Here's what to expect at a roving exhibit for persons with disability as it makes a trip from Sweden to Mumbai next week
A black box that looks like an oven-toaster hybrid, sits on a table. Peep into it and you can see steel rods and trays. When it begins to whir, instead of a crispy toast, what comes out are A3 sheets embossed with dots. That's Braille Box for you, a printer that converts text to Braille, helping visually-impaired persons read their own and other people's texts.
Next to it is Domino Classic, a Wi-Fi-enabled listening system that amplifies speech and filters background noise, which can be used by the hearing-impaired. These, among 20 innovative products specifically created for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), are part of Design For Dignity, a Swedish exhibit that makes its debut in the city next week. Hosted by Consulate General of Sweden along with the Swedish Institute (SI), the roving exhibit will park itself at Matunga's LN Welingkar Institute for over a week, before travelling to Singapore, Macedonia, Belarus, Latvia and Brazil.
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"The exhibition aims to create awareness and encourage social inclusion for individuals with disabilities. It also aims to strengthen Indo-Sweden ties and add on to the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of health care and public health, which was signed between the two countries in 2009. It is important that we take proactive measures to bring PwDs into the development process, as policy makers, implementers and beneficiaries," says acting consul general Jan Campbell Westlind. All the products displayed at the exhibit will be available online.
At the venue, you can also check out AccessAbility, a photo-exhibition showcasing portraits and personal accounts of individuals with different disabilities — 14 from Sweden and 11 from India, clicked respectively by Swedish photographer Markus Marcetic and Indian photographer Sunil Thakkar, produced by the SI.
From September 20 to 29,
11 am to 4 pm AT LN Welingkar
Institute of Management Development & Research, Matunga (Central)
Tobii Dynavox I-12 Gaze Interaction
Useful for people suffering from autism, cerebral palsy and other speech and motor impairments, the device is controlled by eye movements, instead of a traditional mouse and keyboard. It enables effective communication — whether it is speech generation (the computer speaks aloud messages written via eye movements), computer access (sending texts via SMSâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088or emails)âu00c2u0080u00c2u0088or environmental control (appliances like TV, air-conditioner can be operated by infrared remote control).
Log on to www.tobiidynavox.com
Braille Box V4
Compatible with smartphones and PCs, the printer helps convert text to Braille. It uses sheet-fed technology to print booklets in A4 and A3 formats, and enables double-sided Braille printing too.
Log u00c2u0080u00c2u0088on u00c2u0080u00c2u0088to www.indexbraille.com
Penny Talks
Yes, this pen really talks. Mainly used in schools for the visually-impaired, the pen reads the recorded information as the tip is drawn across the label. From recor-ding translations to marking your CDâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088collections and spice jars, the pen helps organise daily life with tactile audio
labels.
Log on u00c2u0080u00c2u0088to www.irishjalpmedel.se
The Comforter
A weighted blanket designed to relieve anxiety and insomnia and improve body awareness, the cognitive device has a particularly positive effect on children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It can be used by caregivers for stress therapy.
Log on to www.somna.eu
Fia Touch
Designed like Ludo, the board game features submerged pockets to hold the playing pieces in place. The grip-friendly pieces are also equipped with raised pattern markings to help visually impaired play by touch.
Log on to www.martall.eu
Twicegrip Tungsten
The anti-slip guards help those recovering from femoral fractures, many of which are a result of falling on slippery surfaces. They can be fit over a pair of shoes while walking on a wet floor. The guards also include resilient studs, which can help one walk on dry surfaces too.
Log on to u00c2u0080u00c2u0088www.twicegrip.com
From AccessAbility
An Indian portrait in the photo-exhibit is of Sunil Gujara. Left hearing and speech-impaired after a childhood accident, Gujara taught himself to lip-read till class VIII. After doing odd jobs as a tea server and offering professional massages, he discovered his love for dancing. As part of an all-male dance troupe, he cross-dresses and performs the traditionally female role in Maharashtrian Lavani.
Let's Fly
A four-wheeled foldable rollator (rolling walker) that includes suspension for a smoother ride.
Log on to www.trustcare.se
F110 Foldable Ramp
It's a portable ramp with anti-slip protection that helps wheelchair-users access elevated spaces.
Log on u00c2u0080u00c2u0088to www.feal.se
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