PwDs may now buy assistive devices online

Persons with Disabilities may no longer have to wait for public camps in their localities to purchase assistive devices, as these would now be delivered at their door steps with just a click of a button.
The government is planning to rope in e-retailers to sell assistive products to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by linking its web-portal, consisting of directory of such products, with online retailers. The PWDs can then buy it online.
It would also open the window of convenience shopping for the differently-abled people since they can compare the specifications of products by different manufacturers.
"We would be soon linking our recently launched web-portal comprising the directory of aids and assistive devices for PwDs with online retailers. Differently-abled persons can compare the products from different manufacturers and place orders," Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Joint Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment told PTI.

The web-portal, launched few days ago, is an interactive website, www.Swavlamban.Info which contains a list of different assistive technology products being sold in the country and a few internationally available products.
An initiative of the Department of Disability Affairs, the portal has a collection of products required for people suffering from Autism, Cerebral Palsy, hearing, speech and visual impairments and multiple disabilities.

Presently, differently-abled people are left with limited options to buy devices such as camps organised by the ministry in different parts of the country or by visiting the institutes run by the ministry, where such products are available.

This is an ordeal for them in the backdrop of difficulties in mobility and time consumed for delivery of products, officials said.
"For instance, if a visually impaired person wants to buy a low vision device from National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, he has to travel all the way to Dehradun. But, once the e-commerce facility is being activated with the website, it will be just a click of a button," they said.
Official sources further said that Aadhar card would be made mandatory for availing the products through the web portal, in a bid to ensure that the devices that are sold reach the right persons.