29 Dec 2023  |   05:48am IST

PURPLE EXPERIENCE ZONES TO CAPTURE LIFE WITH DISABILITY

Team Café

The much anticipated International Purple Fest, Goa - 2024 scheduled from January 8 to 13 at Kala Academy, Goa, is all set to introduce 11 intricately curated Purple Experience Zones. These immersive zones, carefully designed to foster understanding and inclusivity, will be a centerpiece of the festival. Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, emphasized the pivotal role these zones play in enlightening individuals about the challenges faced by those with disabilities.

Guruprasad Pawaskar emphasized the significance of the Experience Zones at International Purple Fest, Goa 2024 stating, "These zones are a crucial element of Purple Fest, enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with various disabilities. This initiative aims to bridge the gap and underscore the role of technology in enhancing the lives of Persons with Disabilities."

The key highlights of the Purple Experience zones are several like the Dialogue in the Dark (DID): Curated in pitch darkness by Dialogue in the Dark, Bangalore, this zone offers profound insights into the lives of Persons with Blindness, showcasing their daily challenges and remarkable abilities.

Then there is the Inclusive Carnival: An IT-enabled carnival curated by Akshadaa Foundation, Bangalore, provides first hand insights into the daily encounters of persons with neurodiverse disabilities.

Institutions from around the country are participating. Antarchakshu which is curated by Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, offers practical solutions addressing the challenges of inclusive education from Kindergarten to Post-graduation. There is also an inclusive classroom again curated by Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, in this zone participants will get to observe inclusive teaching methods in practice. Then a human library curated by Rising Flame, Mumbai is an innovative concept where Purple Ambassadors become human books, sharing their stories to foster understanding and break barriers.

Then there is the mouseware experience, a technological marvel curated by Dextroware Devices, providing insight into obstacles experienced by individuals with upper limb disabilities. It is important to focus on inclusion. Towards this goal, towards inclusion curated by Trinayani, Mumbai is designed to spread awareness about diverse disabilities through an engaging card game.

A sensory heritage hub curated by Saksham, Delhi features 20 tactile replicas of world-renowned monuments, inviting visitors to explore heritage through touch, audio, and visuals. Inclusive education curated by Saksham, Delhi, focuses on the advancement of inclusive learning through interactive sessions and adaptive learning tools.

The NCHAT-ICMR pavilion is curated by the National Center for Assistive Health Technology (NCAHT Pavilion), Delhi, showcases over 100 assistive solutions for those with visual, learning, motor, speech, and hearing disabilities. For personalized guidance, expert teams from ICMR, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, NISH, and Saksham will be present at the NCHAT-ICMR Pavilion. Finally in experience the invisible, curated by Believe in the Invisible team allows for exploration of often-overlooked aspects of invisible disabilities through engaging activities.

It should be an immersive and educative experience for all participants.