IBM wins National Awards for Accessibility Innovations

IBM India has won the National Award on Best Adaptability of Innovation to Provide Cost Effective Technology for the year 2007. This was in recognition of IBM's significant contribution towards bringing persons with disability into the mainstream by facilitating multiple modes to access information in the local language and interact with IT systems and the Internet through natural interfaces such as voice to increase the employability, productivity and self reliance of persons with disability.

On the occasion of the International Day of Disabled Persons, the National Award was presented by the Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Honorable President of India, at a felicitation ceremony held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

“We are pleased that IBM's commitment to roll out technological innovations for the cause of the business, society and world was recognized," said Dr. Daniel Dias, Director, IBM India Research Laboratory. "IBM is committed to making technology more natural to use by embedding accessibility features into all our solutions that can easily be activated to support employees, clients or partners with disabilities."

The Honorable President of India also conferred the National Award on IBM for its outstanding work in creation of barrier-free environment for the persons with disability. IBM India Research Laboratory, New Delhi was complemented for its accessible approach facilities and entrance, parking and drop off areas, stairs and elevators. The special layout within the building provides access to all facilities, equipment, software and workstations to persons with disabilities, without any requirement of assistance. Directional and informational signage is available in Braille and is kept at a level appropriate for persons with disabilities. Special audio and visual emergency systems have been provided to assist persons with disabilities during emergencies such as fire.

"At IBM, we apply 3As (Accessibility, Accommodation and Attitude) to enable a person with disability to become an equal member of the community. Our initiatives have been created to enable employees with disabilities to have an opportunity to be an equal participant in IBM's growth. These National Awards reinforce our efforts in making IBM an inclusive workplace," said Pari Sadasivan, Vice President, Human Resources, IBM India.

According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 314 million visually impaired people worldwide, and between 750 million and 1 billion of the world's six billion people have a speech, vision, mobility, hearing or cognitive disability. With a view to recognizing those who have helped the persons with disabilities to lead a better life thorough their sincere and dedicated service, the Government of India has been giving these annual National Awards in the field of disability, since 1969. The Awards are presented on the occasion of International Day of Disabled Persons on 3rd December.

Recently recognized as the best employer for People with Disabilities by National Trust, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, IBM India is committed to make information accessible by virtually anyone under virtually any circumstances.

IBM India has recently unveiled the first Human Ability and Accessible Center in India that aims to make technology and information easily accessible to over 60 million Indians who are differently-abled. With a view to bridge the digital divide in India, this center will also focus on technologies and solutions which can make information accessible to people with social, physical, educational and economical disabilities.

Sourced From: IBM India Research Laboratory