“ECHOES is a one-in-a-million initiative. I am so pleased to see such young, first-yearstudents working on something as unique as inclusivity and proactively striving towards asocial cause. Seeing people singing the national anthem in sign language showed me thatempowerment starts with an accepting platform.” A representative from Action for Autismquotes, an NGO working for differently-abled individuals.
Basking in warm sunlight, the corridors of Shri Ram College of Commerce seemed to shinedifferently. The pavement was demarcated by footprints of students and manydifferently-abled individuals, which marked the start of a campaign for inclusivity.
A student-run social entrepreneurship organization, Enactus SRCC, hosted ECHOES. Theevent sought to ignite discussions that would benefit those with disabilities. The day’s eventswere captured through the lens of Click SRCC.
The day’s events were captured through the lens of Click SRCC. The event began with anart competition for specially-abled children. Participants moved their pencils and crayonsacross the sheet of paper, creating pieces ranging from portraits of houses to vehicles.When the children etched their identity, culture, joys and struggles, it reinforced the idea thattheir stories also matter.
The event included a plethora of speeches and testimonials, filled with unique anecdotes.The speakers spoke about their own struggles and how they overcame them. They raisedpoints like physical challenges, the thought process behind ‘why me?’, and how theychanged the perception of society about them from being a ‘burden’ to becoming championsin their respective fields.
The panel discussion covered important issues and also involved community feedback. Thepanelists spoke about how physical infrastructure needs to be made more accessible andcurrently poses a barrier. Technological advancements can help inclusivity reach massesand accessibility needs to be internally generalized and should not be a privilege. They alsoaddressed the current policy support for para-athletes and vouched for differently-abledindividuals needing more opportunities in the field of sports.
Enactus SRCC also launched their adaptive apparel range as part of Project Aavaran, withdifferently-abled models walking down the runway in specially designed outfits. Buttons wereswitched with magnets and smart fronts, elastic at the back and pull-up tabs helped ineffortless wearing and comfort. Zip-openable hems were added for ease at the foot andzippers in the shoes added support and convenience. With huge smiles lingering on theirfaces, the models felt seen and were given a spotlight of their own.
To express their creativity, students from various NGOs also engaged in dance and theatricalperformances. A special video by Dr. Mahantesh, President of the Cricket Association for theBlind, was played wherein he highlighted how differently-abled individuals now viewthemselves as ‘champions’ after receiving the necessary acceptance. ECHOES also helpedcreate a sense of belonging by providing accessibility to all spaces on campus, as well ashaving two Indian Sign Language interpreters on board.
The event concluded with a performance by a student band, which was later joined byspecially abled students who all sang along, making it a celebration of inclusion. While theevent was a one-day affair, it sparked questions that will be relevant for years to come. Nextyear, ECHOES will take another step forward, continuing the legacy of empowerment andensuring that the message echoes beyond the college campus.
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation