Poornamidam, Visakhapatnam (2026)

29/07/2026

We are delighted to share that our Founder & Director, Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli , has been recognised as a 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List Honoree by Diversability.

Selected among 30 disability leaders from nearly 500 nominations across 12 countries, this global recognition celebrates disabled leaders advancing disability inclusion and representation worldwide. Announced on 26 July 2026, in observance of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the D-30 Disability Impact List honours those creating meaningful, lasting impact.

This recognition reflects Poornamidam's continued commitment to advancing universal accessibility, disability justice, climate resilience, and social equity through data-driven research, evidence-based advocacy, lived experience, and cross-sector collaboration. It reaffirms our belief that inclusive and sustainable systems are built not only through thoughtful architecture, policy, and governance, but through their effective implementation and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the nominators, Tiffany Yu, the Diversability team, and the jury for this honour. On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, we also celebrate the mentors, collaborators, communities, and lived experiences that continue to guide and strengthen our journey.

Congratulations to all the 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List Honorees. We look forward to collectively advancing a future that is climate-resilient, equitable, inclusive, and universally accessible—where We All Belong and no one is left behind.

Learn more about the 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List: https://mydiversability.com/2026-d30-honorees

Stay connected:
• Poornamidam: linktr.ee/poornamidam
• IIH Warriors India: linktr.ee/iihwarriorsindia

09/07/2026

The Curb Cut Effect — From Theory to Evidence | Design for the margins. Benefit the majority.

Universal Design is often misunderstood as a specialised approach for persons with disabilities. In reality, it is normative design guidance—a principle that should inform how architecture, laws, policies, infrastructure, technologies, products, services, and public systems are conceived from the outset.

The curb cut effect provides empirical evidence that when we design for people facing the greatest barriers, the resulting benefits extend far beyond the originally intended users. Curb ramps, captions, screen readers, voice assistants, automatic doors, accessible websites, and countless other examples demonstrate the same pattern: accessibility improves usability, efficiency, safety, resilience, participation, and ultimately, influencing cost of living and quality of life for everyone.

In this sense, the curb cut effect transforms Universal Design from a normative aspiration into an evidence-based proposition. It demonstrates that accessibility is not merely compatible with good design—it is one of its strongest predictors. Universal Design tells us what we ought to design for; the curb cut effect demonstrates why that approach consistently produces better outcomes.

This distinction matters not only for architects, planners, engineers, technologists, and designers, but also for lawmakers, policymakers, governance institutions, businesses, researchers, and development practitioners. In an era increasingly shaped by a polycrisis and threat multiplier—where climate change, demographic transitions, public health, technological disruption, and widening inequalities intersect—accessibility is no longer a niche concern. It is a systems intervention, a public good, and a force multiplier for building more inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and resilient societies that leaves no one behind.

Accessibility is therefore not an exception to good design; it is one of its clearest measures.

Part of the ongoing series by Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान exploring the Curb Cut Effect and why accessibility functions as a force multiplier across architecture, governance, infrastructure, technology, climate action, disaster risk reduction, and everyday life.]

Post in Collaboration — Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం X The Sangyan | द संज्ञान

Authored by — Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator of The Sangyan | द संज्ञान and the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign, and Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli, Founder and Curator of Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం, and the ‘We All Belong’ campaign.

Alt Text (Visual/Image Description): A square digital advocacy poster against a bright blue sky with soft white clouds features a large roadside billboard mounted on a grey steel column, viewed from a low angle. The billboard has a white background with a metallic frame and displays the message in large navy blue lettering: “Universal Design is normative design guidance. The curb cut effect is empirical proof that this guidance works.” Across the top are the logos of The Sangyan, Build Forward Better, Infinity Loop, the SDG infinity emblem, and Poornamidam. At the bottom corners appear the hashtags and . Designed like a public service announcement, the poster reinforces Universal Design as a guiding principle for inclusive societies and presents the curb cut effect as evidence of its broader societal benefits.

29/06/2026

"Some recognitions arrive quietly. Others unexpectedly open up conversations that were long overdue.

Last week, I was deeply honoured to receive the Organization For Rare Diseases India (ORDI) Rare Star Award 2026 in the category "Never Quit – Role Model Living with Rare Disease (16–30 Years)", along with the NIDHI Cash Award.

When I first shared the news with my close ones, there was a moment of silence.

Perhaps because recognitions like these are still unfamiliar to many of us.

Over the next few days, though, that silence slowly turned into conversations.

The media coverage, messages, calls, comments, and heartfelt congratulations reminded me how much visibility matters. Every story shared became an opportunity to bring greater awareness to rare diseases.

What makes this recognition different is that it acknowledges the realities of living with a life-altering rare disease while continuing to learn, work, contribute, and navigate life.

