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082 - Action Oriented Guidelines and Toolkit, Samarthyam, India
CONTACT
Samarthyam, National Centre for Accessible Environments
Ms. Debabrata Chakravarti
India
+91 9711190806
OVERALL GOAL /MISSION
The mission of the project is to provide schools with comprehensive design and implementation guidelines, a tool within
an overarching legislative and policy framework, to create an equitable, safe and accessible learning environment for
children with disabilities.
A handy outline of issues to be addressed and strategies to develop site based solutions are provided, with a baseline
requirement and rationale for particular features. This allows one with a comprehensive overview and the tools to
develop contextual solutions across regions, social and economic status.
The emphasis is on:
(1) Providing space standards which are friendly and safe for all children including girls with disabilities,
(2) Providing cost effective design and technology solutions to enhance learning, playing and growing together,
(3) Promoting equality and inclusion of girls with disabilities to continue quality primary education without
discrimination disparity and enroll in higher education.
THE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
The Guidelines and Toolkit are prepared to promote access, equity, safety and gender neutral learning environments.
They address a variety of learning needs of children with disabilities and provide both infrastructural recommendation
for implementing authorities, and curriculum and material in accessible formats and e-learning technology solutions
along with other educational services.
The upgradation of existing infrastructure and planning of new schools buildings to ensure effective implementation of
RTE Act of MHRD, is one of the key goals.
The information in these Guidelines and Toolkit is based on Indian National Codes and space standards. Universal Design
principles are applied here to provide solutions for children and adults across disabilities. Research, experiential access
audits of schools both in rural and urban settings, trainings and user group inputs are the basis of these documents.
These documents highlight common barriers experienced by children in the physical infrastructure in schools and
provide cost effective solutions to overcome them. Essential and non-negotiable universal design elements are given
with easy to understand line drawing, illustrations and photos of best practices for all those who advocate and