“Young Indians ‘Walk Along 2.0’ Powered by CREDAI Chennai: Raising Awareness for Disabilities”

Chennai, August 2024: The second edition of ‘Walk Along 2.0’—an Accessibility Walk—was held today in Chennai, organised by Young Indians (YI) with the support of CREDAI Chennai. This event was thoughtfully designed to promote inclusivity, raise awareness about disabilities, and foster a sense of community among all participants. The walk was flagged off by Mr Unni Krishnan, Vice Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu; Mr Ajit Chordia, CII Vice Chairman, Chennai Zone; Mr Mohamed Ali, President, CREDAI Chennai in the presence of Mr Vargeese John, CEO , CREDAI Chennai; Ms Poonam Natarajan , Vidyasagar; Mr Dilip Krishna , Immediate Past National Chair, Yi; Mr Arun Rathod, National Vice Chair, designate, Yi; Mr Srivas Ananthraman, Yi, Chennai – Chair; Mr Varan Mittal , Yi, Chennai – Co Chair ; Ms Namitha Dilip, Accessibility Chair, Yi Chennaiand Ms Archana Yedanapalli, Accessibility Co Chair, Yi Chennai

The walk was meticulously tailored to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for individuals with disabilities, featuring a unique 1:1 ratio of a person with a disability to a neurotypical participant walking hand in hand. This arrangement served as a powerful symbol of our shared societal responsibility. The event saw the participation of around 700 individuals, including those with various disabilities and neurotypical participants. Attendees engaged in a variety of exciting activities, such as Blind Chess, Boccia for wheelchair users, and lessons in dance, drumming, keyboard, music, and art specifically designed for differently-abled participants.

Mr. Mohamed Ali, President of CREDAI Chennai, shared his enthusiasm about supporting ‘Walk Along 2.0’ stating, “We are incredibly proud to support this initiative, which aligns perfectly with our values of inclusivity and community support. By promoting inclusivity and raising awareness about disabilities, we aim to build a community where every person feels valued and engaged.”

The Accessibility vertical of the Young Indians (Yi) works on initiatives to shift the mindset of people from sympathy to empathy, thereby creating opportunities to empower individuals with disabilities.