On May 13, 2023, Point of View, Design Beku, and Swissnex India organised a panel discussion where the speakers explored Digital Self-Determination for persons with disabilities. The panellists were Nidhi Goyal, the founder and executive director of Rising Flame, Pranav Savla, student & techie, Prateek Madhav from AssisTech Foundation, Stefaan Verhulst from New York University, Gov Labs. The panel was moderated by Padmini Ray Murray from Design Beku.
Nidhi highlighted the systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing employment and managing their finances, particularly in India. She emphasised the need for accessible accounting software and infrastructure, both physical and digital, to empower individuals with disabilities. The intersectionality of disability and gender was also discussed, pointing out that women with disabilities often face additional challenges. These challenges include being denied control over their finances, being unable to manage their own finances independently, and facing stigma and lack of privacy in financial transactions. Nidhi called for a shift in societal attitudes towards disability, emphasising the importance of self-determination and independence for individuals with disabilities.
You can watch the entire discussion here.