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Access to nature is basic to people of all abilities. However, people with disabilities are often excluded from the joys of outdoors. To make nature more accessible to people with disabilities, it is important to embrace a socially inclusive approach, in environment education and device methods for evaluation of accessibility initiatives.
With this background, AERO in association with Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Goa and the Directorate of Social Welfare Govt of Goa with the support of Goa Forest Department organised an inclusive nature watching session over three days of the Purple Fest (6th to 8th January 2023).
Educators from AERO catered to ~120 delegates from different categories ranging from persons with complete loss of vision to persons with mental illness. The entire event was an eye-opener to AERO's team and perception towards Environment Education.
AERO wants to express its gratitude to Hon. CM of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant Social welfare Minister, Shri. Subhash Phal Dessai, Shri. Guru Pawaskar State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Shri. Taha Haaziq secretary to the state Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Durgashri Sardeshpande, Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Goa and the Directorate of Social Welfare Govt of Goa for giving us this platform.
Educators from AERO with Participants of Purple Fest on Day 1
Dr. Pronoy Baidya engaging persons with complete vision loss.
Participants on Day 2 after a session on Wetland Birds.
Educators from Team AERO - (from L-R) Jalmesh Karapurkar, Harshada Gauns, Dr. Pronoy Baidya, Jagannath Phadte and Shayeesh Pirankar