Yes to Access in International Purple Fest 2025, Goa
What is International Purple Fest, 2025? International Purple fest 2025 is the third Edition of Purple fest in Goa. The purpose of Purple Fest is the celebration of enhancing inclusivity, promoting diversity and accepting differences in the context of disability for the last three consecutive years. This year the theme of International Purple Fest is
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IIM Public Policy Conference Experience
This is the first blog in the Events series where we document experiences of attending conferences, organizing events, and share key takeaways from these engagements. The 20th International Conference on Public Policy and Management, hosted by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore from August 19-21, provided three intensive days of learning, networking, and exploration. Kumar
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Accessibility and Technology- Reflections from the Margins
Having worked both in rural and urban landscape, it has become increasingly clear that technology , particularly mobile, is a distant promise. It is here, in everyday lives, weaving itself into the social and cultural fabric of rural India. While policy discourse often measures digital inclusion in numbers,mobile penetration rates, smartphone usage, or broadband connectivity
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Case Study: Kadavakolanu Janardhana and the Practical Significance of Accessibility
In the digital realm, consent is the gateway to personal data. But what happens when disability intersects with this fundamental Kadavakolanu Janardhana, a 31-year-old man from Tadipatri city in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, became paralyzed in his lower limbs following a road accident. Before the accident, Janardhana worked as an electrician in his
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Navigating the fine line between consent, disability rights and data protection
In the digital realm, consent is the gateway to personal data. But what happens when disability intersects with this fundamental principle? Bhumika Modh of The Association of People with Disability delves into the complexities of consent, disability rights, and data protection in this article. In today’s data-driven era, an individual’s identity is their sole tangible
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Making Healthcare Accessible- A Story of Change at Kolar District Hospital
Imagine needing medical care but dreading the entrance to your local hospital. For persons with disabilities in Kolar, this was the daily reality at Sri Narasimharaju District Hospital. The ramp leading into the building was nothing more than a steep slope of cement—no railings, no support, no safety. Every visit meant an uncomfortable struggle up
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When design excludes: Why accessibility must be taught in tech and design classrooms
When a routine software update rolled out for a leading banking app last year, a person with visual impairment found himself suddenly locked out of his finances. The update had removed screen reader compatibility—a basic accessibility feature that allowed him to navigate the app independently. Overnight, he lost access to his salary account, savings, and
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Yes to Access in Second World Summit for Social Development
The Association of People with Disability (APD) will be hosting a Session at the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025. Why should we talk about Accessibility?Accessibility is essential to place people at the centre of development. It enables persons with disabilities to participate fully in
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The Business Case for Accessibility in India
In India’s rapidly evolving economy, accessibility is shifting from a corporate social responsibility checkbox to a strategic business imperative. With over 70 million people with disabilities—nearly 6% of the population—companies that embrace accessibility are discovering not just moral fulfillment, but measurable competitive advantages. The Untapped Market OpportunityIndia’s disability market represents a consumer segment with substantial
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Yes to Access – Digital Accessibility Initiative: Website audit findings
As part of the Yes to Access digital accessibility initiative, we evaluated 1,002 websites (as of 27th November 2025) to understand their accessibility for persons with disabilities. For this study, we used two tools: WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) and SATYA (Smart Accessibility Testing for Your Application) developed by CDAC. We started with WAVE for
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