APD Launches Fellowship, Promotes Accessibility Monitoring Initiative
CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Association of People with Disability (APD) launched its Policy Research Fellowship and recognised the top five districts contributing to its Yes to Access (YTA) platform at the Bengaluru edition of Circle of Collaborations, held at the Saanchi Gallery, Bengaluru International Centre.
The event brought together stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, and the disability community to advance evidence-based action on accessibility and inclusion. It follows a series of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026 initiatives by APD, including a policy dialogue on embedding disability inclusion within ESG frameworks, the development of a Digital Accessibility Indicator, a multi-stakeholder panel discussion and a public exhibition that debuted in New Delhi before travelling to Bengaluru.
As India marks a decade of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, the event focused on generating evidence for policy and mobilising communities to map public spaces. The discussions were particularly timely following the recent Karnataka High Court guidelines on improving accessibility in public and private buildings, highlighting the need for better data, stronger implementation, and community participation. Through the Yes to Access platform, citizens report local accessibility data to help persons with disabilities, caregivers, and allies identify navigable locations. To recognise districts that have actively contributed to expanding this accessibility database, the organisation honoured the top five-performing districts on the platform. Meanwhile, the newly launched Policy Research Fellowship will support data-driven research to improve institutional accountability and policy implementation.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Suman Kumar, Director of the Ali Yavar Jung Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities. Delivering the Special Address, Dr Manik Gursal I.A.S., Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Maharashtra, reflected on the evolving disability-inclusion landscape in India, stating, "The true measure of inclusion lies in whether persons with disabilities can participate fully in everyday life with dignity and independence. Building such an environment requires a long-term commitment to equity, opportunity, and shared responsibility across society."
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