NISH bags Best Government Assistive Tech Initiative award

Thiruvananthapuram / August 31, 2021

The Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI) at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) at Akkulam here has won the ‘Best Government Assistive Technology initiative’ award instituted by the AssisTech Foundation (ATF).

ATF is India’s First Assistive Technology Innovation Ecosystem for supporting and promoting disability focused start-ups. It stands for recognizing startups and enablers that are striving to improve the quality of lives of persons with disability.

CATI, a part of NISH since 2015, bagged the honour for creating awareness about Assistive Technology (AT) and also implementing the strategy to create sustainable impact.  CATI has been focusing on bridging the gap between Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and people who develop AT to support PwDs.

Prof. KG Satheesh Kumar, Director, CATI, NISH, said, “NISH has pioneered several initiatives on the rehabilitation and education of persons with disabilities over the past quarter century. The most recent among these have been a dedicated centre for AT and the first ever academic programme in the country on AT.”

“CATI is now venturing into AT and accessibility consulting at a time when India is gearing up to implement the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 and looking for professional guidance. NISH is well poised to take on this responsibility,” Prof. Satheesh Kumar added.

A transdisciplinary team of engineers and rehabilitation professionals works together in CATI, along with the PwDs to choose an existing solution from the market or develop the appropriate technological solution and offer continuous training and support to minimize the abandonment of AT.

CATI also conducts a six-month part-time certificate course in AT solutions, with a faculty team of international AT experts, which is well-received by participants from across the globe. 

Photo caption 1, 2 & 3: A view of the activities at the Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation, NISH, Thiruvananthapuram.

Photo Gallery

+

Content

+

Content

+

Content