Introducing AVAZ the award-winning communication device that can give a voice to 2.5 million children with disabilities in
Nov 17, 2014
Introducing AVAZ
the award-winning
communication device that
can give a voice to 2.5 million
children with disabilities in India.
2.5 million children in India have
moderate to severe speech
disabilities.
These disabilities arise out of conditions
like cerebral palsy, autism and
mental retardation.
Despite their intelligence, their inability to
communicate prevents them from
inclusion in education, employment and
social life – which the rest of us take for
granted.
2.5 million children in India live behind a wall of silence.
A person with Cerebral Palsy
AVAZ is India’s first Augmentative and
Alternative Communication device.
It is wheelchair mounted, and converts
body movements into speech.
It was developed by Ajit Narayanan, an
alumnus of IIT Madras, in collaboration
with Vidya Sagar (formerly the
Spastics Society of India,
Chennai). AVAZ was released in February
2010, and is being piloted in 12 special
schools around India. It was awarded the
National Award for Empowerment
of People with Disabilities, 2010, by
H.E. the President of India.
AVAZ is an invention that provides them with a voice.
AVAZ winning the Nat’l Award for Empowermentof people with disabilities, 2010
AVAZ works by converting imprecise
muscle movements of children into
messages. These messages are spoken
out, thereby creating speech. AVAZ is
dynamic – it does not limit the ability of
the child to say anything he or she wants.
AVAZ is designed to be a part of a
child’s life. It is battery operated
and wheelchair mountable. It can
be used by children of different ages,
from diverse backgrounds, and with
different cognitive levels.
AVAZ converts their muscle movements into speech.
A person with Cerebral Palsy uses AVAZ to speak
“Communication is the right of
every human being. The development
of AVAZ has been a huge boon to people
who are non-verbal in the country. We has
been very lucky, because people like
Invention Labs have come forward
and worked with us to develop these aids.”
Rajul Padmanabhan, Director of Vidya Sagar
AVAZ is being used by 100 children in
12 special schools, in 8 different
states of India. The number of schools is
increasing every day. Children trained in
AVAZ are able to communicate in social
situations, classrooms, and workplaces.
Leading special educators have recognized AVAZ’s potential
Rajul Padmanabhan, Director of Vidya Sagar(formerly Spastics Society of India, Chennai)
With the right kind of support, AVAZ has the
potential to change the lives of 25
lakh people in India.
1. AVAZ will help special children join
mainstream schools and write
examinations independently.
2. AVAZ enables a range of employment
opportunities for people with disabilities.
3. AVAZ gives confidence and courage to
people with disabilities to overcome their
odds.
We need your help – to take AVAZ to more
people who need it, to make it better and
even more affordable, to train teachers and
children in using it, and just to spread the
word.
We need your help to mainstream people with disabilities.
Some organizations that use AVAZ
“Look at the person, not the wheelchair.”
Timmy Swindale, “Maths genius”
Autistic. Few people knew about his intelligence before he got an AAC device.
Ellen Kaatz, Army nurse
ALS. Non-verbal and wheelchair bound, but continues to make an impact to society.
Beth Anne Luciani, College student
Cerebral palsy. Studies at U.Penn., interacts with faculty and students with an AAC device.
Sara Pyszka, Music composer
Cerebral palsy. Has performed at baseball games and political events, though she cannot move or talk.In the US, AAC devices have helped these people,
and others, define themselves with their abilities – not their disabilities.
In India also, the revolution has started.
Bhavna Rao, 23, finished her 12th standard with 90% marks.
She studies accountancy at Ethiraj College in Chennai, and when she graduates, she wants to be an internet entrepreneur.
All we need to dois to provide the right tools.
Bhavna is wheelchair bound. She can neither talk nor move.
All her life, she has communicated using nothing more than her eyes.
Daniel Webster:
If all my possessions were taken from me – with one exception – I would choose to keep the power of communication, for by it, I would soon regain all the rest.
The power of communicati
on:
AVAZFor more information, contact us at [email protected] or visit http://avaz.in