Srikanth: Movie Day by NCPEDP on 6th May 2024 at 10 am.

 Invitation to an Inclusive Movie Day! 🍿

NCPEDP in association with PVR INOX, is proud to bring inclusivity and resilience to the theatres near you!

We're thrilled to extend a special invitation to People with Disabilities, along with their friends and families, for the premiere screening of "Srikanth" on May 10th, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Book your seats at a special price of just ₹99 for the first day first show!

- Audio descriptions available via XL Cinema App. 

- People on wheelchair must book wheelchair friendly seats in accessible cinemas having white wheelchair sign.

- Cinemas with the yellow wheelchair sign can only accommodate people on manual wheelchairs.

Join us and be part of a cinematic journey unlike any other! See you there! 

Bookings open from 6 May 2024 on the PVR App, Inox App, PVR website and Inox website. 

For any questions connect with us at NCPEDP helpline: 9958955744

How do Blind Schools enable people?

One question that we often hear is - how do blind schools enable people? 

This video, made by Aditya Bhasin, educates us in this heartwarming video of less than 4 minutes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-ZrTDPJR7Q

We recommend that you watch it. 

The school covered in the video is Saksham Trust, but its very illustrative of how most schools function. 

Counselling center in Bangalore - Arpita Helpline

ARPITA HELPLINE
The Arpita Helpline was started on 27 May 2019 in Bangalore to provide free telephone counselling and face-to-face counselling to those who are in emotional distress and who may be feeling suicidal.
Telephone No.: 080 40503700
Timings: 10.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. ...
Days: Monday - Saturday

For Face-to-Face Counselling please call and make an appointment before coming.
Please share this information with your family, friends and colleagues at work so that those who are in need of help can reach out to us.

How to get my patient a free bed in Delhi - www.charitybeds.com

Today, we heard about this awesome initiative that will really help everyone.

All private hospitals in Delhi are duty bound to offer some beds at low or no cost to poor patients.

This is a website that compiles the list of such beds every single morning and makes it available.

If you know anyone who is economically weak and is looking for treatment, please please guide them to this website:

http://charitybeds.com/

They can call Gagan: +91-7838348237
Lalit Kumar: +91-9999071842

And these kindred souls will work to get them a free bed in these hospitals.

India Vs Sri Lanka - Blind Cricket Match INternational

Cricket Association for Blind in Delhi (CABD) along with Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI) is organising a cricket match between the Blind cricket teams of India and Srilanka. We cordially invite you to attend the match and to cheer the visually impaired players.
Venue: Roshanara Club, Roshanara Garden, Near Kamla Nagar, Delhi-110007.
Date & Time: 23-10-18 from 14:00 onwards.
For any query feel free to dial +91-9911711608 / 9971938737
 You can watch the match live on DD sports.

Accessible Durga Pooja Pandal

What does Ma Durga feel like? Those who have seen her in her magnificent form in the pandals, know what an awe inspiring moment that is.


We can now share that awe inspiring moment with others:
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/a-durga-puja-pandal-created-for-visually-impaired-devotees-and-visitors-kolkata-5403269/

Chaurya - The first accessible format film that we know of

Sharing as received on a mailing group:
Chaurya is a Marathi language crime thriller written and directed by  Sameer Asha Patil and produced by Nilesh Navalakha of Navalakha arts.

Navalakha?s earlier films Fandry and Shala have won national awards and  are
> known for their meaningful themes, Chaurya, which is a crime mystery
> thriller, is equally meaningful and exciting and that has attracted the
> producers.

> Chaurya is also India?s first accessible film to release in cinema halls.
> The accessible versions have been created by Kintel Inc and will have
audio
> descriptions for blind and captions for the deaf in Marathi.

> Chaurya is a film that will entertain audiences to the fullest.  A mystery
> thriller of this kind has never been tried in Marathi cinema.

Cafe Dissensus - New Issue

https://cafedissensus.com/2016/08/15/contents-intersectional-identities-disability-and-the-other-margins-issue-28/

This is an online magazine published on issues related to disability.

Sharing in case it is of interest to anyone.

4 states in India already have a department dedicated to the differently abled. The rest are on their way.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/just-four-states-set-up-dept-to-look-after-differently-abled.html

In a meeting last week, I got to know that Telangana also has a govt aided SHG for disability. We are going to use this infrastructure to reach CLABIL to those who can benefit from it.

I think, its time for other states to play catch up. And its only a matter of time before they do.

• No new infrastructure needs to be created.

The existing District- Block and Village infrastructure of social and welfare support can be used to also provide guidance and support to the specially abled. The same staff can report data.
 

