digital accessibility will participate to share their challenges and experiences.
Celebrating and raising awareness of GAAD by the Ministry is a nationwide celebration that aims to bring together all stakeholders across India on a single day to share their knowledge, experiences, views and ideas and discuss the latest developments and trends. the field of digital and technological accessibility.
The celebration thus further strengthens mutual trust and the interoperability of institutions according to the needs of people with disabilities, as well as enabling the sharing of best practices. The exercise will be another milestone in strengthening digital accessibility, as a follow-up to the 3-day Web-Accessibility Workshop organized by DEPwD in March 2023. In the firm belief that all persons with disabilities deserve a first-class digital experience online, the celebration of GAAD is a progressive step by DEPwD to enable persons with disabilities to participate as independent and productive members of society.
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