Shillong, Oct 8: The Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Bethany Society and Enable India, organised a programme on “Tech Assistive Devices- Solutions to Barriers” at the Arts & Culture Seminar Hall, Shillong, today.
The programme was organised as part of Enable India’s Solutions Week 2026, aimed at creating awareness about assistive devices and accessible technologies for persons with visual impairment and low vision, while promoting independence, accessibility and inclusion in education, employment and everyday life.
Director of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Saloni Verma, IAS, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Senior Manager, Enable India, Francis Lohrii, along with officials and other stakeholders were also present. Verma inaugurated an exhibition showcasing assistive devices and accessible technology solutions.
Addressing the gathering, Saloni Verma said that providing assistive devices is only the first step towards inclusion, stressing the importance of training, guidance, maintenance and repair services to ensure that beneficiaries can use the devices effectively over the long term.
She encouraged beneficiaries, families, teachers and other stakeholders to share feedback on their experiences, needs and aspirations to help improve services and solutions.
Verma further emphasised that ensuring dignity, accessibility and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities is a shared responsibility. She called upon families, educational institutions, workplaces and government offices to make their environments, systems and materials accessible and inclusive.
The programme also featured demonstrations of assistive devices and accessible digital solutions, allowing participants to explore technologies aimed at helping persons with visual impairment and low vision overcome barriers and lead more independent lives.
Addressing the gathering, Lohrii said that Solutions Week 2026 is being observed from October 3 to 10 across 17 partner centers in 14 States and Union Territories as part of the “See A Million” campaign, which seeks to digitally empower one million persons who are blind or have low vision and support their participation as active citizens and contributors to nation-building.
He said the theme of the week is “Experience, Understand, Explore – Accessibility Transforms Lives.” The initiative provides participants with an opportunity to experience a range of assistive technologies, including screen readers, smartphone accessibility tools and other devices designed to support education, employment, communication, mobility and daily activities.
Lohrii highlighted the transformative role of appropriate assistive solutions, particularly in enabling children to participate meaningfully in education and helping young adults access employment and live more independently. He also stressed the need to create greater awareness among families, teachers, employers and government departments about the assistive technologies available to persons with disabilities.