Lego Style Braille Books Helps braille literacy

Braille Literacy is going down. As is general literacy. Perhaps it is a sign of our times. As audio takes over, the need to write reduces. And a communication method is only as important as the no. of users.

But braille is important. For the same reason that print is important - reading is its own joy.

Which is why such a delightful learning aid is very welcome, and very necessary:
http://mentalfloss.com/us/go/79417

 

A Disabled friendly home - Article shared

We found this great article today - so thought of sharing...

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/529704/a-disabled-friendly-home.html

E Book Reading App for Android - Free

Here is  a communication from Sparsh Products - sharing as received.

 Dear Friends,

  We are pleased to inform you that the ebook reading app "Accessible Reader"  is now being provided free of cost by Amway Opportunity Foundation. It is the world's only accessible ebook reading software with all the navigation features which is available free of cost and the rest are paid apps. Please   download the same from playstore. Given below is the link:




https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AmwayOpportunityFoundation
  .accessiblereader


   The main features of the app are given below:
   1. Read your txt, rtf, doc, docx and pdf files with complete
  navigation.
  2. It Supports Hindi, English and many other languages. Just have the
  compatible TTS engine for the language and you can read the same. For
  example for Hindi you can use Google Hindi, Lekha or espeak tts & for
  English you can use eloquence or any other English tts engine.
  3. Change your navigation mode between word, sentence, paragraph and
  page.
  4. Go to the desired page instantly with the help of "go to page"
  option.
  5. Repeat command repeats the word, line, paragraph or page at which
  the current navigation is set to.
  6. Increase or decrease the reading speed instantly.
  7. Play/Pause button.
  8. Read All button. It would start the reading continuously.
  9. Status. It displays the percentage of the file you have read.
  10. Page. It displays on which page you currently are
  11. It keeps the history of last 10 files which you have opened and
  remembers the position on which you closed the file and would resume from
  the same place.
  12. It remembers the navigation mode, TTS engine and your reading speed
  which you were using for that particular file.
  13. Select the TTS engine and voice for that particular file before
  opening.
  14. The software is activated via internet. It supports deactivation
  also.
  15. If you wish to change your handset just deactivate the software and
  activate it again on another handset. The application will remain with you
  for lifetime.
  16. No adds

 In case of any query please do share with us.

  With regards,

 Abhinav
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  Sparsh Products
  151-5, Rajpur Road, Jakhan Mandir,
  Dehradun 248001, India

  Mobile: 91-9837088334
  Email: info@sparshproducts.com

  sparshproducts@gmail.com

  www.sparshproducts.com <http://www.sparshproducts.com/>

  www.sparshbraille.com <http://www.sparshproducts.com/>

Aamna Zaidi's article on Mycity4kids

http://www.mycity4kids.com/parenting/brooklyn-baby/article/learning-to-see-again-journeys-with-my-blind-son

It's worth a read. Please don't miss this one.

Algorithms.. the Documentary

And This is a GREAT Sunday! Why?
Because there is Algorithms..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRQaUjHCK8w
...

If you didn't know already about it, read an awesome review here:
http://www.outlookindia.com/article/algorithms/295114
And Because Hariharan teaches music to Tumpa. Why is that special? Because not a lot of Tumpas get that opportunity! smile emoticon
http://www.hindustantimes.com/…/harih…/article1-1382576.aspx

Suno - the app to access CLABIL

Logo of the Suno App on Google Play Store

This has been a great week for Esha. First, we launched the volunteering page on the website.

Next, on June 12th, we held the first open 9Tanki workshop - where the participants were as young as 15 and some of them older than 40. For the first time, varied perspectives were present on the same stage and it enriched our view of how 9Tanki can change perspectives, and lives.

And now, we are so happy to share this : Yogesh is a bright engineer. On his own personal time, and out of his interest, he has created an app in partnership with CLABIL. All the free content of CLABIL in Hindi is now available on this Android app. It is simply called "Suno"(सुनो ) Suno literally means "Listen" in Hindi. Simple. And Powerful.

Some salient features of the app are:

• Content can be downloaded on the local phone.
• Chapter navigation is easily possible.
• The library will be remotely updated as and when we add books.
• Once downloaded, the book will not need to be downloaded again :)

I have personally tested the app with the native Android accessibility mode and its very good handling.

We encourage you to try the app even if you are sighted (since all content is free) . And of course, spread the word to NGOs, govt schools and children who are not enrolled in formal schooling. We have a lot of stories for them to learn from..

The app is available here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunobooks.suno

OR, just go to the Play store and search for "Suno" - we got it easily enough.

 

Tapas Bhardwaj DPS RK Puram Topper 2015 Class 12

This year, the topper at DPS R K Puram is Tapas Bhardwaj, who scored 91.4% marks, just 39 short of the All India topper.

