News: Akshatha Acharya
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Feb 5: A two-day orientation cum training programme on ‘Media and Accessibility’ for Mass Communication students and professionals was inaugurated at Manipal University Planetarium here on Friday February 4.
The programme, conducted by AYJ National Institute of the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH) Mumbai in collaboration with Manipal Institute of Communication, saw dignitaries from the media and health sciences sector working towards broadening the spectrum of accessibility to the disabled.
The director in-charge of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC), while presenting his welcome address, highlighted that the media cannot exist without its social responsibility; further that the media should become the voice of the voiceless.
Presiding over the programme Dr Sripathi Rao, dean KMC, threw light over the conditions of accessibility in health and communication in the Udupi district that makes it stand as one of the examples for the rest of the country. Dr Rao addressing the participants also mentioned how ‘Planning about serving the disabled could make stepping stones towards making a change in this very issue of accessibility’.
Dr M V Kamath, honorary director, MIC, addressing the participants as guest of honour for the programme, shared the importance of the public’s participation in empowering the disabled through means of vocational courses and employment.
P J Mathew Martin of AYJNIHH presented the orientation of the programme to the participants and introduced them to the aspect of Universal design that should become the key term to address the issue.
In his keynote address, K Kannan of Oxfam India, New Delhi, stressed on how Human Rights should be better looked at, especially for those with disability; as stated by the United Nations Convention Rights for Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) enforced in 1995 for enabling persons with disability with equal opportunity rights.
The two-day event is convened by Dr P Subramaniam, faculty and co-ordinator for the programme. During the first of the four sessions of the programme a digital accessibility was discussed with the aid of video calling facility with Shilpa Kapoor, M D Barrier Break Technologies, Mumbai. During the interactive session, Kapoor guided the participants through the ‘Acceptable and Accessible Internet Media and Websites’ using online presentation via Skype.
The programme further saw a screening of the Indian National Anthem in Universal design by AYJNIHH for the hearing impaired and the participants were acquainted with Sign language basics. The first session also saw the virtual conference with Ketan Kothari, Programme Manager, Sight Savers International via Skype, who presented the UNCRPD guidelines and its implementation of special articles for the Disabled.
During the second session, a film on ‘Accessibility’ was screened followed by a K Kannan giving an insight about the ‘Media and Persons with disabilities in various perspectives’.
The second day of the programme, on Saturday, will include specialists and media personnel giving insights on Role of Media and critical issues of accessibility with special emphasis on hearing impairment, demonstration and testing of accessible websites, media advocacy and implementation of guidelines for use of products, accessibility and problems of the disabled at public places, demonstration of use of comics in addressing disability and screening of films on disability issues made by Persons with Disability (PWD).