Inclusivity enroute to empowerment of people with disabilities

1. Inclusivity enroute to empowerment of people with disabilities A case study by Samarthanam Mahantesh .G.K & Rajendra . K.R.

2. What is Inclusion? • Exclusion is the manifestation of blatant discrimination and structural inequities for a specific section of communities in the society; • Exclusion results on account of potential barriers encountered by these sections on a day to day basis such as attitudinal, institutional, structural, informational etc., • Persons with disabilities are among the most excluded and poorest of the poor sections of the society; • Persons with disabilities exhibit lower economic, social, health, education and political outcomes as a result of sheer exclusion;

3. Inclusion cont’d…. • Accessibility and universal designs are the pre-requisites for inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities; • One of the principles of rights based approach mandates all the development actions and processes to have a clear focus on these groups; • Combat exclusion to promote inclusion through the removal of all the barriers stated above is must; • Promoting equity and justice can be an effective strategy to end exclusion and inequities to facilitate inclusion; • Promoting access to education, health care, livelihoods, participation and representation are the key strategies applied by Samarthanam to combat exclusion and ensure inclusion;

4. How we promote Inclusion? The success stories and good practices of Samarthanam follows to demonstrate how we promote inclusion……….

5. Reverse inclusion schools • Primary and Secondary schools encouraging reverse inclusion; i.e, encouraging non-disabled poorer children from villages to study along side disabled children.

6. Supporting students for inclusion • Disabled Young adults are provided with hostel facilities, education support to study in mainstream colleges. Additional disability specific support is provided by Samarthanam.

7. Inclusion in livelihoods • Preparing young disabled boys and girls to get employed in open market – IT and ITES training.

8. To work alongside non-disabled • We make sure that physically and visually challenged young adults work in BPOs. BPO Training:

9. Innovative programmes • 100 seater call centre – Rural BPO model encourages and prepares disabled young adults to work and earn their livelihood. • Trades are selected in line with market needs. • Young disabled adults are trained to be job ready for emerging sectors in India - I T and ITES, Hospitality, Retailing, Insurance and Banking.

10. Change attitudes to promote Inclusion • T20 Blind Cricket – entertainment, empowerment, mass awareness and attitudinal change maker.

11. Promote Inclusion thro’ Art & Culture • Sunadha - Classical and performing arts and dance troupe with visually and hearing impaired boys and girls along side non-disabled peers.

12. Samarthanam Strives to promote Inclusion • Our work force have 40% people with disabilities at all levels of jobs. • 70% of Board of Trustees are visually impaired. • Encourage non-discriminatory measure in all its actions. • We walk the talk in Inclusion.

13. Thank You