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N.I.D.-N.C.P.E.D.P. organise seminar on disabled-friendly design

N.C.P.E.D.P. has taken up the issue of access for disabled people at various fora, because it is the lack of access that hampers the growth of millions of disabled persons in India.

The issue of ‘Access’ easily surpasses all others when it comes to empowering disabled people. Access leads to education, employment, awareness and empowerment. Therefore, access for disabled people has been high on the agenda of N.C.P.E.D.P.

The issue is not as simple as it seems. There are multiple disabilities to consider, each having its unique needs. Moreover, there are an overwhelming number of institutions to deal with to achieve complete access – the roadways, railways, airlines, municipalities, various educational institutions, architects and a plethora of government bodies.

In August 1999, N.C.P.E.D.P. organised a workshop titled ‘Design for the Disabled’ in conjunction with India’s premier design institute, National Institute of Design (N.I.D.), Ahmedabad. Held at the N.I.D. premises in Ahmedabad on August 5 and 6, 1999, the workshop brought together professionals from the fields of design, transportation, town planning, healthcare, architecture and manufacturing, as well as NGOs and disabled persons to discuss various aspects of providing access to disabled people.

The workshop witnessed presentations by N.I.D. professors on design thought and the aim of design, with particular emphasis on designing for disabled persons. Mr. D.S. Meshram, Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Organisation, Government of India, made a presentation on ‘Barrier-free access to built environment and public transport: Policies and practices’ where he highlighted the efforts made by various agencies to achieve a barrier-free environment. Subsequent presentations by Mr. P.R. Mehta, President, Council of Architecture and Mr. A.K Rajagopalan, President, The Indian Institute of Architects, discussed in great detail the issues pertaining to design for the disabled. The sessions were interspersed with panel discussions and a question and answer session.

N.I.D. designers and students presented various case studies on designing for disabled people and exhibited some award-winning product designs. Students of the N.I.D. participated in the workshop enthusiastically and vowed to pursue the issue even after passing out from the institute. The results of the workshop were heartening, with every one going back with fresh ideas and initiatives planned.

Since then, N.C.P.E.D.P. has taken up the issue of access for disabled people at various fora. Another workshop to evolve a Master Plan to make Delhi totally accessible with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was organised. In October 2000, N.C.P.E.D.P. sent a representation to the Review Committee of the Union Public Service Commission (U.P.S.C.) regarding various empowerment measures for persons with disabilities. It was heartening to see that as a result U.P.S.C. ensured that the Civil Services examinations held in May 2000 were done in a totally disabled-friendly environment.

N.C.P.E.D.P. has also written to the New Delhi Municipal Council, Urban Development Ministry, Delhi Transport Corporation and the Ministries of Railways and Aviation regarding facilities for access. At the same time N.C.P.E.D.P. has been undertaking disability audits of buildings and public places around the country.

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