Events
and Programmes
Events, Workshops and Conferences
As part of our work in acting as a catalyst in several
national issues, we hold workshops, seminars and
conferences from time to time.
Here is a list of events we have
organised so far
Public programmes
It is Ability Foundation's firm conviction that disabled
people should be more visible doing things they enjoy like
everyone else. Recreation is as much a right as education
and employment. We also believe that total rehabilitation
includes emotional, intellectual and spiritual wellness.
To facilitate this and to bring about a change in
society’s stereotypical attitude towards persons with
disabilities, we periodically organise public programmes.
The aim of these programmes is to bring talented people
with and without disabilities together, leading to
entertainment and mutual sensitisation.
Here is a list of the public programmes we
have hosted so far:
EVENTS
CavinKare
ABILITY Awards Feb 2007 - A yearly event
recognizing the trials, travails and tribulations that a
disabled person has experienced on the path towards
success and achievement. ...more
EmployABILITY
2006 – Our annual job fair that brings
persons with disabilities face-to-face with HR
representatives from leading companies....more
Acting On The Act II Aug 2006 Ability
Foundation organized a workshop to discuss the
implementation (or the lack of it) of the 1995 PD Act.
This workshop brought to the participants (those involved
in the field of disability) the rare opportunity to
interact with the Chief Commissioner for Persons with
Disabilities, the Chairperson of the National Trust, and
the Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
Click here for more on this
Digital Video Conference Dec - 2005
In a unique digital video conference organized by Ability
Foundation and the US Consulate, Chennai, disability
activists from India and the US got together to discuss
two main issues concerning disabled people worldwide – law
and education. On 7 December 2005, panellists from the two
countries met at a live conference via satellite in front
of an invited audience for an exchange of views on
disability law, human rights, special education and
inclusive education.
ExpressABILITY Aug/Oct 2002 - A series of
workshops for media persons was organised in association
with The New Indian Express group. This involved a
discussion and a debate with media persons on disability
advocacy, the need to use sensitive language and the need
for greater and more frequent coverage of disability
issues in the media.
EQUABILITY Feb 2002-
A conference on an Inclusive Society for Persons with
Disabilities was organised to bring the crucial issue of
inclusion to the fore. The conference brought together not
just disability activists but also front runners from
mainstream society.
Access Audits Jul 2001- Since July 2001,
Ability Foundation has conducted a series of Access Audits
for various public places in Chennai.
Census 2001 - Dec 2000-Feb 2001 - A
landmark event for the disability movement in India. For
the first time, a comprehensive effort was made to include
persons with disabilities. The programs covered all the
150,000 census enumerators in Tamil Nadu.
Acting on the Act Aug 1999 - Workshop on
the Implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act
1995 in Tamil Nadu - This workshop brought together 125
participants and panelists, renowned in the field of
disability, from all over India.
PUBLIC PROGRAMMES
It is Ability Foundation's firm conviction that disabled
people should be more visible doing the most joyous and
enjoyable things that any human being would want to be
involved in. We believe that, of equal importance to physical
help is help at the emotional, intellectual and self-esteem
levels. With this in mind, with the aim of changing the
general public’s stereotypical attitude towards
persons with disabilities, we periodically organise public
programmes that bring talented people with and without
disabilities, together, leading to entertainment combined
with mutual sensitisation.
Sound of Silence - Sound
of Silence was the name of the set of events organized
by Ability Foundation to publicise Deaf Awareness Week
held in the last week of September 2005. Programmes included
a daylong screening of silent films and sign-language
classes for the public … more
AbilityFest
– First hosted in July 2005.
An event hosted once every 2 years, the India International
Disability Film Festival, organized on the lines of any
other major film festival in the world brings the best
international films by, with and about people with disabilities
to public viewing. .....more
Plus The all-India one-minute film competition,
"60 Seconds to Fame" that was part
of India International Disability Film Festival...more
SANGAMAM
Our first cultural show was an integrated
programme of classical dance called SANGAMAM (meaning
“a coming together”) where expert dancers
with and without disability came together in a professionally
conducted show with no focus on disabilities. The show
staged in 1997, proved to be an eye-opener for and an
emotional revelation to the entire audience.
SAMARA
We took to the ramp with our cultural show on 10th December – Human Rights Day – in 1997. Our integrated fashion show named SAMARA (meaning “to meet”) took Chennai by storm. For the first time, beautiful persons with and without disabilities and celebrities from all walks of life walked the ramp together. Also participating were former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and noted pop singer Usha Uthup. The scintillating show proved to be enriching as well as immensely entertaining and stressed on the right to beauty and recreation for all.
SAMHITA
Our integrated Art Show, SAMHITA , (meaning “to assemble”) brought together many of India's best-known names in the art world - Arpana Caur, Jatin Das, Nandagopal, to name just a few – who exhibited their work on the same platform as professional disabled artists. About 60 artists from all over the country came together to display art in its purest form. Apart from being a visual feast, Samhita underlined the message, that art transcends all barriers and can be truly integrative.