The one-day ATA Awareness Conclave organized by SAMARTHANAM on February 23rd, 2023 at Hotel Chancery Pavilion was successful in bringing the combined voices of persons with disabilities to center stage. There was a large participation from persons with disabilities, caregivers, special schools, DPOs, and disability NGOs in this Conclave, which also brought together technology start-ups, social/impact investors, corporates, government, academia, and employers of persons with disabilities. The conversations, discussions, and demonstrations during the Conclave focused on developing better insights into the contextual realities of persons with disabilities (from an Indian/Global South perspective) as well as their specific needs with respect to appropriate AT designs and delivery mechanisms. The Conclave also served as an effective platform for other key stakeholders to develop a better understanding of mutual concerns and capabilities to service the needs of persons with disabilities in a financially viable and sustainable manner.

More specifically, at/through the Conclave, we seek to:

1. Invite persons with disabilities, care givers, disability NGOs, DPOs, government officials and policy makers to orient them to various ATs available for diverse types of disabilities.
2. Sensitize the special schools for students with disabilities to enable them to explore better incorporation of ATs in the learning system.
3. Present concerns of the user communities to technology experts to enable them design appropriate ATs for the specific needs of persons with disabilities. This is expected to happen by identifying problems of specific types and degree of disabilities through focus group discussions (such as, spinal injury group, people/children with spastic conditions, CP and other rare diseases such has muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis etc.)
4. Influence policy makers, employers and investors to invest on AT and facilitate organizations/start-ups to invent/manufacture appropriate technologies at affordable cost.