The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is pleased to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the Council of Architecture (COA) aimed at promoting inclusivity and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in public spaces and buildings.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between DEPwD and COA signifies a joint commitment to conduct workshops, seminars, and training programs. These initiatives will include the incorporation of mandatory course modules in the Bachelor of Architecture curriculum, fostering awareness about creating accessible environments for PwDs.

As part of this partnership, COA and DEPwD recently concluded a certified Training of Master Trainers on Universal Accessibility. The primary objective of this training program is to empower architects, academicians etc to serve as access auditors in the built environment.

The Training of Master Trainers on Universal Accessibility was conducted in two phases. Phase-I took place online in September 2023, while Phase-II concluded on March 11^th and 12^th , 2024. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, including access audits of buildings, to enhance practical skills and understanding.

Highlighting the significance of this collaboration, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of DEPwD, and Ar. Abhay Purohit, President of COA, jointly felicitated master trainers and eminent speakers for their invaluable contributions to promoting accessibility.

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MG/MS/VL/SD

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