Resume

Nilesh Singit

Accessibility Strategist | Disability Rights & Inclusive Technology Policy

Overview

• Accessibility strategist and disability rights specialist with over 25 years of professional experience

• Work spans accessibility policy, architectural and infrastructure audits, inclusive design, and disability law

• Advises public institutions, judicial bodies, and large infrastructure projects on alignment with UNCRPD and WCAG standards

• Focus on the built environment, regulatory compliance, and implementation pathways
  
  

Areas of work

• Architectural and built-environment accessibility (physical site audits)

• Transport systems, campuses, public buildings, and heritage structures

• Accessibility strategy, retrofit planning, and compliance frameworks

• Disability law and policy advisory (UNCRPD, RPwD Act, 2016)

• Disability-focused DEI policy design and institutional implementation

• Inclusive technology and artificial intelligence policy as it affects persons with disabilities
  
  

Current role

Distinguished Research Fellow
Centre for Disability Studies, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

• Research and policy work on disability rights and accessibility

• Institutional inputs on accessibility standards, compliance frameworks, and normative benchmarks for the built environment

• Contribution to research and reporting connected to matters before the Supreme Court of India on accessibility

• Advisory support to government and judicial bodies on accessibility and compliance issues
  
  

Consulting practice

Principal Accessibility Strategist — Independent Consultancy

• Large-scale architectural and physical accessibility audits

• Accessibility strategies for capital and infrastructure projects

• Compliance roadmaps, retrofit guidance, and contractor briefings

• Advisory on inclusive technology and AI-related disability risks, including work under The Bias Pipeline

• Disability-centred DEI policy advisory and institutional training
  
  

Selected consulting and advisory work

• Disability Consultant, Mozilla Responsible Computing Challenge (Marian College)

  • Accessibility review of curriculum and digital platforms

  • Guidance on accessibility across learning systems and emerging technologies

  • Training and certification reporting
    
    

Appointments and recognition

• Member, Supreme Court of India Committee on Accessibility

• Panel of Experts, V Citizens Action Network (VCAN)

• State Disability Icon, Maharashtra (Election Commission of India)

• Contributor to accessibility guidance adopted by government bodies and agencies across multiple states
  
  

Education and qualifications

• AI Generalist Fellowship, Outskill (completed November 2025)

  • Focus on applied AI systems, bias analysis, governance, and accessibility implications

• Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights, University of Bombay

• Master of Arts (English Literature), University of Bombay
  
  

Publications and presentations

• Accessible Urban Space: Facilitated Discussion on Inclusive Cities — World Urban Forum

• Accessibility in Bombay: UNCRPD Implementation — UN CRPD event, New York

• Policy briefs and training manuals on disability legislation and universal electronic accessibility
  
  

Languages

• English (native proficiency) |  Hindi (fluent)  |  Marathi (fluent)  |  French (intermediate)  |  Kannada (spoken)
  
  

Availability

• Available for invited lectures, workshops, policy dialogues, and consultation on accessibility, design, and governance