Last year, he also won a debate competition in the Sahitya Utsav organised by the DPS Society.
http://dpsrkp.net/notices/?m=201410&cat=

Here are the press stories about him:
http://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/visually-impaired-student-tops-delhi-public-school-rk-puram-765933

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/education/cbse-12th-board-results-2015-delhi/

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-blind-boy-scores-914-to-top-class-of-normal-students-2089166

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/visually-impaired-boy-scores-91-4-in-cbse-class-12-exams-tops-school/article1-1351137.aspx

http://newsr.in/n/India/7551kwj3s/CBSE-class-12-results-Blind-boy-scores-91.htm


http://article.wn.com/view/2015/05/25/Visually_Impaired_Student_Tops_Delhi_Public_School_RK_Puram/ 

Tactile Art with visually challenged children

Today, we got an email from a Friend of Esha - with a simple link :
http://www.volunteerweekly.org/tactile-art-with-visually-challenged-children/#comment-584

What lovely, enthusiastic people, and what amazing work.

Do read.. We recommend it very much!

Autista by Mad Rat Games.. Good Going!

It was one of those regular book store outings with my son. There, sandwiched among really big brands, was a small box. It read "Aksharit". I took it out, more out of curiosity than anything else. It was Scrabble in Hindi!

That's how I first got to know about Mad Rat Games. I came home and researched this organisation - who makes Scrabble in Hindi! How Brilliant! I loved that story.. and the game went on to become the return gift at the said child's birthday party.

Cut to now, a few years later.. this email in the inbox made me smile, then grin.. how many folks think of Autism? How many of them go out and actually make an app to help??

Here is the message, as sent by the Mad Rat Games team. We at Esha think its brilliant, so here goes:

Do you know that there are around 70 million children worldwide suffering from Autism (10 million children in India alone!)? It is a lifelong disorder that affects how a person can communicate and interact with other people.

Privy to this problem, we at MadRat Games have been working on a solution and are now proud to announce the launch of Autista, a free-to-download iPad app to help kids with Autism and other learning disabilities improve their verbal and fine motor skills. The App is the outcome of an year long collaboration with Cornell University (Prof Mathew Belmonte) and Communication DEALL (Dr Pratibha Karanth) center for children with Autism.

The app has been developed scientifically by working closely with Autistic kids and the response we have seen during this process has been very heartening. More about the launch can be read on our blog and we require your support for this app to reach children with Autism and other learning disabilities who need this.

Download the app here for free and spread the word to parents, therapists and children who can benefit from it.
And on another high note, we're also proud to announce that MadRat Games won the Games of the Year- Special Mention award at the NASSCOM Game Developers Conference. MadRat won the award for Autista in this conference that was organized to propel the evolution of the gaming sector and to evangelize the game developer's community in the country.

Saksham Stall at the World Book Fair

The Sunday was spent at the World Book Fair.

Pleasant Surprise no. 1: A Punjabi Mushayara in Seminar Hall no. 1, Hall no. 14. Some lovely poetry was heard.

Pleasant Surprise no. 2: The Saksham stall at the same hall. I was asked to register, then given my name card in Braille. Then, we were blindfolded and taken inside another space to play 4 games. The volunteers are happy people who try their best to help you do better. To our credit, we scored all 40 points!

There, I also met a kind gentleman from Saksham, who took the time to talk, get their cards braille enabled, showed us a new kind of plastic brailler (which, by the way, had the same issues as the metal brailler) and also gave us the sad news that a brailler now costs 35000 rupees! We discussed CLABIL with enthusiasm and I also got a demo of the awesome Daisy Reader.

We exchanged information and decided to work on areas of synergy. I look forward to that one!

Sanat Sir from Saksham who spent some time talking. I then requested him to please pose with this powerful poster.

There, we got a perfect score.. with some help from the lovely volunteers who remain unseen

That's the stall for you - in a corner, but definitely not quiet.

Celebrating Special Ability..

The images we give to our children in the course of a normal day defines our world for them. and for us. Which is why this effort by Ekansh is sooooo commendable. Time that special ability became a normal part of our lives.. these coloring sheets have me very very enthused..

Do try them out .. here..
http://www.ekansh.org/coloring-sheets-sensitizing-little-children.html

And to celebrate the Disability day on Dec 3 (imho, there is no such thing as "Disability Day" . To me, everyone has some special ability - physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, whatever. Some of us need some physical assistance. Some of us need mental help, most of us need spiritual help, and emotional help. )

BUT, since there is a "Dis-ability" Day, we at Esha decided to celebrate it by recording quotations on Ability.

You can find the audio file here. It is free for all.

Coming up: A REALLY BIG update to the online library - we are adding over 100 files at one go!