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 enable@inventionlabs.in or visit http://avaz.in