Living with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), which resulted in blindness, has taught me that rare diseases are rarely just about health. They intersect with disability, gender, education, profession, accessibility, relationships, culture, and countless everyday experiences.

What makes this award especially meaningful to me is that it recognised not only my lived experience, but also the work that has grown alongside it, across universal accessibility, inclusive design, research, policy, advocacy, public awareness, and community engagement through Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం, IIH Warriors India, and other professional collaborations.

Personally, this award feels both encouraging and humbling. While the work I pursue gives me immense satisfaction, it can also be mentally exhausting at times. Recognition like this provides a much-needed boost, reaffirming that the effort is making a difference and motivating me to continue with renewed energy and commitment.

I am thankful to the jury, Prasanna Shirol, the ORDI team, the rare disease community, healthcare professionals, caregivers, collaborators, friends, family, and everyone who celebrated this moment with me."

- Ar.Kavya Poornima Balajepalli
Founder & Curator, Poornamidam & IIH Warriors India

The Hans India
Visually-challenged Vizag architect bags ‘ORDI Rare Star Award 2026’ https://share.google/nbqLTwpxGRyN4cD3q

The Hindu
Visually challenged architect wins national-level Rare Star Award
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/visually-challenged-architect-wins-national-level-rare-star-award/article71133679.ece

——

Image Descriptions (ALT Text):

1. Kavya smiles at the camera on stage while holding the ORDI Rare Star Award trophy, her certificate of appreciation, and the NIDHI Cash Award envelope, with the ORDI Rare Star Awards 2026 backdrop behind her.

2. Kavya receives the ORDI Rare Star Award from the guests of honour on stage during the award ceremony as they pose together for a photograph.

3. A large screen displays Kavya's name, award category, photograph, and highlights of her journey during the ORDI Rare Star Awards 2026 ceremony.

4. Kavya poses with ORDI co-founders Prasanna Shirol and Sangita Warde while holding an Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) awareness poster at the ORDI Rare Star Awards 2026 ceremony.

5. Close-up of Kavya speaking into a microphone while addressing the audience on stage during the ORDI Rare Star Awards 2026 ceremony.

6. Kavya stands beside the ORDI Rare Star Awards 2026 standee in the lobby of the Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Rajajinagar, smiling at the camera.

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are the snapshots of English and Telugu media coverages across Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam from Eenadu Digital , Sakshi, ABN Andhrajyothi Telugu News, The Hindu , The Hans India

19/06/2026

The Curb Cut Effect is perhaps one of the most powerful yet underappreciated concepts in accessibility discourse.

The Curb Cut Effect refers to the broader social, economic, and systemic benefits that emerge when barriers are removed for those facing the greatest exclusion. What begins as an accessibility intervention for a specific group often improves usability, safety, convenience, participation, and quality of life for everyone.

The term originates from curb ramps introduced through disability rights advocacy to enable wheelchair users to navigate streets independently. While designed to address a specific accessibility barrier, these seemingly simple interventions soon proved beneficial for a much wider population, including parents with strollers, travellers with luggage, delivery workers, cyclists, older adults, and people with temporary injuries.

Similarly, closed captions help not only Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons, but also language learners, commuters, students, and anyone watching videos in noisy or silent environments. Voice assistants, originally developed to support accessibility, have become an everyday technology used by millions. Accessibility is therefore not a niche accommodation. It is a universal design principle that creates wider social value.

The curb cut effect demonstrates that investments made to remove barriers for persons with disabilities frequently generate benefits far beyond their originally intended beneficiaries ("spillover effect"). Accessibility interventions improve systems, not just individuals; they increase efficiency, usability, safety, resilience, and participation for society as a whole. In economic terms, accessibility creates positive externalities. In governance terms, it strengthens inclusion. In development terms, it functions as a force multiplier.

In an era increasingly shaped by intersecting social, economic, technological, environmental, and public health challenges—a polycrisis—the curb cut effect offers a powerful lens for rethinking architecture, design, policy, and development: a paradigm shift that recognizes solutions designed for those facing the greatest barriers often create stronger, more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient systems for everyone.

Through this series on the 'Curb Cut Effect', we shall explore how accessibility interventions generate ripple effects across education, health, livelihood, mobility, technology, climate action, disaster risk reduction, governance, public infrastructure, and everyday life. We're not merely explaining accessibility—we are exploring a lens through which accessibility can be understood as a public good, a systems intervention, and a pathway towards more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable futures.

Because when we design for those who face the greatest barriers, everyone moves forward. That is the power of the Curb Cut Effect.

Design for the margins. Benefit the majority. The best accessibility interventions stop looking like accessibility interventions—they simply become good design.

What examples of the curb cut effect have you encountered in your everyday life?

