Assistive Technology - Tech Leadership Initiatives

The significant problem of availability and affordability

India, being the most populated country in the world, has a large number of people living with disabilities across all age groups. This often leaves them behind in many ways. Thankfully, we live in a time, where technology is steadily evolving to support both the disabled and the ageing population. Assistive technologies are helping people manage their challenges and lead independent, fulfilling lives.

Most of these technological advancements, however, have taken place in developed countries, where incomes are higher and affordability is less of an issue. The real challenge lies in making these solutions both available and affordable in India. Many of the latest innovations are not yet accessible here, and even when they are, the cost puts them out of reach for most people. This continues to be a major hurdle.

Affordable access for an inclusive future

India has a large pool of engineering talent. This means we have the opportunity to direct many skilled engineers towards efforts in assistive technology. ITEL's aim is to tap into this talent by connecting engineers with researchers already working in the field, along with start-ups, to create solutions that are both affordable and accessible. The goal is to support people with different disabilities and the elderly who need assistance.

ITEL is currently working on the following areas:

Assisting to see through the barriers; Visual Impairment

In India, a large number of people live with partial visual impairment that can often be corrected with a simple optometric assessment and a pair of glasses. In children, this can be facilitated by training school teachers to recognize and flag those showing signs of vision problems, after which CSR-supported programs can bring optometrists to villages to test these children and prescribe corrective lenses. Fortunately, glasses are available in India at a fairly low cost, and the prescribed glasses can be shipped to the children. For those who cannot afford even this meagre amount, one can use CSR to ensure they have it.

To support individuals with more severe visual impairment, ITEL, together with its Incubatees, is developing AI-powered glasses that convert visual cues into voice inputs. Panoculon, an AI-powered smart glasses platform, is for this exact purpose. They can read out printed text from books, newspapers, and signboards, describe objects and surroundings, recognize familiar faces, and even guide users in navigation — all through simple voice prompts in the user's native Indian languages

Beyond this, ITEL is committed to creating many more affordable and high-quality assistive technologies to improve daily living and ensure dignity and independence for those in need.

An app designed to detect hearing disorders at an early age, providing timely identification and intervention services for children in rural and semi-urban communities. Developed in alignment with the SRESHT lab's focus on translational research, the app supports the meaningful integration of technology through tele-practice. This approach aims to bridge gaps in healthcare access, enabling early screening for children with hearing impairments, improving their quality of life.

Hope Through Hearing

In India, on average, five children are born every week in each district with hearing impairment. Yet, most are identified far too late—diagnosis often happens only after two years of age, and intervention even later. Early detection is critical since hearing impairment can affect speech development, as well as brain development. This, in turn impacts educational, psychosocial, and socioeconomic development of the child. To provide early intervention, it is imperative to identify these infants and measure the extent of the hearing impairment, preferably within a month. Early detection enables timely intervention, with a hearing aid or, in more complex cases, a cochlear implant, followed by therapy. The objective is to ensure intervention and support for children as early as possible.

ITEL wants to achieve this universally accessible hearing care by:

Developing a Low-cost OAE screener, so that every birthing centre and maternity hospital can perform new-born hearing screening.
Extending community-based screening protocol to include those missed new-born screenings.
Digitizing hearing test records, district-level diagnostic confirmation, and the rehabilitation process, so that no deserving child is missed out.
Develop and provide quality hearing aids and cochlear implants at an affordable cost, so that intervention can be initiated at the earliest
Developing technology to convert sign language to text and vice versa across all Indian languages, for promoting inclusivity

Mobility Impairment & Rehabilitation

Mobility impairments can arise from various causes such as cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injuries, road traffic accidents, neurological disorders, and age-related decline. These conditions often lead to challenges in movement, strength, and independence, affecting overall quality of life. Rehabilitation and assistive technologies play a vital role in overcoming these challenges. They not only help restore motor function but also build strength, enhance mobility, and support long-term independence for individuals on their recovery journey.

ITEL mission is to support individuals with mobility impairment, blend innovation, technology, and care to transform the way mobility and rehabilitation are experienced. Every device is designed with the user's comfort, independence, and long-term well-being at the core

Innovative Solutions by NeoMotion

NeoMotion, incubated at IIT Madras, is dedicated to developing a complete range of advanced rehabilitation and mobility devices tailored to diverse needs. Some of the key innovations include:

Detachable Road-Driven Wheelchair – Designed for flexibility, convenience, and ease of use.
Standing Wheelchair – Empowers users with the ability to alternate between sitting and standing positions, improving health and independence.
Transfer Devices – Simplifies movement from one surface to another, reducing caregiver burden and enhancing user safety.

Along with mobility aids, specialized rehabilitation devices are designed to improve motor recovery and functional independence: Galanto Innovation – Focused on enhancing hand grip strength, wrist range of motion (ROM), and shoulder & elbow mobility.

RehabRelive Glove – A breakthrough device enabling fine motor and gross ROM exercises through interactive and game-like activities for wrist hands and fingers. Its engaging virtual interface keeps therapy motivating and enjoyable.
RehabRelive Arm: Specifically developed to restore Shoulder & Elbow Mobility rebuild strength after injury, surgery, or neurological impairment.

Learning Disability

Learning Disability affects a child's ability to learn, process information, and perform specific academic tasks, even when they have average or above-average intelligence. Examples include dyslexia, which involves difficulty with reading and language processing, and dyscalculia, which affects mathematical reasoning. These conditions require early identification and specialized interventions to help children reach their full academic potential.

ITEL is focused on the early detection of children with Learning Disabilities. It is exploring the use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR)–based tools that can scan images or written text produced by children to flag potential signs of dyslexia. Such innovations can enable timely support, ensuring that children receive the interventions they need to thrive

AI Avatar for Support and Therapy

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people interact, communicate, learn, and behave. Children and adolescents with ASD often face challenges in recognizing and processing emotions, understanding the pragmatics of language, and navigating social situations. These difficulties can contribute to heightened anxiety and reduced participation in everyday activities. Children with autism often want to be on their own, isolating themselves from others. They need someone who can understand them perfectly and empathise with them, simultaneously pushing them just a bit, so that they come out of their shell.

ITEL is working to develop an AI-powered Avatar—a supportive "buddy" for individuals with autism, to do just this. The Avatar will be capable of adapting to the user's emotional needs, encouraging them to expand their emotional boundaries gradually. Using conversational AI in multiple Indian languages, it will provide a safe, non-judgmental space for children and young adults with ASD to practice social interaction, emotional expression, and coping strategies, helping them build confidence and resilience

Partner Institutions

ITEL brings together a consortium of institutions who work alongside the ITEL team to enable a solution for complex challenges and deliver long-lasting solutions using Deep Tech.

The partner institutions for Assistive Technologies are:

Academic Partners

IIT Guwahati
IIIT Hyderabad

Industry Partners

Sarthak Global Resource Centre
Asphear Technologies

We invite institutions to become a part of our consortia, where together we create scalable and sustainable solutions for the toughest and most impossible challenges, thus making India a Global Tech leader!

Assistive Technology Members

Meet the distinguished members of the Assistive Technology Network

We Welcome You to Partner in Our Journey!

If you are a scientist, technologist, or an innovator, who believes in changing the world, then connect with us. If you are an investor or a passionate individual in any field, who wishes to see India take technology leadership, connect with us.

We invite you to become a part of our consortia and let us together think and create scalable and sustainable solutions for the most complex, toughest and impossible challenges and make our country a technology leader!

Write to us at

connect@itelfoundation.in

Assistive Technologies