National Workshop on FOSS Desktop Accessibility

Friday, August 26, 2011

C-DAC, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

To download presentations Click here .

Tentative Workshop Schedule : Click here

Last Date for Registration: August 23, 2011

About Workshop

In today's world, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is growing day by day. We use these technologies very extensively in fulfilling our routine tasks like bill payments, banking transactions, reservations and many more to the extent that ICT is not a luxury, but necessity today. A large section of the society comprising people with disabilities finds it difficult to use ICT in the same way as normal people do. This includes the visually impaired (fully or partially blind), hearing impaired, people with cognitive disabilities (memory loss, etc.) and cerebral problems etc..

Such people have to be provided with different kinds of assistive technologies either software-based or hardware-based to make ICT accessible to them. A large number of software-based assistive technologies are normally in the form of applications running on desktops which make common desktop applications (office applications, browser etc.) accessible for the disabled person. Free & Open Source Software (FOSS) tools/techniques play an important role in creating assistive technologies that are free-of-cost, available to all, easily maintainable etc. for a large portion of population in a country like India.

The workshop intends to provide a platform for promotion and adoption of FOSS in the area of accessibility as well as creating opportunities for all stakeholders to discuss and identify the areas of accessibility that are still untouched. The workshop will host keynote and invited lectures by distinguished personalities of the field.

Workshop Brochure can be downloaded from here

Objectives of the workshop

• To highlight the current trends in the area of accessibility.
• To create awareness about role of technology to improve the lives of differently-abled people.
• To create awareness about the role of FOSS in developing accessible solutions and demonstrate select FOSS-based assistive technologies.

Target Audience

• Differently-abled people like people having cognitive, physical, and visual impairments.
• Educational Institutions/Organisations/NGOs working in accessibility/disability sector
• Care takers/teachers/practitioners working for disabled people
• Researchers working in the area of accessibility

• Industry professionals and experts involved in the area of accessibility.

Accomodation Availability

Accommodation at C-DAC , Kharghar campus is full.

For other accommodation options click here .

Registration Details

Registration will be on first come first serve basis. Fees details are as below,

All payments should be made by a Demand Draft drawn in favour of “C-DAC Mumbai” payable at Mumbai.

Note: The accommodation charges are separate from registration fees.

Supported by

For More details, please contact:

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (Formerly NCST)

Near Bharati Vidyapeeth, Raintree Marg, Sector 7, CBD Belapur,

Navi Mumbai – 400614

Maharashtra, INDIA

Telephone: + 91-22-27565303/304/305

Fax: +91-22-27565004

email: ossd@cdacmumbai.in

URL: http://www.cdacmumbai.in