Read “The Curb Cut Effect — Understanding Accessibility’s Hidden Dividend“ by Poornamidam on Medium: https://poornamidam.medium.com/the-curb-cut-effect-understanding-accessibilitys-hidden-dividend-901ce4fa940c

Post in collaboration — Poornamidam × The Sangyan - द संज्ञान

Authored by — Abhishek Kumar & Kavya Poornima Balajepalli

05/06/2026

Accessibility Is Climate Action: Without Universal Accessibility, Inclusive Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Fail!

Abstract — This blog advances the proposition that accessibility is not peripheral to climate and environmental discourse, but foundational to meaningful climate action, disaster risk reduction, and resilience-building. Drawing upon emerging global research, disability-inclusive climate frameworks, and the author’s ongoing work on universally accessible and climate-resilient systems, the blog argues that inaccessible infrastructure, communication systems, mobility networks, and governance mechanisms significantly amplify vulnerability during climate-induced disasters and emergencies.

The blog conceptualises accessibility as a “force multiplier” that determines whether resilience investments translate into equitable survival, participation, and adaptive capacity for all sections of society, especially persons with disabilities, senior citizens, children, and other vulnerable populations. By merging the conventional silos between “social policy” and “environmental policy,” the article reframes accessibility as a systemic design principle central to sustainability and intergenerational justice.

Integrating the idea that “Accessibility is Climate Action” and “Without Universal Accessibility, Inclusive Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Fail!”, the piece further demonstrates how universal accessibility strengthens evacuation systems, early warning communication, public infrastructure, healthcare access, education and digital ecosystems, and inclusive governance, thereby multiplying the effectiveness of climate adaptation itself. Ultimately, the blog calls for a paradigmatic shift from culturally perceiving accessibility as an optional add-on to recognising it as an ethical, developmental, and resilience imperative, indispensable to building societies where we leave no one behind.

Complete Blog — Accessibility Is Climate Action: Without Universal Accessibility, Inclusive Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Fail! https://sangyan.medium.com/accessibility-is-climate-action-1f259bd69f0a

Lead Author — Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator of The Sangyan | द संज्ञान, Project Drishtant | प्रकल्प दृष्टान्त, Project Saralīkaraṇa | प्रकल्प सरलीकरण, and the ‘Build Forward Better’ Campaign

Co-author — Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli, Founder and Curator of Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and the 'We All Belong' Campaign

Alt Text (Visual/Image Description) — A graphic poster with a deep navy-blue background with the message “Accessibility Is Climate Action” through a bold, typographic layout that visually fragments and reconstructs the phrase for emphasis. At the top of the poster are five logos aligned horizontally: the logo of The Sangyan with its motto in Sanskrit “कालाति क्रमात काल एवं फलम् पिबति॥”; the flower (Parijata) emblem of Project Saralikarana along with its motto in Sanskrit “ज्ञानस्य पराकाष्ठा धर्मयुक्तं शासनम्।”; an infinity-loop logo depicting the convergence of inclusion and sustainability with the motto “For the Common Concerns of Humankind”; the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign logo with motto in Sanskrit “सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। प्रकृति रक्षति रक्षिता।”; and the logo of Poornamidam with its motto in Sanskrit ।। आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः।।" The central visual composition uses oversized quotation marks and coloured rectangular text blocks to create a layered sentence. The word “ACCESSIBILITY” appears in large black capital letters inside a purple rectangular block, preceded by a large opening quotation mark in a black square. Beneath it, in smaller handwritten-style white text, appears the phrase “Without Universal Accessibility,”. Below this, the words “IS CLIMATE” are split across two adjoining rectangular blocks: “IS” appears in black letters on a white rectangle, while “CLIMATE” appears in large black capital letters on a bright sky-blue rectangle. Underneath, another handwritten-style line in white reads: “Inclusive Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Fail!” At the bottom, the word “ACTION” appears in large outlined black capital letters on a pale cream-yellow rectangular block, followed by a large closing quotation mark inside a black square. The poster concludes with the slogan, written in large handwritten-style white typography across the lower edge: “Let’s ‘Build Forward Better’ Where ‘We All Belong’!”. The overall visual language combines bold modern typography, contrasting geometric blocks, and disability-inclusive climate symbolism to communicate the idea that accessibility is foundational to meaningful climate action, resilience, and disaster risk reduction.

22/05/2026

🌍 On the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, EnableMe Access and Poornamidam are coming together to launch AccessConnect — a collaborative accessibility quiz and discussion series focused on inclusive built environments and accessible cities in India.

🗓 Saturday, 23 May, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM IST
📍 Online on Zoom
Meeting ID: 875 8003 1576
Passcode: wsm77C
🔗 Zoom Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/87580031576?pwd=s57Pm96n4RBQPl4zVg3orrFRr9AKYl.1

AccessConnect is envisioned as an interactive space for professionals, practitioners, advocates, students, researchers, and changemakers working across accessibility, architecture, urban planning, disability inclusion, and universal design.

