Improving Learning Outcomes by Enabling Inclusive Education – 15th -17th Feb, 2023

Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland, in collaboration with ChangeInkk Foundation hosted a three-day cross disability workshop on “Improving Learning Outcomes by Enabling Inclusive Education” for the state’s district inclusive education coordinators and inclusive education resource persons from Feb 15-17, 2023. The focus of this workshop was on invisible disabilities and was the first of its kind for the state. During the cross-disabilities discussion with district special educators and coordinators many successes and challenges were shared from all 16 districts of the state.

IPEL sensitisation session - 25th Jan, 2023

Noopur Jhunjhunwala from the ChangeInkk Foundation conducted a sensitization session on Specific Learning Disabilities for the IPEL members on Jan 25, 2023 in Delhi. The IPEL (India Partnership for Early Learning) project, supported by USAID, is a consortium of four organizations (CARE India, Room to Read, KPMG, and CSF), each bringing its own expertise to achieve the target stated in NEP 2020. The IPEL team at CSF supports the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to design and implement their state FLN missions as part of the national NIPUN Bharat Mission.

NBSE - Improving learning outcomes by enabling inclusive classrooms - 23rd&24th Jan, 2023

399 school leaders / heads of institutions from schools affiliated with the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) in Nagaland joined us in a virtual webinar held over two days (23-24 January, 2023) to sensitize them about Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs). This webinar was titled "Improving Learning Outcomes by Enabling Inclusive Classrooms" and was led by Roohi Sharma from the ChangeInkk Foundation in-partnership with NBSE. For districts Dimapur, Chumoukedima, Niuland, Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Peren districts, the webinar took place on January 23 from 11 am to 1 pm and for districts Kohima, Tseminyu, Phek, Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon, Zunheboto, Shamator, Noklak it was organized on January 24 from11am to 1 pm.

Sensitisation workshop for SCERT Bihar – Nov 28-29 and Dec 9, 2022

ChangeInkk served as a training partner for SCERT in Bihar on November 28-29 and December 9, 2022, to sensitize and train about 194 new DIET faculty members in Patna on Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs). The two-hour sessions covered topics like understanding SLDs, Dyslexic Thinking, RPwD Act, Screening & Diagnosis for these individuals, multisensory instruction as well as different activities to understand the disability with clarity.

Mainstreaming inclusion across work of all Education Stakeholders in Nagaland – 15th Nov, 2022

A workshop on Mainstreaming Inclusion across the work of all education stakeholders in Nagaland was held at the Directorate of Education where Changeinkk Foundation presented a sensitization session on Specific Learning Disabilities and how inclusion can be mainstreamed by all stakeholders. Stress was given on coordinating efforts to maximize inputs. All stakeholders shared insights on the current status of their projects with each other. It appears that this level of coordination has happened for the first time. There was keen interest in mainstreaming inclusion.

Creating inclusive learning environments with SCERT Nagaland – November 14, 2022

The session presented by Changeinkk sensitised all SCERT teams to not have inclusion as an afterthought, but rather embed it from the get-go. The meeting was attended. The ongoing TLM development work with SCERT-FLN team was discussed as an example of inclusive practices already being adopted by the board to make content accessible.

MJC Workshop - November 5, 2022

ChangeInkk partnered with MJC, Coimbatore to organize a workshop on November 5, 2022, for over 176 B.Ed. and M.Ed. students on inclusion of children with SLDs in mainstream classrooms. It was an enriching day long experience for the participants with a keynote session by Nandini Chatterjee Singh who covered the science behind SLDs, insightful panel discussions by parents, individuals with SLDs, experts in the field and researchers, as well as sensitization by the ChangeInkk team on SLDs, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and technology accessibility for these individuals.

