Friends for Inclusion

The Educate initiative focuses on cultivating awareness regarding contemporary issues affecting individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the impact on their lives. This programme actively engages in promoting existing solutions for end users and stakeholders like corporates and developers. The goal is to encourage the adoption of the Universal Design concept, ensuring inclusivity in product development. Through workshops in various companies and active participation in industry seminars, the initiative strives to broaden awareness and understanding, contributing to a more informed and inclusive discourse on issues relevant to people with disabilities.

The collaborative effort between Friends for Inclusion and IIIT Bangalore, generously sponsored by the Mphasis F1 Foundation, is yielding a groundbreaking solution known as the Virtual ISL Interpreter. This innovative project utilizes a combination of cognitive computing, natural language processing, and 3D animation to seamlessly facilitate communication between individuals who are hearing impaired and those who can speak and hear. The app employs friendly avatars, incorporating real-time audio data processing to create a lifelike experience. Notably, the solution prioritizes the inclusion of facial expressions in its 3D animation, enhancing the communication of emotions and contextual meanings in Indian sign language.

It Conducted food distribution initiatives amid the COVID-19 lockdown, reaching over one hundred children hailing from underprivileged backgrounds, including those with disabilities, by providing essential food packages. Additionally, the organization played a proactive role in raising awareness about COVID-19, crafting specific awareness materials tailored for individuals with disabilities. This comprehensive effort aimed to address the unique needs of this demographic during the pandemic, ensuring that both immediate nutritional requirements and vital information were accessible to those facing challenges, particularly children from underprivileged backgrounds.

Pioneering the field, Friends For Inclusion introduced the world's first chatbot, "Mera Mitra," unveiling its initial version in February 2019. This unique conversational information portal is adeptly trained on the RPWD Act 2016 and various other concepts. Within a week of its launch, over 100 users engaged with Mera Mitra. The future vision includes expanding its availability to 8 regional languages, incorporating state-level information through partnerships, and enhancing its intelligence. With DEOC and NCPEDP as knowledge partners, there are plans to establish the All India Mera Mitra Network (AIM2N) and collaborate with technology entities for future advancements.

To foster greater awareness of disability enjoyably, Friends For Inclusion crafted the Disability Awareness Quiz—an engaging interactive game accessible via Google Assistant. Launched in July 2018, this quiz is available in both Hindi and English. Providing an entertaining platform, it has been experienced by 1000 users, contributing to a dynamic approach to disseminating knowledge about disability through an interactive and accessible quiz format.