This Sunday, there’s a meet-up planned. Incloc, a Gurgaon-based match-making portal for persons with disabilities, is organising a social event to bring together persons with all kinds of disabilities to meet new people, make friends and possibly look for life partners.
Shankar Srinivasan, co-founder of the portal, said the idea for the ‘social spaces’ came about when he realised that while people were connecting with others through their app and then getting to know each other via phone calls or texts, actual meet-ups were difficult, both due to safety concerns and the lack of accessible places.
“We then decided to start an offline meet-up platform, where people could talk and get to know one another. Some people just like the opportunity to get out of their homes, while for others the aim is friendship or more. The meet-up is inclusive of all kinds of disabilities and those without disabilities can also attend,” he said.
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Theme is sports
The theme for Chennai’s meet-up is sports (to mark National Sports Day, which fell on August 29), and Inclov will also be raising awareness about boccia, a precision ball sport, and wheelchair basketball, he said.
“In other cities, we’ve had get-togethers on the beach, at parks and even at a night club,” Mr. Srinivasan said. Team games and other activities will be part of the get-together.
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In other cities, there have been meet-ups at cooking workshops, stand-up comic shows and band performances.
The meet-up is being held from 9.30 a.m. to noon at Rush Madras, a sports stadium and arena, where, Mr. Srinivasan said, all areas including restrooms have been made accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be available.
Those interested in registering can contact: 9821277814