Rethinking the Future Workforce - Innovation and Dyslexia – Nov 3, 2022

Continuing its Dyslexia@Work webinar series, ChangeInkk partnered with NASSCOM Foundation for the webinar 'Rethinking the Future Workforce - Innovation and Dyslexia'. Held on November 3rd, the webinar saw nearly 600 participants from leading organisations across the technology and business processes industries. The webinar began with an exposition of why dyslexic thinking is essential to a business' growth and productivity strategy. This was followed by two illuminating panel discussions- the first, on the journeys of industry leaders who have successfully navigated the professional realm while being neurodiverse, and the second, on the transformative role that technology can play in helping neurodiverse individuals and teams thrive and do their best work. The webinar brought together speakers with a diversity of lived experiences and with expertise across the technology sphere. To learn more, watch the discussion https://youtu.be/50Fr1IYg18A

Awareness Workshop on ‘Dyslexia at Work’ - October 12th, 2022

In honour of International Dyslexia Awareness month, ChangeInkk Foundation and FICCI co-hosted a webinar titled 'Experience Sharing: Successful Models of Inclusion from Industry' on October 12th, 2022. Panellists included Virat Bhatia, Chairman, Mobile Manufacturing and Communications Committee at FICCI and Managing Director, India at Apple and Neha Sathish, Lead for CSR & D&I at Thomson Reuters India. The discussion was moderated by Chandana Singh, Founder & Consultant, Advocacy for Dyslexia. The speakers discussed the ease with which individuals with SLDs can be integrated into the workforce, with basic support. They emphasised that conversations around inclusion in the organisation must be framed in a positive manner, with a focus on how best to integrate and support persons with SLDs in performing to their fullest potential. To learn more, watch the discussion at Awareness Workshop on Dyslexia@Work

?Dyslexia@Work – Timesgroup – 4th Oct, 2022

To celebrate International Dyslexia Awareness Month, ChangeInkk Foundation led an interactive educational webinar for employees of Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group) on 4th October, 2022. The session aimed at sensitizing and building capacity among key organisational stakeholders for fostering a cognitively diverse workforce. Starting with a primer on neurodiversity and specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) like dyslexia, the presentation also showcased the journeys of accomplished members of the industry living with dyslexia. The audience were surprised to learn that #dyslexthinking powered several trailblazers of the international news media such as Anderson Cooper (CNN), Pulitzer Prize-winner Gareth Cook (New York Times) and Richard Engel (NBC), as well as noted authors Agatha Christie, John Irving, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Octavia Spencer - proof that dyslexic minds can excel at communication despite their challenges with language processing.

District Master Teacher training in Jamui, Bihar – 8^thSept 2022

ChangeInkk has collaborated with Jamui district to develop master trainers in SLD, to enable mainstreaming of children with SLDS in the classroom. This training workshop was attended by Shri Paras Kumar, Program Officer & Smt. Seema Kumari, DPO from Jamui. The focus of the workshop was to build awareness about SLDs, explain multisensory learning approach for these students and introduce the process of screening. 

ACITE - Webinar for HoI's on "Inclusion of SLDs in Higher Education”, 7th September 2022

Our speakers for the last session were Dev Aditya and Suhana Bhutani. Dev Aditya co-founded Otermans Institute with Dr Pauldy Otermans which upskills underserved learners in 10+ countries. He was awarded by the UK Prime Minister in 2021 for his educational work. Suhana is a young 19 year old aspiring to be a doctor. She’s in her first year of college in Lady Hardinge medical college New Delhi and is a graduate of Step-by-Step World School. She has been a Dyslexia speaker at several events and conclaves inspiring students to pursue their dreams, come what may. The session covered self-advocacy as an important aspect of managing SLDs especially for students along with the need to tailor and mainstream learning apps according to the needs of individuals with SLDs.

ACITE - Webinar for HoI's on "Inclusion of SLDs in Higher Education”, 31st August 2022

Our speakers for the session were Kunal Jhunjhunwala and Aparajita Singh. Kunal Jhunjhunwala is the Founder and M D of Airpay Payment Services, and also the co-founder of Changeinkk and Digital Haathi. Aparajita is a design graduate turned social impact professional with 8 years of experience in socio-economic development, designing and deploying sustainable processes and systems which make significant systemic contributions to society and enable future generations. The session covered the importance of intervention at an early stage - providing individualized support catering to one's learning style helps maximize their potential. Awareness of all stakeholders was a key theme that emerged - accommodations and equity become possible when a collective understanding is in place.

ACITE - Webinar for HoI's on "Inclusion of SLDs in Higher Education”, 24th August 2022

Sanjay Krishnan, a student of TVS CPAT Polytechnic College was the speaker for this session. He joined a mechatronics course with a combination of robots and artificial intelligence and is currently pursuing the same. Our discussion with Sanjay suggested that managing an SLD is possible with the right kind of support to harness the Dyslexic edge. His message for students with SLDs highlighted acceptance and coping as a way to pave your way forward.

