The N.C.P.E.D.P. - Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2011 launched!

N.C.P.E.D.P. in association with AccessAbility and BarrierBreak Technologies and with the support of MphasiS has launched ‘The N.C.P.E.D.P. Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2011’. Entering their second year, the awards are designed to encourage those doing exemplary work towards the cause of accessibility and thus ensuring a life of equality and dignity for disabled people.

Accessibility not only means access to physical spaces but also means access to information, technology, transport, services, aids and appliances, etc. For example, only 0.05% of printed books in India are available in accessible formats to print impaired people! Only a handful of Indian websites are accessible to people with disabilities!! And, most television programming is not accessible to hearing impaired people in India!!! These are just a few examples.

In order to spread awareness on Universal Design and to popularise this concept, N.C.P.E.D.P., in association with AccessAbility and BarrierBreak Technologies, and with the support of Mphasis, instituted The N.C.P.E.D.P. - Mphasis Universal Design Awards in 2010. The Awards will be given in the following 3 categories: Persons with disabilities, Working Professionals and Companies/Organisations.

The Awards will cover accessibility in the following fields:

1. Built Environment

2. Transport

3. Information and Communication Technology

4. Services

5. Aids and Appliances

Access symbolizes the true spirit of freedom as far as persons with disabilities are concerned. These Awards are therefore given away on August 14, the eve of our Independence Day.

The last date for nominations is June 30. Forms can be obtained by writing to secretariat@ncpedp.org or downloaded from http://dnis.org/awards.php.