UDAAN IDEATHON CHALLENGE
(Design for Inclusion Award)
Diversithon: The GAC 2026 Design for Inclusion Challenge invites cross-disciplinary teams to create tech or non-tech tools, programs, community models, or assistive innovations aligned with the GAC 2026 theme.
The Award encourages innovative, accessible, and culturally grounded solutions supporting individuals with autism, especially in LMICs.
Winning ideas will be celebrated for creativity, practicality, and inclusivity, with opportunities for mentorship, development, and networking with sponsors and NGOs.
- Open to teams of 3 members, with one designated Group Leader.
- Teams may include: Developers, Designers, Innovators, Therapists, Educators, Clinicians, Parents, NGO Representatives, Self-Advocates, or a combination.
- Teams can submit tech or non-tech ideas (e.g., digital apps, assistive devices, learning modules, awareness models, or low-tech community solutions).
- At least one team member must be a registered delegate of GAC 2026.
- The concept must be original and culturally relevant to LMIC settings.
1️⃣ Pre-Registration
Teams must register by December 20th, 2025, providing names, roles, Group Leader contact, and a 200-word concept brief.
2️⃣ Mentorship Phase (One Week Before Conference)
Each team will be assigned a mentor and have two online meetings to refine their ideas and prepare presentations.
3️⃣ Conference-Day Schedule (Day 3 – January 23, 2026)
- Morning: In-person mentoring and feedback sessions.
- Afternoon: A 6-minute PowerPoint pitch to the judging panel, followed by a 2-minute Q&A.
- Presentation must include: Problem identified, Proposed solution, and Implementation/scalability plan for LMIC settings.
Exciting awards and prizes for the winners! All participants will receive certificates of participation, mentorship feedback, and opportunities for networking and collaboration with NGOs and industry partners.