– Ronita Torcato 

May 21, 2026 marked the 15th anniversary of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) which highlights the importance of making digital products and platforms accessible to people with disabilities. GAAD emphasizes the need for universal design principles, encouraging educators, designers, and organisations worldwide to remove barriers in technology and digital content, creating an inclusive environment that benefits everyone.

To mark the occasion, St Xavier’s College campus near Metro cinema, the Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) recently released a white paper titled “Built to Include: Expanding the reach of consumer products through accessibility”.

The report outlines practical ways for organisations to improve accessibility to white and brown goods—refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines and televisions—through inclusive product design, accessibility training, and co-creation of products with persons with disabilities.

Dr Sam Taraporevala, executive director, XRCVC, St Xavier’s College, said, “Inaccessibility was always a lived experience, but now we have documented and voiced these concerns. Disabled users form a huge market that businesses continue to overlook.”

Meanwhile, late on Friday (May 29) evening, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) celebrated GAAD by hosting a touching interactive panel session and screening of Aamir Khan’s comedy-drama “Sitaare Zameen Par” (in English translation “Stars on Earth”) at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC), located on Peddar Road, Mumbai.

The event cast the spotlight on five of the film’s young differently abled actors.In doing so, the NFDC meeting transitioned from a purely cinematic celebration to active social advocacy.

Organised by NFDC staff led by Gouri Nair, the session Titled “Beyond Labels: Our Dreams, Our Stories,” commenced with a video honoring 50 years of NFDC’s contribution to Indian cinema. This was followed by the introduction of the young cast members and focused on their lived experiences rather than just their onscreen roles.

The five actors — Aroush Datta (Satbir), Vedant Sharma (Bantu), Samvit Desai (Kareem Qureshi), Simran Mangeshkar (Golu Khan) and Aayush Bhansali (Lotus), represent a new wave of talent in Bollywood, each marking unique personal milestones.

On the occasion, Rishi Shahani, a real-life cancer survivor and Special Olympics medalist, shared a touching virtual message sending a heartwarming video to connect with the audience.

The “conversation between hearts” moved beyond the technicalities of filmmaking to address systemic barriers as the panelists discussed the importance of moving away from “labels” and focusing on the human aspirations of differently-abled individuals.

A notable part of the evening was dedicated to the families and parents, recognising that professional inclusion often begins with the “unwavering love and strength” found at home.

D Ramakrishnan, General Manager NFDC, joined the young champions on stage for a formal felicitation. Addressing the gathering, he commended the actors for their impact on breaking barriers in mainstream entertainment.

“The true takeaway from today’s conversation is that we all have a role to play in driving that change for inclusion and inspiration. We need to bring change. We ourselves are the change.”

The floor was then opened to the audience for a lively dialogue with the cast about their hobbies, thoughts, on-set challenges, and how they define true inclusion. Each speaker shared personal reflections, leaving the audience inspired by their resilience and artistry.

The event concluded with a screening of Sitaare Zameen Par. A spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan’s 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, the 2025 film is an official remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions which was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.

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