This could ensure that that people living with disabilities do not get left behind.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1 billion people across the world live their lives with disabilities. So as to make their lives a little easier, Google’s philanthropic division, Google.org has pledged $20 million to help improve their lot.

As reported by Wired, the spread of these funds will be across 29 programs, each specializing in disability related technologies, with each receiving an average amount of $750,000, while six of the grant winners will get a million each.

Five categories of disabilities are covered, including mobility, communication, cognitive, vision and hearing. The winning program will have to tackle a multitude of issues.

The following are only a small sample of the disability mitigation projects:

• The Center for Discovery is creating an open-source add-on that can make turn a normal wheelchair into a powered equivalent.
• My Human Kit connects people who are in need for prosthetics with low-cost 3D-printed solutions.
• The Leprosy Mission Trust India is creating low-cost customised footwear that enables those affected with leprosy to maintain their ability to walk.

• Voice Access system, allows users to navigate their phones via voice commands.

• Perkins School for the Blind aims to help the visually challenged with detailed GPS instructions for their naviguation in the real world.
• The Dan Marino Foundation is developing a digital, interactive system to help the youth who have autism for job interviews.