All on app, differently-abled get help

Bengaluru: There might be the Apple watch in the city taking care of your heart rate and blood pressure count, but what would a person with disability or a rare disease do if they need advice and urgent help? Prasanna Kumar, a forty-nine year old Bengalurean and his wife have created a unique application ‘Inclusive in India’, which helps them find places that are disabled friendly.

The app can help users access information regarding the nearest disabled-friendly malls, ATMs, hospitals, grocery stores and bus stops and railway stations.

However, creating this was not easy for this couple. “We have a sixteen-year-old daughter who is on ventilator because she suffers from a rare disease and it has been very difficult for us all these years,” said Prasanna, who is also the founder member of the Organisation for Rare Diseases in India and a former president of LSD Support Society (Lysosomal Storage Disorder Support Society).

“Sometimes Google does not give you correct information whether a mall has a parking lot or has ramps or toilets for the differently-abled. So many times we had to cut a sorry face for our daughter saying that we could not take her to a particular place as we did not have information about certain things there,” he added.

This is what inspired Prasanna to develop the application, along with his wife and few other friends. “I realised that it was the need of the hour as crucial information needs to be made available for people who are differently-abled, elderly and those with rare diseases. They have equal right of inclusion,” said Sharada, his wife.

“The origin of this idea was through the difficulties faced by families who have a disabled member, which restricts the social life of the entire family. Even today we do not have reliable and adequate information about places which are accessible by disabled. Also through this platform we hope to connect disabled people to prospective employers, vendors dealing with differently-abled equipment, clothing, specialised physiotherapists,” says Prasanna.

Regarding the mobile phone app he said the mission was to help the disabled people and neglected community have access to information they need for a better living such as educational institutions, leisure places, religious places, travel, medical information and employment. “When my daughter is mentally fit, why should I keep her at home and it holds true for every such parent and guardian,” Prasanna summed up.