On the second day of the International Purple Fest, there was a South Asian Technology Workshop and a National Summit on Inclusive Education. Speakers highlighted India’s dedication to universal access to education by talking about inclusive education, the possible effects of AI, and cutting-edge assistive technologies.
Panaji, Purple Fest 2024, January 9, 2024: The Maquinez Palace in Panaji hosted a National Summit on Inclusive Education on the second day of the International Purple Fest. The summit opened with a welcome from Satish Kapoor, Founder Director of Brotherhood, New Delhi.
On the panel for the discussion were Avelino De Sa, president of the Disability Rights Association of Goa; Taha Haaziq, secretary of the Office of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Martin Matthew, representing the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities; and Dr. Sandhya Limaye from TISS, Mumbai.
The inclusive education conference, which has been going on for more than ten years, was highlighted by Dr. Sandhya Limaye. In front of more than 120 attendees, she emphasized the value of post secondary education for those with disabilities. “We will come together one day to create an inclusive environment that benefits children from minority groups as well as those with disabilities,” she continued.
Martin Mathew talked about the applicability of the uses and gratification theory, a theory that looks at how media affects people. “In light of the dominance of AI, we ought to organize information in a digital format,” he declared.
In agreement with Mathew, Avelino De Sa said that more government policies for awareness-raising must be implemented, even in the face of obstacles to inclusive education in schools and universities.
Speaking about the significance of AI was Taha Haaziq. “AI is the right way to go,” he declared. The lives of people with disabilities may be significantly impacted by artificial intelligence (AI) in a number of ways.
On the second day, there was a workshop on technology and inclusive education in South Asia. Dr. Homiyar, Head Bookstore South Asia & Africa, and Hunny Bhagchandani from Startup TorchIt gave insightful talks during the workshop, which was chaired by Dr. Brendra Pokharel, Vice President of ICEVI West Asia. They gave examples of how technology can transform education and make it more interesting and accessible for all students, especially in complex topics like physics, math, and other subjects.
One important thing to remember was the work that young Indian start-ups are doing in the field of assistive technology. These entrepreneurs, supported by government initiatives, have created products that are affordable, efficient, and suitable for Indian culture, placing India at the forefront of the world market.
One of the speakers during the program thanked ICEVI for bringing these innovators and putting up booths at the Purple Fest. “With the help of these interactive demonstrations and lectures, anybody can discover and use these game-changing gadgets for themselves.”
Goa’s Minister of Social Welfare, Subhash Phal Dessai, was also there and gave a speech on the significance of inclusive education. “Inclusive education is an essential component of the world, and we should provide everyone with equal opportunities, rights, and respect,” he declared.
Dessai also recognized the success of the Purple Fest and the usage of assistive technologies by the disabled. “More than thirty conferences on a range of platforms have been held to debate issues, human rights abuses, and policy initiatives. He went on, “We cannot put this festival’s accomplishments on a scale, and I sincerely appreciate the shifts in awareness and perspective.”
An organization called TorchIt, which aims to empower vision beyond sight, showcased its cutting-edge gadgets and products to the crowd. The majority of their resources are designed to meet the needs of educators, students, and organizations. Among the tools and apps mentioned were Mega Voice, Pipeline App, DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System), and Music Braille.
The event, which was organized by ICVE Global, demonstrated India’s leadership in creating accessible and useful assistive technology for those with disabilities. Workshop participants were educated by the wide array of assistive devices on exhibit, each of which demonstrated how it may improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
