Justyna R.’s Post

Empowering Individuals: Aahwahan Foundation’s Automatic Wheelchair Empowers Paralyzed Individuals to Embrace Independence In a groundbreaking move, the Aahwahan Foundation has introduced an innovative solution that is changing the lives of those with paralysis. Through the implementation of the Automatic Wheelchair, four paralyzed individuals are experiencing newfound independence and mobility, breaking through once insurmountable barriers. This state-of-the-art technology incorporates advanced features such as user-friendly controls and robust safety measures, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for users. Tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals with paralysis, the Automatic Wheelchair not only facilitates mobility but also restores dignity and freedom, enabling users to confidently navigate their environments. For individuals confined to wheelchairs due to paralysis, everyday tasks can present significant obstacles. However, with the support of the Aahwahan Foundation and the adoption of this transformative technology, these individuals are reclaiming control over their lives. Whether maneuvering through crowded spaces or accessing previously inaccessible areas, the Automatic Wheelchair opens doors to endless opportunities, empowering users to pursue their interests and fully engage in society. This initiative’s impact transcends mere mobility; it underscores the Foundation’s dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals. By harnessing the potential of technology, the Aahwahan Foundation is not only changing the lives of four individuals but also igniting hope and fostering positive change within the community. Together, we can build a more inclusive and accessible world for everyone. Aahwahan Foundation Christ University, Bangalore

Explore our #SensoryRoom! This dedicated space is designed in collaboration with the non-profit KultureCity to create a calming, secure environment for neurodiverse, autistic and disabled individuals during large events. Here’s what you’ll find inside: 🌟 Reduced lighting & noise: Designed by medical professionals, the sensory room minimizes sensory triggers and offers a soothing atmosphere for our guests. 🌟 Permission-only entry: Access is granted only with permission to ensure a safe, comfortable space for those who need it. 🌟 Sensory calming tools: Inside, guests can find comfort in bean bags, calming lighting, bubble wall visuals and tactile art. 🌟 Inclusivity matters: Many individuals who are neurodivergent often miss out on special moments due to sensory challenges. Our sensory room promotes inclusivity, ensuring everyone can enjoy events at OPCC to the fullest. Discover how we at OPCC are fostering a more inclusive environment: https://bit.ly/3Ioh2la. 💙 #InclusivityMatters #SensoryAwarenessMonth

Recently, I co-facilitated a workshop on Design Thinking for After Care with Dr. Anindita in Jaipur. The context is that in India, orphans (children under care) have to leave child care homes with no systematic support . The workshop was supported by UNICEF , Careleavers Inner Circle Forum (CLiC) and Josh Community. We had corporate leaders, NGOs, interested citizens passionate about the issue, representatives of UNICEF, careleavers themselves getting together to answer the question " How might we enable careleavers to be well integrated into society". As we delved deeper, the questions got sharper more focused, and on day two , teams worked on: a) Beginning at the age of 15-16, how might we prepare children under care for a smooth transition to life after childcare. b) How might we enhance the quality of care in current childcare homes c) How might we enable careleavers to build enduring long term relationships. d) How might we prepare careleavers for sustainable employment/entrepreneurship. The workshop was extremely well received and we already have multiple requests for similar workshops with different groups/other social sector applications. I would like to thank Careleavers Inner Circle Forum (CLiC), Viikas P Sethia and his team, both for reaching out to us and for organizing such a smooth workshop. Special thanks to old friend Abbasali Gabula and BITSom Founding Batch student Sheersh Shikhar who were happy and enthusiastic participants. I also learned quite a bit about design thinking applications in the social sector: a) DT is particularly suitable for social sector because problems are ambiguous, multi-stakeholder based, and cannot be attempted without deep empathy. b) We used a limited number of tools but spent a lot of time on the art of conversational interviewing. Doing a few tools with deep practice works better. If done well, people who have known each other for years are pleasantly surprised to find fresh insights in less than an hour. c) It is absolutely critical to visit users in their natural setting. This needs preparation and sensitivity. It is a critical element in the quality of insights and consequently, the quality of ideas. d) Diversity of team composition is critical and needs to be carefully done. e) Delivery has to be multi-lingual. This is just the beginning. The potential to make a difference here is large.

