Towards a more inclusive future: In conversation with Anita Iyer Narayan

In conversation with Accessibility Consultant, Diversity & Inclusion Expert Anita Iyer Narayan, we learned about how ‘Readiscovery ’22’ was conceptualized, how the participants engaged with the guidelines that prohibited the use of visual metaphors and words in their writings, and how can initiatives aimed at inclusivity create a better future. Narayan Volunteer in Chief, Sponsor, Founder and Managing Trustee of EKansh Trust, our partners for ‘Readiscovery ’22’: Short Story Writing Challenge.

Read our conversation below:

1. Could you please tell us about what ‘Readiscovery ‘22’ aims to achieve? Or what are the foundational/core values of the initiative?

While we believe that assistive technology and literal interpretations or reading of text can help people who are visually challenged, we must focus on understanding the meaning of the words too.

We know what mainstream literature can and must not be interfered with since majority of the readers have sight, this is an experiment to see if we can effectively use our other senses excluding sight to articulate our experiences emotions and feelings equally well. 

2. The guidelines for submissions distinctly mentioned certain requisites from the participants. Could you please tell us about why and how these guidelines were drafted?

I drafted these rules knowing that there is a level of smugness in having published texts in braille and other accessible formats to be read, but not understood by people who have never had sight. I wanted to challenge this and hence the rule that no visual references must be used. 

3. Please tell us about the diverse variety of submissions that you received. How strictly did the participants adhere to the guidelines?

While writers explored different themes and genres the common point was how challenging each of them found the prompt to be. From nursery rhymes like twinkle twinkle little star to universally popular poems like ‘my heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky’ our literature is generously littered with visual descriptions and this is literatlly litter to those who have never had the faculty to actually see these sights. 

4. How were the winners of the contest decided?

We have only one clear winner from the category of writers with visual impairment and two from sighted writers. The criterion was an imaginative story without visual references – something that engaged the readers and didn’t really allow them to realise that the element of sight was missing anywhere.

5. How do you think initiatives like ‘Readiscovery ‘22’ can complement the  larger campaign for better scope in education, recreation and employment of the disabled community?

Absolutely. Considering that all persons with visual challenges we spoke to were excited about the challenge and the idea itself, not just excited but also suddenly surprised by the fact that they’d never realized how subtle the programming has been over the years.

So many subjects in education are out of bounds for them simply because we resort to sight so easily – seeing is believing / learning /understanding but what if we cannot see? Can we not believe / experience / learn /understand? Even if there are limitations, there are possibilities too. 

6. How can the government and citizens contribute to these endeavours?

Such experimental endeavours are severly underfunded and not promoted because their impact is not yet understood. If we could conduct activities such as this for children, the need to sensitize adults would be eliminated and the future will be inclusive. 

The government, corporates and really everyone in society can participate by being more open to experiences and learning about disabilities and related challenges and possibilities, and actually putting this learning to good use.