Redefining Disability

By Shilpi Kapoor

Evangelist and Director

BarrierBreak Technologies

Tech Enable

Breaking the Barriers of

Disabilities

Redefining Disability

About BarrierBreak

When no one else believed in the idea of technology as an enabler for persons with disabilities, BarrierBreak believed!

• Pioneers in Accessibility in India

• 75% of our staff is people with disabilities

• Work beyond solutions on Policy Building also

Redefining Disability

Disability Statistics

More than 1 billion people in the World and

Estimated 70 million in India

• 1 in 4 have a visual difficulty or impairment

• 1 in 4 have a dexterity difficulty or impairment

• 1 in 5 have a hearing difficulty or impairment

• 1 in 7 have a cognitive difficulty or impairment

and many more….

Research Study Commissioned by Microsoft & Conducted by Forester “The Wide Range of Abilities and Its Impact on

Computer Technology”

Redefining Disability

Question?

• Can you ignore technology today?

• Is Technology in most aspect of your life?

• Can persons with disabilities use the same

technology as you and me?

Redefining Disability

Technology is Everywhere…

Image by TheWayfarer

Redefining Disability

Lets Think Beyond Ramps!

• Website

• Software

• Mobiles

• Kiosk

• Electronics

• Games

• And many more…..

Redefining Disability

How can we Tech Enable?

Assistive Technology

Support Services Inclusive Technology

Empowering People with Disabilities to be

independent

Redefining Disability

The Big Picture

Deaf people find it difficult to:

• Participate in society

• Get education

• Gain employment

• Be contributing members of society!

Redefining Disability

The Solution - SignNTalk

Bridging the Communication barriers by

connecting the urban deaf who are looking for

employment and/or

independent living to the hearing world

by providing Sign Language Interpreters

Online!

Redefining Disability

The Solution - SignNTalk

• Connects the deaf to the

hearing world

• Provides Indian Sign

Language

• Only requirement is a

webcam & a computer

with internet connection

Redefining Disability

How does SignNTalk Work?

Redefining Disability

Factors Moving Ahead • Success Factors

– Deaf people adapting to using sign language online

– Cheaper and Faster Internet Access

– Laws on Discrimination & Equal Opportunity

• Risks – Lack of Sign Language

Interpreters – Working with Association for Sign Language Interpreters

– Law does not enforce need of sign language support – Lobbying for the New Law being drafted

– Mobile Technology – Adapting to include mobile access

Redefining Disability

Let Technology be Inclusive!

Redefining Disability

Where to Contact Me?

email: shilpi@barrierbreak.com

mobile: +91-98199 85266

office: +91-22-2686 0485/6

Connect with me at:

Shilpi_Kapoor