Bogotá’s #iteam is revolutionizing support for caregivers through #Digital #Innovation. Their recent pilot of #AI chatbots in the city’s Care Blocks showcases the power of merging tech with social care. Through attendance and registration chatbots, the team demonstrated transformation of the enrollment process for caregivers, offering an efficient and user-friendly system. Although over 2,400 caregivers registered using the new technology, the team recorded an astounding 96% accuracy in capturing critical data. With this initial success, the Secretaría Distrital de la Mujer is set to expand this tech-driven approach to all Care Block sites. The initiative serves as a proof point for how technology can make #SocialCare services more accessible and efficient. Learn more about this project here: https://hubs.ly/Q02dqRb-0 Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá

According to the Forbes article, telehealth offers a pathway to more equitable healthcare access by addressing several key barriers: - Availability of specialists: Telehealth increases the availability of specialists, especially in rural areas that often lack access to certain medical subspecialties6. - Transportation barriers: Telehealth reduces the need for travel, which is a significant obstacle for many disadvantaged communities, including rural and LGBTQ+ populations6. - Flexible scheduling: Telehealth allows for more flexible scheduling, making healthcare more accessible for those with work, childcare, or other commitments6. - Cost-effective, culturally competent care: Telehealth can provide cost-effective, culturally competent care, which is crucial for ensuring equitable access among minority and LGBTQ+ groups6. The article highlights that telehealth is a vital tool for addressing healthcare disparities, as demographic factors like race, gender, age, income, and cultural background continue to hinder many individuals from accessing necessary care6. By overcoming barriers related to specialty access, transportation, scheduling, and cultural competency, telehealth has the potential to make healthcare more equitable and available to underserved populations. https://lnkd.in/em9hvHjv #healthcare #telehealth #telemedicine #rpm #healthcareit

COVID-19 had an impact on everyone of us, but how did it influence cultural workers employed in the cultural sector? Together with Davide Emanuele Iannace and Sara Pane, we tried to take a first look at what happened in the Italian public sector during the pandemic and after. While intended as just a first step for a more in-depth inquiry, it already has the merit of shedding some light on one of the most ignored categories during these last years: those of people dealing with culture and cultural heritage.

DIG AT THE DDW: ActiZ conference - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭. During Dutch Design Week, Marieke shared insights and lessons from our research on the impact of social designers in elderly care during ActiZ's conference at the Embassy of Inclusive Society. During this project, we found more than 100 social design projects that took place within elderly care in recent years. Five wonderful practices were investigated further: what do the initiators encounter when taking their projects further? The main findings of this research: - Social design projects need time, space and money to develop. They are part of a change in elderly care that needs to take place and change takes time. How do we create a stable base beyond the project? - Attention to impact is important; not only the measurable impact but also the narrative impact that leads to inspiration for change. - Social design (in elderly care) as a way to achieve innovation and change deserves a clear place in policy and choices within care organisations. How to shape this. Social design projects are good to experience and this perhaps makes the biggest impact. So make sure that those people who can fund follow-ups experience the project/service/approach! Two of these projects shared their experiences during the conference, the Sociale Sportschool by Sjaak Langenberg & Rosé de Beer together with Vitalis and the Vitalis WoonZorg Groep with the BuurtBox by We are Social Rebels with St.Elizabeth. The morning got an inspiring grounding in Wilma van der Scheer's lecture on the impact of transformations on healthcare leadership. She taught us more about the oh-so-necessary shared leadership in a healthcare organisation. Shay Raviv presented her research, Beyond Projects, on different models to get social design (organisationally) beyond the project. A must-read for anyone who wants to think about this: https://lnkd.in/eGQGCEWU And lastly, Joost van Wijmen & Lieke de Kock handed over their book Design Hero or Design Zero to Anneke Westerlaken, chair of the ActiZ board. The book is a wonderful reflection on unruly social design practice. Beautifully designed, with hilarious photos and delightful reflections on everyday drudgery. Find more about the book here: https://lnkd.in/eYNSMNPq The full research report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eb7MDfka Read ActiZ's insights on this research here: https://lnkd.in/eGvmKFpJ

