The Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras

Understanding mental health is key to building an inclusive and compassionate society

The Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), IIT Madras invites you to AWB Webinar-8, part of the Accessibility Without Boundaries webinar series on Living and Learning with Dignity.

This session, “Understanding Schizophrenia and Mental Disability,” will be led by Dr. R. Thara, Vice Chairman & Co-Founder of the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF India). Drawing from decades of clinical and research experience, the talk will focus on awareness, lived realities, and the importance of dignity and inclusion for persons with psychosocial disabilities.

Friday, 20 February 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM

Join us to learn, unlearn myths, and move towards a more accessible world for all.

Warm greetings from the Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), IIT Madras. We invite you to join the ARC Accessibility Without Boundaries (AWB) Webinar-7 by Dr.Sanjay Jain, Professor of Law at The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), on “Enabling Legal Order: Conceptualizing the Relationship between Accessibility and Justice System .”
As a distinguished academic with over 25 years of teaching experience across premier legal institutions and a former Principal of ILS Law College, his work harmonizes rigorous legal scholarship with a deep-seated commitment to disability rights. Recognized by the National Award from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and cited by the Supreme Court of India in landmark rulings like Vikash Kumar, his expertise reflects a rare fusion of lived experience and constitutional mastery. His distinctive perspectives will profoundly enrich this session and offer our participants a transformative perspective on equity and justice.

Date: Friday, 30 January 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Register here: https://forms.gle/f4me1awnhEdmV4Yp9

Kindly register before 29, January, 2026 . The Zoom link will be shared with registered participants. E-certificates will be provided to those who attend the full session and complete the feedback form. We look forward to your active participation in this session of the ARC Webinar Series on Living and Learning with Dignity, as we continue to expand the discourse on accessibility, inclusion, and transformative community engagement.

Step inside the world of discovery at IIT Madras Institute Open House 2026!

From 2–4 January 2026, IIT Madras opens its doors for an immersive experience into cutting-edge research, innovation, and technology. Witness how ideas transform into impactful solutions across disciplines.

What awaits you:
* Walk through 100+ advanced laboratories, including major National & Institute Research Centres
* Explore 80+ exhibits with live demos, prototypes, and research showcases
* Discover innovations from 18 academic departments spanning engineering, science, and beyond
* Be part of one of IITM’s largest outreach initiatives, with 95,000+ registrations and 60,000 visitors expected

Organised under “Anivarukkum IITM – IIT Madras for All”, the Open House makes IITM’s research ecosystem accessible to learners, educators, professionals, and the curious alike.

2–4 January 2026
IIT Madras Campus

Warm Greetings from the Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), IIT Madras!

You are invited to join ARC’s Accessibility Without Boundaries (AWB) Webinar-6 on

“Accessibility in Education for Deafblind Learners” featuring Mr. Akhil Paul, Founder & Director, Sense International India.

This session offers a meaningful opportunity to explore accessibility, inclusion, and equitable learning pathways for deafblind learners.

Date: December 19, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Register here: https://forms.gle/rd4sf8GZgfYee5yd6

(Please register before 15 December 2025)

Zoom link will be shared with registered participants.

Day 4 | En-Visioning Blind Ethos: Exploring Accessibility & Inclusion in Art
Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras & Teaching Learning Centre, IIT Madras in collaboration with NIEPMD | 7–10 October 2025 | SAC, IIT Madras

Day 4 featured a hands-on workshop on Puppetry and Tactile Storytelling led by Poongodi Mathiarasu. Through gesture, material exploration, and touch-based narration, participants discovered new ways of creating object-based performances that center sensory engagement and accessibility.

The symposium concluded with a Valedictory Session, including closing remarks by Prof. Sathyanarayana Gummadi, Dean – Students, who emphasized the importance of inclusive artistic practice and cross-institutional collaboration. The ceremony also included the felicitation of guests from various partnering institutions, celebrating their contributions to the symposium’s vision. A day that brought together craft, community, and a shared commitment to accessible arts.

Day 3 | En-Visioning Blind Ethos: Exploring Accessibility & Inclusion in Art
Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras & Teaching Learning Centre, IIT Madras in collaboration with NIEPMD| 7–10 October 2025 | SAC, IIT Madras

Day 3 opened with an engaging session on Theatre and Sound Design led by Shailesh Kulal, where participants explored sound, spatial awareness, and inclusive performance techniques. The workshop invited everyone to rethink theatre-making through listening, orientation, and collaborative sensory practices.
This was followed by an evocative performance by First Drop Theatre, which blended beyond the visual frame.

The day concluded with a soulful evening performance by Hemachandran Karah and Alice Yeadell, offering a rich interplay of sound, emotion, and embodied expression.A day of resonant performances, creative exploration, and multisensory storytelling.accessibility, presence, and sensory storytelling to reimagine how narratives can be experienced

Day 2 | En-Visioning Blind Ethos: Exploring Accessibility & Inclusion in Art
Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras & Teaching Learning Centre, IIT Madras in collaboration with NIEPMD | 7–10 October 2025 | SAC, IIT Madras

Day 2 featured an immersive workshop on Bharatanatyam pedagogy led by Dinesh G V (SRMAB). Through tactile cues, rhythmic scaffolding, and embodied instruction, the session reimagined how classical dance can be taught inclusively, ensuring that movement becomes accessible to all learners.

