In an effort to further strengthen its vision to mainstream employment of Persons with Disabilities and making ICT accessible to all, NASSCOM Foundation hosted a Roundtable session - “Promoting Accessible Products-Bit-by-Bit” at the recently concluded NASSCOM Product Conclave.
Speaking at this roundtable was a panel of esteemed speakers including Cheryl Aranha (Head Accessibility- Intuit), Meghashyam Karanam (Lead Product Marketing Manager -Microsoft Corp) and Shilpi Kapoor (Founder - BarrierBreak Technologies).
The roundtable was designed to create awareness about ‘Digital Accessibility’ and discuss the business case for accessible software, apps and websites. The discussions at the roundtable also demonstrated the importance of addressing the access barriers to Persons with Disabilities and developing technology that can be accessed by all including Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking on this initiative Ms. Rita Soni, CEO NASSCOM Foundation said, “The Foundation has several initiatives to sensitize the IT-BPM industry on the business and the social case for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. This session, the first with the NASSCOM Product Conclave, was designed to encourage software development companies to design for accessibility as a matter of normal business. Besides this being an opportunity to demonstrate Business Responsibility, it is an avenue with direct business benefits: increased customer reach and loyalty, proactive regulatory approach and Search Engine Optimization. It was inspiring to hear BarrierBreak (also our website accessibility partner), Intuit, Microsoft and SAP share their respective initiatives. The industry has come a long way in demonstrating inclusive practices though a lot more has to be done.”
NASSCOM Foundation has always focused on tech4good to impact lives. The Foundation’s Disability Initiative with continuous support from NASSCOM’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and Wadhwani Foundation is mainstreaming the employment of Persons with Disabilities in the IT-BPM industry. It motivates companies to modify their HR policies, create barrier-free work environments, generate employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, hire from this untapped pool of resources and develop innovative assistive tools and technologies. The Foundation along with the industry, NGOs, training and educational institutions and government bodies, is building a sustainable ecosystem that supports holistic inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
Shilpi Kapoor- Founder Barrierbreak Technologies - “At BarrierBreak, we believe that products need to reach a large target market to be successful. To reach the untapped 1 billion people with disabilities around the globe it is time to adopt accessibility practices. Design, develop and test your products to understand the needs of this user group and see an increase in revenue, promote inclusion and meet legal compliances.”
Intuit – “Intuit’s core values include ‘Integrity without Compromise’ and ‘Delight Customers’. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and put customers at the heart of everything we do. We implement policies in a manner that shows great regard for their impact on our customers. At Intuit, a diverse and inclusive mindset is simply part of who we are and how our work gets done. In line with these core values, Intuit is committed to ensuring that all people – including those with disabilities – can use our websites, products, and services effectively.”
Meghashyam Karanam, Lead Product Marketing Manager – Localization, Microsoft -“At Microsoft India, we are committed to removing the barriers to access to technology. These barriers range from physical and mental disabilities to language incompatibilities between the user and the product. With features such as the Ease of Access Centre in all Windows, to the local language computing capabilities for most products and services, Microsoft India is enabling millions of Indians reap the benefits of technology.”
About NASSCOM Foundation:
NASSCOM Foundation is driving technology for good. The Foundation’s work is just as expansive and evolutionary as the potential that technology and corporate India entail. Drawing strength from its parent body NASSCOM, the Foundation works in partnership with four major stakeholders: NASSCOM member companies, NGOs, emerging social enterprises and Government, changing India bit by bit, a journey to foster a strategic relationship between technology and development. Please visit www.nasscomfoundation.org for more information.
Speaking at this roundtable was a panel of esteemed speakers including Cheryl Aranha (Head Accessibility- Intuit), Meghashyam Karanam (Lead Product Marketing Manager -Microsoft Corp) and Shilpi Kapoor (Founder - BarrierBreak Technologies).
The roundtable was designed to create awareness about ‘Digital Accessibility’ and discuss the business case for accessible software, apps and websites. The discussions at the roundtable also demonstrated the importance of addressing the access barriers to Persons with Disabilities and developing technology that can be accessed by all including Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking on this initiative Ms. Rita Soni, CEO NASSCOM Foundation said, “The Foundation has several initiatives to sensitize the IT-BPM industry on the business and the social case for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. This session, the first with the NASSCOM Product Conclave, was designed to encourage software development companies to design for accessibility as a matter of normal business. Besides this being an opportunity to demonstrate Business Responsibility, it is an avenue with direct business benefits: increased customer reach and loyalty, proactive regulatory approach and Search Engine Optimization. It was inspiring to hear BarrierBreak (also our website accessibility partner), Intuit, Microsoft and SAP share their respective initiatives. The industry has come a long way in demonstrating inclusive practices though a lot more has to be done.”
NASSCOM Foundation has always focused on tech4good to impact lives. The Foundation’s Disability Initiative with continuous support from NASSCOM’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and Wadhwani Foundation is mainstreaming the employment of Persons with Disabilities in the IT-BPM industry. It motivates companies to modify their HR policies, create barrier-free work environments, generate employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, hire from this untapped pool of resources and develop innovative assistive tools and technologies. The Foundation along with the industry, NGOs, training and educational institutions and government bodies, is building a sustainable ecosystem that supports holistic inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
Shilpi Kapoor- Founder Barrierbreak Technologies - “At BarrierBreak, we believe that products need to reach a large target market to be successful. To reach the untapped 1 billion people with disabilities around the globe it is time to adopt accessibility practices. Design, develop and test your products to understand the needs of this user group and see an increase in revenue, promote inclusion and meet legal compliances.”
Intuit – “Intuit’s core values include ‘Integrity without Compromise’ and ‘Delight Customers’. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and put customers at the heart of everything we do. We implement policies in a manner that shows great regard for their impact on our customers. At Intuit, a diverse and inclusive mindset is simply part of who we are and how our work gets done. In line with these core values, Intuit is committed to ensuring that all people – including those with disabilities – can use our websites, products, and services effectively.”
Meghashyam Karanam, Lead Product Marketing Manager – Localization, Microsoft -“At Microsoft India, we are committed to removing the barriers to access to technology. These barriers range from physical and mental disabilities to language incompatibilities between the user and the product. With features such as the Ease of Access Centre in all Windows, to the local language computing capabilities for most products and services, Microsoft India is enabling millions of Indians reap the benefits of technology.”
About NASSCOM Foundation:
NASSCOM Foundation is driving technology for good. The Foundation’s work is just as expansive and evolutionary as the potential that technology and corporate India entail. Drawing strength from its parent body NASSCOM, the Foundation works in partnership with four major stakeholders: NASSCOM member companies, NGOs, emerging social enterprises and Government, changing India bit by bit, a journey to foster a strategic relationship between technology and development. Please visit www.nasscomfoundation.org for more information.
