Benagaluru Oct 16th, 2025 —The Association of People with Disability (APD), a Bengaluru-based NGO, has been announced as one of the winners at the 5th Edition of Bridgestone Mobility Social Impact Awards (MSIA) 2025. APD received the recognition under the category ‘Empowerment of Vulnerable communities’ for its impactful initiative ‘Rehab on Wheels (ROW)’, which brings comprehensive rehabilitation services to the doorsteps of persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities. It has impacted over 1 million lives through inclusive programs and advocacy.
Safety Research Foundation (SRF), Operating in Bengaluru & Maharashtra received the Jury’s recommendation for its BRACE Project, which is transforming school safety through infrastructure upgrades, awareness drives and community engagement.
Instituted by Bridgestone India in 2021, the Mobility Social Impact Awards aim to identify, recognize, and promote innovative solutions in sustainable mobility that address social challenges and advance inclusive development through the efforts of not-for-profit organizations. The initiative reflects Bridgestone’s mission of driving social progress through safe and sustainable mobility for all.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Yoshizane, Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “At Bridgestone, we believe mobility is not just about movement, it’s about empowering people and enabling progress. The Mobility Social Impact Awards celebrate change makers who are transforming lives through innovative mobility-led solutions. The Association of People with Disability’s work exemplifies this spirit by delivering rehabilitation care directly to those who need it most, making mobility truly inclusive.”
The ‘Rehab on Wheels’ initiative by APD has created affordable, accessible rehabilitation care at the last mile, particularly for socio-economically disadvantaged individuals in Bengaluru’s urban and rural areas. Through mobile therapy units, geriatric and orphanage outreach programs, and doorstep wellness camps, the project has provided essential rehabilitation and therapy services to those who otherwise have limited access to such care.
Dr. N. S. Senthil Kumar, PhD (Rehab), CEO, The Association of People with Disability, shared, “We are honored to receive this recognition from Bridgestone India. The Rehab on Wheels initiative has redefined access to rehabilitation by ensuring that distance and disability are no longer barriers to care. In the past year alone, we’ve reached hundreds of individuals, helping them lead more independent and dignified lives. This award encourages us to continue expanding our services and partnerships to reach even more people across Karnataka and beyond.”
Ms. Jeya Padmanaban, Founding Trustee, SRF said, “At SRF, we believe road safety begins with awareness and community participation. Our BRACE project is designed to make school zones safer through a holistic approach, combining education, engineering improvements, and behavioral change. Receiving the Jury’s Commendation from Bridgestone India is a strong validation of our efforts to build safer environments for children and communities. It motivates us to take this model to more schools across the country.”
SRF is a not-for-profit trust dedicated to improving road safety in India through education, engineering, and advocacy. Its flagship BRACE Project has transformed school zones with safety audits, infrastructure upgrades, awareness initiatives and community engagement.
The Mobility Social Impact Awards reflect the “Empowerment”, “Ease”, “Emotion” and “ Efficiency” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment,* which outline Bridgestone’s corporate commitment to contributing to a society that ensures accessibility and dignity for all (Empowerment), to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life (Ease), inspiring excitement and spreading joy to the world of mobility ( Emotion) and maximizing productivity through the advancement of mobility ( Efficiency). Through initiatives like MSIA, Bridgestone continues to advance its mission of “Serving Society with Superior Quality” by driving positive change and building safer, more inclusive communities across India.