Overview

NASSCOM Foundation has approached the issue through awareness building for employment, physical (barrier free workplace) and web accessibility through assistive technology.

Beyond Disability : A true and inspiring story of overcoming disability

In helping the Indian IT industry take forward its ever progressing thrust on inclusion and diversity, NASSCOM Foundation has identified volunteer programs and workshops to build a closer, positive and professional connect between the industry and people with disabilities. The NASSCOM Foundation success story in connecting more and more non-profit organizations, vocational training institutes with the IT industry has been a positive ground breaker in the disability space. IT-BPO companies understand the immense business sense it makes in employing persons with disabilities. The question of “why should we employ people with disabilities?” is being replaced with “we are hiring people with disabilities”, showing a massive change in mindsets. The Indian IT industry is an evolving, progressive industry that values work skills and believes in equal opportunities for all. When the progressive nature of the industry is offset by giving opportunities to the disabled, the all inclusive nature of the sector receives a major uplift. The change is here to stay and it can only get better.

Employability

NASSCOM Foundation approaches the area of employability intervention by connecting with IT companies on their HR agenda. The focus area is to promote the employment of people with disabilities, not on the basis of compassion or reservation, but on their capabilities and their qualifications. Since IT-BPO companies have been playing a leading role in hiring talented people with disabilities, the future focus of NASSCOM Foundation too, would be to connect more and more IR companies with vocational training institutes, professional educational institutions and non-profit organizations to source the talent pool.

Physical Accessibility

Accessibility is not just making the place accessible for a person on wheelchair, it is about making the place accessible for all. The term barrier free environment implies that buildings follow norms that help is easy maneuvering for persons with disabilities as well as those who have health issues. The NASSCOM Foundation focus is on building awareness in the IT-BPO industry on general physical accessibility guidelines and implementing them in their organization through retrofitting the existing premises. NASSCOM Foundation has reached out to the Realty sector to make these guidelines a must for all IT buildings. While NASSCOM Foundation recommends the guidelines issued by the Government of India, in the context of physical accessibility , it also understands that International guidelines are also important and need to be looked into when working on making buildings and workplace accessible.

Web Accessibility

NASSCOM Foundation follows the W3C guidelines on web accessibility. The IT industry has the important job of making all their organization websites accessible as per the International web accessibility guidelines. Web accessibility should not just be viewed just as a tool for people with disabilities, it should also be addressed to fit in the requirements of those with temporary disabilities as well as for the aged. This is important since each and every individual has the right to information. For more details on web accessibility please refer to http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20 /)

Assistive Technology

NASSCOM Foundation understands the importance of Assistive Technology for people with disabilities as well as for the IT-BPO companies who retain/ are planning to retain people with disabilities. NASSCOM Foundation is collaborating with companies who are making software for easy access to computers by those who cannot access it otherwise and the NASSCOM Foundation advantage is trying to get the organizations make less expensive software without compromising on the quality. NASSCOM Foundation works closely with the Industry in creating awareness on the use of Assistive Technology for the industry and thus enhance the work potential of people with temporary or permanent disability.

For further details please refer to www.umuc.edu/ade/glossary.html

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We Offer

Training Programs
Facilitation between the IT-BPO Industry and Non profit Organizations
Facilitate Access Audits
Disability Sensitization Orientation programmes for the IT-BPO industry

NASSCOM Foundation’s role as a facilitator for employment, awareness building and keeping the IT industry abreast on Accessibility measures and Assistive Technology, has made it possible for us to seek and connect with organizations who are working on the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. There are organizations who have already started a wonderful working relation with NASSCOM Foundation and there are some whom NASSCOM Foundation will be approaching for their specific skill teaching values.