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‘Special’ Startups: Talking Tabs, Beeping Cups, Canes That Can See

How Indian startups and tech are changing the way we look at disability? 

Updated
India
3 min read
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How difficult could it be to pour some coffee into a mug?

Quite a bit, if you cannot see the cup, or if you struggle to know which direction to pour, or the right moment when you need to stop so that the coffee doesn’t spill over.

For the differently-abled who possess immense resilience to improvise their skills and overcome a certain ‘disability’, little day-to-day things can still be a hassle. The ‘special’ start-ups and tech innovators in India are now venturing into the Rs 4500-crore ‘disability market’ to bridge this gap.

Bringing ease, services and assistance to the lives of the differently abled, we look at a few Indian startups and technologies aimed at making the world more inclusive.

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Breaking Barriers Day-to-Day

How Indian startups and tech are changing the way we look at disability? 
A few products designed by BarrierBreak (Photo Courtesy: BarrierBreak Website)

BarrierBreak is a for-profit social enterprise, providing accessibility and assistive technology solutions in India.

BarrierBreak founder Shilpi Kapoor believes that ‘technology is an enabler that empowers people with disabilities to live independently.’ Along with a team of differently abled employees, she has dozens of ‘special’ products to her credit.

From a cup with an alarm that beeps once the poured liquid reaches maximum limit, to a vibrating clock, to a talking messenger for the deaf and mute that can speak on your behalf, to the special keyboards for the visually impaired or dyslexic – the list is substantive.

Products at Barrier Break are simple, yet aimed at making improving the everyday lives of those with disabilities.

The industry hasn’t yet accepted accessibility as a solution. Most companies only cater to the needs if it’s a mandate. And that’s not enough. We need to build a world where every person has access to everything.
Shilpi Kapoor, Founder of BarrierBreak in an interview to YourStory
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KickStart, a Disabled-Friendly Cab Service

KickStart is a service that ensures mobility for all with cars, where seats can modify, detach and adjust themselves to the needs of the differently abled. Where ramps roll out to assist entry or exit of a wheelchair easily. KickStart aims to provide freedom of commuting to people who are usually confined indoors owing to a lack of disabled friendly vehicles.

A cab service focused at differently abled, KickStart is ‘personalised’ and ‘accessible’ transport for those with any kind of mobility restrictions strictly at a standard price.

KickStart is currently operational in Bengaluru, but the services may soon be extended to other cities.

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Love is Indeed a ‘Special Need’

How Indian startups and tech are changing the way we look at disability? 
Everyone deserves an opportunity to be loved. (Photo: iStock)

Things as basic as dating and finding the right partner can be tricky in a society that either looks down upon the differently abled or does not consider them fit to be ‘married’ or romantically loved. India’s first matchmaking app for people with disabilities, health disorders or special needs, Inclov, applied some ‘love-science’ to bring the differently abled together.

Inclov is a platform that connects persons with ‘different’ abilities on the basis of their needs, likes, and backgrounds. It involves online meetings and offline events. Inclov is accessible to people with visual impairment with the help of a screen reader and talkback.

Disability and matchmaking are tough domains and I’m glad Inclov is solving such a deep social need – that of having a companion to come home to. 
Kalyani Khona, Founder of Inclov in an interview
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SmartCane: A Walking Stick That Can See

In 2014, a group of IIT students took up a challenge to design something that could make life much easier for visually impaired. Walking sticks are their best friend and guide, but what if it could tell them about an obstruction much before the stick collides with it, similar to the way we see a tree and change our course? Necessity became the mother of invention and SmartCane was born.

Tech-enabled SmartCane has a detection range of 1.8 metres indoors and 3 metres outdoors. It can detect obstacles above the knee, within the range, as opposed to a normal sticks which only works for obstructions below knee-level. It comes with a 10-hour battery back-up.

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More than two crore people in India face one or another form of disability. Most assistive technology products are still imported. This means there is a ready market that needs a vision to create solutions for people who are waiting to be a part of the mainstream.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

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Topics:  Technology   Differently Abled   Startups 

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