Mental health is a personal issue – with broad societal significance. Watch below the video message from WifOR Institute CEO, Prof. Dr. Dennis Ostwald, on the occasion of #WorldMentalHealthDay for the Asociación Mexicana de Industrias de Investigación Farmacéutica, A.C. (AMIIF)👇. Key Messages: ✏️According to the Pan American Health Organization, women in the region are at twice the risk of developing depression compared to men. This translates into significantly reduced quality of life, limited social participation, and higher mortality rates among women. From a social perspective, addressing these gender-specific disparities is an urgent imperative. ✏️Additionally, investing in the mental health of women can have a multiplier effect on both the society and the economy. When women receive the proper mental health support they need, they can lead more fulfilling lives, unlock their potential, and contribute to society. ✏️The societal impact of investing in women's mental health ripple across our communities. It directly affects the well-being of our citizens, the potential for both paid and unpaid labor, and the resilience of our societies. These investments are not just about promoting better living and gender equality; they are crucial drivers for sustainable economic growth.   🔗More information on #MentalHealth by the World Health Organization: https://lnkd.in/dkU9zsc   #HealthForAll #SocialImpact #HealthIsAnInvestment #WorldMentalHealthDay2023

In a world often riddled with invisible barriers 👇🏻 . . . Some not only perceive them but take it upon themselves to dismantle them, brick by brick. Today, let's explore the heartwarming saga of RampMyCity. This visionary initiative has not only changed the landscape of public spaces in India but also touched lives in a way that is both profound and personal. "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt In 2014, life threw an unexpected curveball at Prateek Khandelwal in the form of a Spinal Cord Injury, leading to paraplegia. A situation that could have broken the strongest of spirits, but four walls of a hospital room could not contain Prateek's energy. During his recovery, he was intimately introduced to the harsh realities faced by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the Elderly. Rather than allowing his newfound condition to define him, Prateek channeled his experience of vulnerability and isolation into a catalyst for widespread social change. Through his eyes, architectural barriers transformed into symbols of societal shortcomings—a challenge he decided to tackle head-on. RampMyCity was not merely an architectural endeavor; it was born out of raw, lived emotion and a deep sense of empathy. More than just a mission to install ramps and handrails, the initiative became a crusade to elevate human dignity, extend an invitation to inclusivity, and offer a silent but powerful message of love and acceptance. Every piece of metal and every slab of concrete installed by RampMyCity carries the weight of untold stories and unshed tears. Imagine a simple ramp at a library whispering to a young wheelchair-bound girl, “The world of imagination is yours to explore.” Envision an elderly man reading that unspoken message of respect when he grips a newly installed handrail. These aren’t mere structures but life-altering messages etched in concrete and steel. The physical changes RampMyCity has championed in over 500 public spaces nationwide are just the tip of the iceberg. The emotional resonance of these transformations echoes in the hearts of millions. When a park becomes wheelchair-friendly, it doesn’t just modify a pathway—it reshapes an entire community narrative, fostering an emotional sanctuary where parents of special needs children can breathe a little easier. The true measure of RampMyCity’s impact can be found in the grateful smiles of those whose lives have been touched. These aren't just trophies or plaques; they are tangible proof that empathy can change the world. As we wrap up this journey, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that this isn’t merely an initiative—it's a movement. A movement to create an emotionally enriching, wholly inclusive world, where architectural constructs serve not just as physical supports but as pillars of hope, dignity, and love.

Recently, I've noticed a growing trend in which candidates frequently ask questions such as: 👉 What makes mBank S.A. different from other employers? 👉 In addition to basic benefits, what do we offer our employees? I think this video is a great answer to both of these questions! #WyróżniająNasLudzie