ACITE - Webinar for HoI's on "Inclusion of SLDs in Higher Education”, 17th August 2022

Our speakers for the second session were Prof. C. B. Sharma and Mr. Vivek Khare. Prof. C. B> Sharma is a professor at the School of Education, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He also served as the Chairman of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Mr. Vivek Khare passed out from IIT, Kanpur and started his career with FIITJEE. He is an active angel investor and has Zomato, Jaypore, Policy Bazaar, Cashify, and LetsVenture in his portfolio. The discussion touched upon education and the need to train and sensitize general teachers, working with the regulatory bodies. The session emphasized on the need to leverage assistive technologies to level the playing field.

ACITE - Webinar for HoI's on "Inclusion of SLDs in Higher Education”, 10Th August 2022

The speakers for the commencing session were Shilpa Rao and Arun Fernandez. Shilpa is an Intrapreneur who headed the AI powered strategic intelligence platform - Optumera. She has taken this platform from a concept to a new business line for TCS with 35+ patents and several awards. Arun is the founder of DLearners which is a solution that identifies SLD and conducts intervention programmes using assistive tech. Currently pursuing his PhD, he vouches that the challenges of Dyslexia can be overcome and that the condition can prove to be a boon. During the session we discussed their struggles with Dyslexia and the strategies that helped them cope and excel. Through parental support, technology and accommodations, they were both able to leverage their Dyslexic strengths. They alluded to screening, early intervention, support systems as a possible way forward to help build the SLD ecosystem.

Inclusion in Higher Education: Leadership Summit 2022 (in collaboration with Ashoka) – 5^thAug 2022

ChangeInkk partnered with Ashoka Univerisity for this Summit on Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education, raised awareness on all aspects increasing enrollment. It featured keynote address by Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe and Dr. Pankaj Mittal. The panel discussions began with hearing from students with disabilities and their journeys, followed by a discussion with Dr. Sam Taraporewala and Prof. Gaurav Raheja on building disability support systems on university campuses. The third panel included Abhishek Singh, Gita Dang and Prof. Partha P. Das discussed the importance of technology and providing access through innovation and skilling. The session concluded with a talk by ChangeInkk's co-founder and trustee Ms. Noopur Jhunjhunwala covering Specific Learning Disabilities, advocating for their inclusion, drawing from global best practices.

General Teacher, Special Educator & Resource Persons & Teacher Training in Jamui, Bihar – 3^rdAug 2022

Jamui is an aspirational district in Bihar, as identified by Niti Ayog, Government of India. It ranks amongst the lowest performing regions in India, as the human development indicators. In collaboration with the District Administration and the Bihar Education Project Council-Jamui,  ChangeInkk conducted a training workshop on SLDs for general education teachers, resource persons and special educators in the district, on how children with SLDs can be identified early and mainstreamed in the classroom. It was attended by representatives from across all blocks. Shri Avaneesh Kumar Singh, District Magistrate and Collector, Shri Paras Kumar, Program Officer, Jamui  also attended training.

NASSCOM Understanding Neurodiversity - 28th July 2022

A webinar 'Understanding Neurodiversity: How do you make your people management approach neurodiversity smart?" was hosted by NASSCOM on July 28th, 2022. The webinar aimed at educating leaders and managers on the importance of understanding and valuing the unique strengths that neurodiverse employees possess, and helping to provide the tools and skills required to support them. Speakers included Kate Halpin, Principal Neurodiversity Consultant at Employ for Ability; Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation; Neha Sathish, Lead, CSR and D&I at Thomson Reuters India; Archana GS, Autism at Work Co-lead at SAP Labs India and Hannes Faerberboeck, Managing Director Austria and Head of Global Business Unit at Nagarro. To learn more, watch the discussion at https://youtu.be/9CvLsZotdE8.

