Fwd: Accessibility Rule-Making Progress – Services Framework Open for Comments

[Vaishnavi Jayakumar]

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Percy Cardozo <percyc...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at 06:20
Subject: Accessibility Rule-Making Progress – Services Framework Open for Comments

Dear Friends,

Following the Hon’ble Supreme Court's directions in WP(C) 243/2005 & WP(C) 228/2006 (Rajive Raturi v. Union of India & Ors.), a multi-stakeholder rule-making process has been underway to develop mandatory accessibility standards under the RPWD Rules, 2016. This process is being coordinated by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD) and the Centre for Disability Studies – NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (CDS-NALSAR).

Public updates on this initiative: https://accessoversightcommittee.wordpress.com/
Resource repository for this exercise: https://bit.ly/arc-site

In compliance with the Court’s directives, DePwD initiated an Expression of Interest (EOI) to encourage voluntary participation in framing negotiable and non-negotiable accessibility rules under the RPWD Rules, 2016.

In response to this call, registrants from diverse backgrounds—including disability rights advocates, subject matter experts, service providers, researchers, and persons with lived experience—came forward to contribute their expertise. This collective effort led to the formation of six working groups, each focused on a key area of accessibility:

1. Built Environment
2. Transport Accessibility
3. Digital Accessibility (ICT)
4. Assistive Technology & Aids
5. Products & Consumer Goods
6. Services Accessibility

Among these, the Services sector is the most varied, covering multiple domains such as healthcare, education, legal services, public welfare, disability certification, and emergency response. Unlike other groups that could build on existing sectoral guidelines, the Services Accessibility Group had to begin from scratch, first defining its scope before developing a structured accessibility framework.

I, along with Radhika Alkazi, have been facilitating the Services Accessibility Group. After several meetings and deliberations, we are pleased to share that the draft of the Comprehensive Framework on Services Accessibility has now been finalized and will soon be submitted to DePwD.

What the Framework Covers: This framework establishes key accessibility principles and non-negotiable service standards and lays the foundation for structured and enforceable accessibility measures across all service domains. The sector-specific annexures (e.g., healthcare, education, legal aid, and disability certification) are still under development, they will be shared with you soon.

Invitation for Comments & Feedback: The document is now available online for comments from the larger landscape of stakeholders. We are attaching a PDF copy of the framework in this email for your review and invite your comments and feedback to further refine and strengthen the document. Your insights are invaluable in ensuring that the framework is both practical and comprehensive.

Please feel free to share this email with your contacts in the sector to ensure it reaches as many relevant stakeholders as possible.

Access the document here:

Google Drive PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VsnJ9rvOf_GGEJALR1FWfJuP-TMxlr72/view?usp=drive_link

One Drive PDF: https://1drv.ms/b/c/d09497bbc9ca7f73/EZst7FxM63JKnkcsoOm_yAsBqvfV4avEK5e_gn863VktWw

For any further information or clarifications, you may email me at this ID or reach out on WhatsApp at [9689762903].

We look forward to your valuable input.

With warm regards,
Radhika Alkazi & Percy Cardozo
Facilitators
(SAC-CDS Working Group F-Services)

PS: Parallel work is ongoing with groups are also developing accessibility frameworks for the Built Environment, Transport & Eco-System, Digital Environment, Assistive Technology, and Products. Their frameworks will also be made available in the public domain in due course. This framework pertains specifically to the Services sector.