Mangaluru: As part of the Young Indians (Yi) – Yuva Accessibility initiative, the Mangaluru Chapter is reaching out to restaurants in the city to offer Braille menus to help visually impaired persons. Apart from this, the chapter also made several plans for the region to make a significant difference in the lives of countless differently-abled individuals.
Yi, in order to create awareness and support accessibility initiativeshosted a ‘Yi Yuva Accessibility Badminton Tournament 2024′ here on Sunday, which brought together badminton players from over 12 city-based colleges. It was held at Golden Shuttle Academy in Kottara.
The tournament was sponsored by Northern Sky Properties, Ajith Enterprises, Clay Tech Systems, Hatsim, Kasharp Fitness, Maroor Group, Merger, Beverages, Novigo Solutions, Prime Sports, School Book Company, SN Cryogenics Pvt Limited, Turmerind Online, and GR Stones. It included an accessibility awareness programme.
Mangaluru chapter chair M Athmika Amin, told TOI that the badminton event was one such event to create awareness about their accessibility initiative. As part of their continued efforts, they reached out to several restaurants to offer Braille menus. Such menus are already introduced at Kempegowda International Airport and Radisson Hotels. Responding to their request, one of the restaurants in the city came forward to offer Braille menus. It will be launched in Dec. “We hope that it will inspire many other restaurants to offer the same,” she stressed.
Apart from this, through the Mangaluru Chapter, Yi is helping NGOs and schools that work for the betterment of the differently-abled. “We are helping with funding and donation of things such as wheelchairs and artificial limbs,” she said.
The chapter is in the process of pressurising the district administration and govt to have buildings, especially govt ones, with disabled-friendly infrastructure. This could include ramps, washrooms, and others.
The differently-abled have difficulty in getting a job. Amin added that they are now considering having an exclusive job fair for the differently-abled. Yi Accessibility is also conducting disability etiquette sessions as part of the initiative.