Capacity building workshop for for SchoolNet – July 28, 2022

The ChangeInkk Foundation conducted an online awareness and sensitization session on specific learning disabilities (SLDs) with the core team of SchoolNet. It was a 90-minute interactive session attended by over 80 members from their administrative and leadership teams on July 28, 2022. Our organization covered the following topics during this session:
a.Understanding Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) 
b.Identifying how it manifests in individuals 
c.Exploring the strengths and struggles of individuals with SLDs 
d.Screening & Diagnosis 
e.Learning interventions & accommodations to support the needs of individuals with SLDs
f.Creating support networks, with a focus on working with parents, educators & community members 

Sensitization Workshop for Teachers in Kohima, Nagaland – 25^th, 26^thJul 2022

In collaboration with the Directorate of Education, Government of Nagaland, ChangeInkk conducted a workshop for public and private school teachers on Inclusive learning for children with SLDs in Kohima, Nagaland. Following the workshop, the Nagaland State Education Department and ChangeInkk also signed an MOU to establish a State Resource Centre for Children with SLDs in Kohima. 

SLD sensitisation workshop hosted by CHiPS, Raipur

Noopur Jhunjhunwala, co-founder of the ChangeInkk Foundation was one of the speakers who presented at the SLD sensitisation workshop hosted by Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPs), Raipur. 2640+ teachers attended the virtual session from 156 centers across the state.

#ChangeinkktheConversation for Dyslexia@Work – 1^stJul 2022

The launch event of Dyslexia@Work was conducted in partnership with v-shesh, an award-winning impact enterprise specialising in disability inclusion. It focussed on the many facets of creating inclusive work environment for individuals with specific learning disabilities to drive and organisation’s innovation, growth and productivity. Speakers included Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-Founder and Trustee of ChangeInkk Foundation and parent advocate; Hiren Shukla, Founder of the Neuro-Diverse Centers of Excellence (NCoE) at Ernst and Young (EY) Global and Americas; Kunal Jhunjhunwala, Founder and Managing Director at Airpay Payment Services (and proud dyslexic); and P Rajasekharan (Raja), Co-Founder of v-shesh. The webinar had was attended by representatives from leading organisations in the IT-BPM sectors. Watch our session to know more about how engineering a neurodiverse workforce brings a competitive advantage!

Capacity building of RT/RP/BRP(IE) in the context of Cross-disability – June 25-26, 2022

ChangeInkk Foundation served as an expert in Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) during a cross-disability workshop conducted by the Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC), Patna from June 25-26, 2022, in Patna, Bihar. The sessions were facilitated by a group of experts – Dr. Anita Julka, Ms. Aloka Guha, Dr. Sujata Bhan and Mr. S.S. Misra. The two-day workshop had the resource teachers, the experts and the ChangeInkk Foundation team members hold meaningful discussions around the needs of the field, module design framework and contents of the module that BEPC will be creating based on feedback from this workshop. 

PMeVidya- NCERT & CEIT

To further the cause of equitable and inclusive education as envisaged by the National Education Policy 2020, Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) organised a live interactive session on PM eVidya platform titled 'Teaching Learning Interventions for Inclusive Classrooms: Building Synergies' on June 22, 2022. Speakers Dr. Shyamala Dalvi (Learning Disability Consultant) and Noopur Jhunjhunwala (Co-founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation) answered queries from parents and educators during the session. The key takeaway from the discussion was that each stakeholder in the child's ecosystem plays a vital role in their development. Consequently, the impact of interventions for children with Specific Learning Disabilities like Dyslexia can be maximised only if all stakeholders work harmoniously towards that goal.

Teacher and Parent Sensitization Workshop ICL Schools, Navi Mumbai – 20^th& 21^stJune

ICL Education Society runs schools and colleges to provide quality education for students from marginalized communities in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. Changeinkk conducted a 2-day workshop for teachers and parents respectively at ICL Schools in Vashi & Turbhe. The capacity building workshop sensitized them to adopt and advocate dyslexia friendly techniques in the child's life and make spaces more inclusive. On day2, parents attended an ice-breaker workshop that got the conversation around SLDs going, where parents shared some powerful personal stories too. This has been followed by screening of their students (in collaboration with NERD Tools Foundation) to identify ‘at risk’ students exhibiting signs of having an SLD. Currently, longer term interventions are underway in the school.

iSaksham Edu-Leader Training, Jamui, Bihar – 17^thJun 2022

iSaksham builds community edu-leaders through its 2-year fellowship program in aspirational areas of Bihar. These young women improve their subject knowledge, learn modern pedagogy tools and impart quality education to children by catering to multi-level learning needs in government schools. ChangeInkk sensitized and trained their cohort of edu-leaders on Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) and multisensory approach to help them make classrooms more inclusive.