The afternoon brought together artists, educators, and practitioners for a reflective roundtable: “Access in Motion—Inclusivity in Dance.” The dialogue highlighted accessible movement strategies, lived experiences, and the evolving possibilities of creating dance spaces grounded in equity and sensory diversity.

A day of movement, dialogue, and expanding the language of dance through accessibility.

Day 1 | En-Visioning Blind Ethos: Exploring Accessibility & Inclusion in Art Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras & Teaching Learning Centre, IIT Madras in collaboration with NIEPMD | 7–10 October, 2025 | SAC, IIT Madras

The five-day symposium En-Visioning Blind Ethos: Exploring Accessibility & Inclusion in Art commenced with the lighting of the lamp, symbolizing collective illumination and the spirit of inclusive knowledge. The inauguration was graced by Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Head, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras; Dr. Hemachandran Karah, Principal Investigator and Co-founder of The Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras; Dr. Anandhalakshmi, Lecturer at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD); Dr. Akhila Vimal, Founder and Managing Trustee of Sapta Foundation; and Mr. Poongodi Mathiarasu, theatre and puppetry artist.

Day 1 unfolded with a deeply immersive workshop on Tactile Art-Making led by Ms. Aishwarya Pillai. Participants explored materiality, texture, and touch, reimagining creative expression beyond visual boundaries and engaging with art through embodied sensory experience. This was followed by the reflective conversation “Feeling Forms: A Dialogue on Art & Accessibility,” featuring Ms. Aishwarya Pillai, Mr. Shailesh Kulal, Dr. Akhila Vimal, and Mr. Poongodi Mathiarasu. The dialogue invited participants to consider how sensory practices, accessibility, and pedagogy intersect to shape inclusive artistic experiences.
The evening concluded with “Sounds of Native Instruments” by Sound Mani, a captivating sonic performance that celebrated indigenous instruments, embodied listening, and rich acoustic textures. The first day set a powerful tone for the symposium—a day rooted in creativity, sensorial exploration, and the ongoing ethos of disability justice.

Inauguration of the Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras | 6 October 2025 | Students Activity Centre, IIT Madras

The inauguration of the Accessibility Research Centre at IIT Madras marked a landmark moment in advancing inclusive research and accessible innovation in higher education. The ceremony was graced by D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India, who inaugurated the centre in the presence of Dr. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras. As part of this momentous occasion, the Accessible Science Corner at the Periyar Science and Technology Centre, Kotturpuram, Chennai, was jointly inaugurated by D. Y. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India; Dr. Govi Chezhian, Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Electronics, Science & Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu; Dr. P. Shankar, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education; and Prof. K. Shanmuga Sundaram, Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre. The event celebrated a unified commitment to expanding equitable access to science, technology, and learning, grounding the Centre’s mission in the values of inclusion, dignity and knowledge for all. The inauguration stands as a significant milestone in shaping an accessible future—one where research, education and public engagement are meaningfully aligned with the needs of diverse learners and communities.

Warm Greetings from the Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), IIT Madras!

You are invited to join ARC’s Accessibility Without Boundaries (AWB) Webinar-5 on

“Disability and Accessibility” featuring Dr. Nachiketa Rout, Director, NIEPMD.
Don’t miss this insightful session on disability, inclusion, and equitable participation across education, work, and community life.

Date: December 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Register here: https://forms.gle/SBVZx41Ry8vebd8RA

(Please register before 27 November 2025)

Zoom link will be shared with registered participants.

E-certificates will be provided to those attending the full session & submitting the feedback form.

We look forward to your active participation in this meaningful session of the ARC Webinar Series on Living and Learning with Dignity.

Warm greetings from the Accessibility Research Centre (ARC), IIT Madras.

Join us for Accessibility Without Boundaries (AWB) Webinar–4 on “Mental Wellbeing and Social Inclusion” with Dr. K. V. Kishorekumar, Executive Director of The Banyan and Consulting Psychiatrist.

The session will explore mental health as a continuum—covering not only major crises but also everyday challenges like exam stress, relationship issues, and adjustment difficulties. It will highlight the importance of early recognition, community-based support, and inclusive, stigma-free mental health systems in educational and workplace settings.

Date: Friday, 24 October 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Register here: https://forms.gle/UifTqMxR7JpMJFxa8

Ambassador Victoria Harrison on the art of diplomacy and accessibility

Dr. Hemachandran Karah and Mr. Sanjay Pulipaka converse with Ambassador Victoria Harrison, UK Ambassador to Slovenia. This is part of the Accessibility Without Boundaries (AWB) webinar series organised by the Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras. The entire session is recorded and specially hosted by the NPTEL.

Ambassador Harrison reflects on her remarkable 30-year journey in diplomacy, shaped not only by global engagements but also by her lived experience of visual impairment. Her accessibility toolkit for high-impact careers encourages disabled people and their co-travelers to master assistive tech, understand one’s needs, and communicate them effectively.

Drawing parallels between the art of diplomacy and accessibility as a much desirable mindset, Ambassador Harrison highlights the importance of empathy, perspective-taking, and problem-solving for achieving common grounds across the fences. Social media, she notes, connects communities, reduces isolation, and builds bridges. With a broad smile, she acknowledges how her guide dog Otto brings her closer to people all around. She suggests, “Slowing down for inclusivity will benefit everyone.” Coming from a diplomat who needs to work hard in establishing common grounds, we all will do well to take such advice more seriously.

Wishing you all a wonderful listen!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kx1-Yr2MZ8