
As we increasingly embrace digital tech, we’re also grappling with several new ideas, concepts and questions, including digital self-determination. Who are we as digital beings? How can we determine our ‘selves’ in a data-driven society? How do we re-imagine human autonomy, agency and sovereignty in digital spaces?
In collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in India and with the support of the International Network on Digital Self-Determination (IDSD) and the Directorate of International Law at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), we have run a studio on disability and digital self-determination in India over the last few months.
Over 4 studios in 3 cities, together with Point of View and Design Beku, we’ve explored these big questions with people with disabilities, designers, researchers and technologists. We’ve shared lived experiences of being online, pinpointed accessibility pain points, imagined dream machines, and mapped policy gaps – all in the context of disability.
Now we bring it all together in a grand finale, to which you are warmly invited, under the umbrella of SwitzerlandIndia 75 – celebrating 75 years of peace and friendship between our two nations.
Agenda
6:30pm Welcome Remarks
- Olivier Fink, Embassy of Switzerland to India
- Roger Dubach, Directorate of International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- Jonas Brunschwig, Swissnex in India
6:45pm Panel Discussion on Disability and Digital Self-Determination
Moderator
- Padmini Ray Murray, Design Beku
Panelists
- Nidhi Goyal, Rising Flame, Studio Contributor
- Pranav Savla, High School Student, Techie, Studio Participant
- Prateek Madhav, AssisTech Foundation
- Stefaan Verhulst, New York University GovLab
7:25pm Closing Remarks
- Bishakha Datta, Point of View
- Padmini Ray Murray, Design Beku
- Jonas Brunschwig, Swissnex in India
7:30pm Networking reception
Speakers
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Biography of Padmini Ray Murray
Padmini Ray Murray
Design BekuPadmini Ray Murray’s research-led practice focuses on challenging acts of infrastructural and algorithmic violence and creating alternative digital spaces and imaginations that are characterised by feminist values, specifically an ethics of care. To explore the possibilities of manifesting these spaces, Padmini founded Design Beku, a design and digital collective, that aims to dismantle expectations created by market-driven notions of design by following design justice principles, that advocate designing with communities, and not for.
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Biography of Nidhi Goyal
Nidhi Goyal
Rising FlameA disabled feminist activist from India, Nidhi Goyal has been working on disability rights and gender justice for a decade. Nidhi has been committed to changing lives of persons with disabilities and has worked with a range of National and global women’s rights, disability rights, and human rights organizations, including Point of View, Human Rights Watch, Sight Savers, and CREA. Her work on disability, gender, diversity and inclusion have made way into many corporate offices and policy spaces.
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Biography of Pranav Savla
Pranav Savla
VidyadrishtiPranav high school student with a strong background in computer science. In addition to his technical abilities, Pranav is also the founder and CEO of Vidyadrishti, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students improve their writing skills and express themselves more freely. Pranav is passionate about using his skills and knowledge to create innovative solutions and make a meaningful difference in the world.
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Biography of Stefaan Verhulst
Stefaan Verhulst
New York University GovLabStefaan G. Verhulst is Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of the Governance Laboratory at New York University, an action research center dedicated to improving governance and people’s lives through advances in technology. He regularly advises international organizations and has written and co-authored several books on a variety of topics including Internet Governance.
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Biography of Prateek Madhav
Prateek Madhav
AssisTech FoundationPrateek is a Jaipur-born, NIT and IIM Calcutta-educated, corporate-digital-technology-leader turned happy-social-entrepreneur. His belief in technology making a significant impact in lives of people with disabilities, encouraged him to give up an 18-year-old career in the IT industry to focus on promoting disability/ assistive technology start-ups through his venture AssisTech Foundation (ATF).
He is passionate about start-ups, marathon running and music, finding beauty and meaning in keeping life simple. ATF has impacted the lives of 460,000 people with disabilities through its portfolio of 32 assistive technology startups with 85+ assistive technology products & 31 Patents.