AIWEFA- Reflections: Voices from families, schools and the SLD- 30th April 2022 (11.30 am – 1.30 pm)

As part of the National Webinar Series on Specific Learning Disabilities, the All-India Women's Education Fund Association (AIWEFA) organised a panel discussion titled 'Reflections: Voices from families, schools and the SLD' on April 30, 2022. Speakers included Dr. Anuradha Joshi, Principal at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya; Arun Fernandez, Founder at DLearners and Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Renu Malaviya, Secretary of the AIWEFA and Professor of the Department of Education at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi. The speakers helped bring together the perspectives of the families of learners with SLDs, along with those of teachers and other key stakeholders in the academic ecosystem. To learn more, watch the discussion at National Webinar Series on Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)  #Webinar 5

NASSCOM Global Inclusion Summit 2022 Session I Young Leaders Talk Inking the Inclusion Manifesto for the Gen Z - 27th and 28th April, 2022

At the 2022 Global Inclusion Summit, NASSCOM Foundation organised a session titled 'Young Leaders Talk: Inking the Inclusion Manifesto for the Gen Z’ on April 28, 2022. The webinar was chaired by Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation, and speakers included Surya Kasibhatla, Actor; Anika Bhatia, Student at Sanskriti School; Nirrhit Pal, Fashion Design Student at NIFT, Bangalore and Urvi Maheshwari, Vice President of Student Affairs at Huron University College's Student Council. This one-of-a-kind session aimed to amplify the voices of the next generation of leaders. The speakers shared that since Gen Z will soon constitute the largest group in the workforce, it is imperative to consider what inclusion means to them, and for organizations to shift their mindset to embrace such inclusion. To learn more, watch the discussion at https://youtu.be/uXaaFeKKRxY.

Dyslexic Mind Conference - 28^thOct, 2021

Ashoka University, in collaboration with ChangeINKK Trust, hosted the first-ever conference on the inclusion of students with dyslexia in higher education institutions (HEIs). The conference included keynote addresses and panel discussions representatives from industry experts and representatives of leading universities in the United States, UK, and India. It also featured journeys of adults with dyslexia who have made significant contributions to their fields of work. Employers with neurodiversity inclusion initiatives discussed the importance of employing this future ready workforce.

PMeVidya- NCERT & CEIT Live Interaction on PMeVIDYA: "Dealing with Dyslexia" 2021 Oct 27, 2021

On the occasion of Dyslexia Awareness Month, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) organised a three day National Webinar Series on Dyslexia. On October 27, 2021, as part of this initiative, a live discussion was held on the PM eVidya platform. Speakers included Dr. Shyamala Dalvi, Learning Disability Consultant from Mumbai; Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation; and Masarrat Khan, CEO of the Maharashtra Dyslexia Association. The discussion emphsised the role of early detection and appropriate accommodations in the life of a dyslexic learner, and discussed the various teaching strategies which can be employed in schools for remedial instruction.

AICTE Webinar on Dyslexia - 13th October 2021

All India Council for Technical Education, in October 2021 collaborated with experts and conducted a two-part webinar on Dyslexic awareness. The first webinar included eminent speakers such as  Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Ms. Rama Tandon, Mr. Vivek Khare and ChangeInkk's co-founder and trustee, Ms. Noopur Jhunjhunwala. The discussion covered the manifestation, struggles and strengths of Dyslexia in detail. The panel also discussed successful possibilities across school education, higher education as well as career paths for people with Specific Learning Disabilities

NASSCOM Design & Engineering Summit 2021

During the NASSCOM Design and ER&D Summit 2021, on October 7, 2021, a fireside chat was organised on the subject 'Engineering a Neurodiverse Workforce: A Competitive Advantage!'. Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Co-founder and Trustee at ChangeInkk Foundation was invited as the speaker for the fireside chat, which was chaired by Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM. In their discussion, Noopur highlighted that while gender and demographic diversity is a given in the modern workplace, there is yet another aspect which needs considering, i.e., neurodiversity. She added that companies which embrace neurodiversity can gain a competitive advantage in terms of innovation, culture, and productivity, which is especially true in the case of STEM-allied sectors.