Together, we will:
✨ Participate in a fun accessibility quiz
✨ Exchange good practices and experiences from across India
✨ Discuss evolving accessibility laws, standards, and implementation challenges
✨ Explore collaborations towards creating more inclusive and usable public spaces

As India moves towards more inclusive infrastructure and urban development, collective conversations and shared learning become essential to shaping environments that work for everyone.

Join us in celebrating accessibility, awareness, participation, and action.

21/05/2026

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is observed to spark conversations around digital access, inclusion, and the importance of creating spaces that work for everyone. Accessibility is not limited to disability alone — it strengthens participation, dignity, usability, and belonging across society.

This , Young Indians Vizag Chapter, in collaboration with Poornamidam, shares a collective pledge toward building more inclusive built environments, digital spaces, communication systems, and everyday practices.

We pledge to — through small actions that can lead toward meaningful inclusion.

Swipe through for a quick accessibility checklist and simple practices you can incorporate into daily life.

GAAD2026

21/05/2026

🌍 Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026

This year’s GAAD theme — Design, Develop, Deliver — reminds us that accessibility is about creating a world where everyone can participate equally. ♿✨

To mark the occasion, Young Indians Vizag, in collaboration with Poornamidam, invites you to join the Challenge — a 48-hour accessibility awareness challenge. 👀📱

Over the next 48 hours, observe your surroundings through the lens of accessibility and inclusion, and spot:

✅ An example of accessibility done well
OR
⚠️ A barrier that could make access difficult for someone

It could be:
• a ramp — or the absence of one
• elevators/lifts that are functional and accessible
• PwD washrooms that are usable, unlocked, and well-maintained
• step-free entrances and pathways
• broken or blocked footpaths
• clear signage and readable directions
• captions in videos and reels
• alt text or image descriptions on social media
• accessible websites/apps and readable digital content
• ease of boarding buses (low-floor access) or autos or any public transport
• seating and circulation spaces that are accessible
• respectful communication and assistance

📸 Simply share via DM:
• A photo/video/screenshot
• 📍 Location
• 💭 Why it matters

🏷️ Tag your stories/posts: .vizag .indians

Because accessibility impacts all of us — sometimes permanently, sometimes temporarily, but eventually, everyone.

✨ Observe. Reflect. Include.

Let’s start noticing.
Let’s start conversations.
Let’s .

~ Team Accessibility, Yi Vizag & Poornamidam 🇮🇳

08/04/2026

Accessibility Is Designed Empathy — It’s Inclusion, By Design (Accessibility is empathy made structural — visible in architecture, embedded in laws and policies, and experienced in everyday life)

Accessibility, when understood deeply, is empathy translated into the language of design, governance, and everyday systems and practices. It reflects a conscious decision to anticipate diverse human needs from the outset of planning rather than reacting to exclusion after it occurs. When empathy becomes structural, it manifests through universal design (usable by everyone to the greatest extent possible) in environment that can be navigated by all, communication that all can understand, transport that all can use, and policies that assume diversity as the norm rather than the exception.

In this sense, accessibility is not a charity-driven add-on or a technical retrofit; it is the outcome of thoughtful design choices that recognise dignity, agency, and participation as fundamental rights. By embedding accessibility into design processes and policy frameworks, societies move from episodic accommodation to systemic inclusion, where environments no longer disable individuals but instead enable full participation in public life.

This transformation requires attention not only to visible barriers, but also to the deeper patterns, institutional structures, and cultural mindsets that shape whether universal accessibility becomes a lived reality or remains an afterthought. This is why inclusion, if it is to be meaningful and enduring, must be achieved by design — through structures that make empathy tangible, visible, and lived in everyday experience.

Complete Blog: https://poornamidam.medium.com/accessibility-is-designed-empathy-its-inclusion-by-design-f85f24a66dfc

Authored by — Adv. Abhishek Kumar , Founder and Curator of The Sangyan - द संज्ञान and the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign, and Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli Founder and Curator of Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం, and ‘We All Belong’ campaign.

Alt Text [Visual/Image Description]: On a blue-grey paper-textured background, the logos of the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign, The Sangyan, the ‘Infinity Loop’ (Inclusion and Sustainability: For the Common Concerns of Humankind), the SDG infinity emblem (Build Forward Better, where We All Belong), and Poornamidam are placed at the centre top along with their respective mottos. The paper is torn from the centre, revealing a white background with text that reads, “Accessibility Is Designed Empathy.” At the centre bottom, the text reads, “Inclusion, By Design.”

Poornamidam

29/07/2026

09/07/2026

29/06/2026

19/06/2026

05/06/2026

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

21/05/2026

08/04/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request