Capacity Building Workshop at Chandigarh on 'Inclusive Library-A digital and Accessible Library for All'

Access to Libraries is an important area of intervention especially in this age of technology where STEM education is increasingly being chosen by blind and visually impaired students among others. Physical access to schools and libraries too is equally crucial for children with disabilities and convenient for other students. We need more sensitization among schools and educational institutions.

We contributed to this crucial two day Capacity Building Workshop on "Inclusive Library-A digital and Accessible Library for All" on 28 April 2023 at Sri Guru Govind Singh Public School Sector 35B Chandigarh as resource. The school, the GIEN (Global Inclusive Education Network), Centre for Disability Studies and Action, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (TISS, Mumbai), DAISY Forum of India (DFI), National Associated for the Blind, Delhi (NAB), and Brotherhood, Delhi, collaborated together to organise a two-day capacity-building workshop for the librarians, special educators, counsellors and IT professionals of schools (Primary, Middle, Secondary and Senior Secondary), special schools and universities.

Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth conducted two sessions during the workshop - one each on - Legal framework on Obligations of educational institutions & libraries towards persons with disabilities, Access to ICT products & services and on How to ensure Physcial Accessibility in Schools & Libraries. Attendees were Teachers, Special Educators, Librarians, Counsellors and IT Staff from various schools, Universities and Special schools from North India. Interesting take aways from the exercise. 

Fig. Mr. Subhash Chandra Vashishth conducting the training session.

We thank Global Inclusive Education Network; Centre for Disability Studies and Action, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (TISS, Mumbai); DAISY Forum of India (DFI); National Associated for the Blind, Delhi (NAB), and Brotherhood, for this importnat collaboration!,