The Bengaluru-based non-profit Diversity and Equal Opportunity Centre (DEOC) has been selected as one of the four winners of the ninth NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards, which recognises individuals and organisations working in the field of disability.

DEOC has been selected under the newly introduced NCPEDP-MPHASIS Javed Abidi Public Policy Award. “The centre comprises a truly multi-disciplinary team and has, over the years, acquired the reputation of being a thought leader in the disability sector,” read a release from NCPEDP.

“The DEOC team spends a considerable amount of time on research based work and on training various stakeholder segments and thus adding to the information/ knowledge/ awareness in the field of disability. In this field, where there are very few subject matter specialists, DEOC’s role has been crucial in addressing this lack. DEOC is, perhaps, the only organisation now in India that has the capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders across different disabilities and to bring universal design elements into every aspect of development,” the release added.

Rama Krishnamachari, director, DEOC, said since 2007, the centre has been able to bring in important policy interventions. “For example, earlier, inclusion of persons with disabilities meant only recruitment. But real inclusion is accessibility, and putting a framework in place. In higher education too, admission under the quota is not enough. People should get accommodation in the classroom, exams, hostel, etc.” she said.

The DEOC facilitated the development of a system for providing appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities in the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).

The Election Commission of India has also been selected under the companies/organisations category.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / August 03rd, 2018