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Innovations such as screen readers as well as the increased popularity of the Internet have opened crucial windows of opportunity for the blind. One of the career options that has become a reality in the wake of this technological revolution is translation.
Imagine a situation where the lights go off while you are having dinner. There is no candle, torch or emergency lamp available. And you are compelled to carry on with dinner in the dark. I guess you would rely on your hands to feel what is on your plate, you would use your sense of smell and taste to figure out what you are eating and, perhaps, your memory to recall what was where on your plate. This would be an interesting test of your non-visual senses.
Pertis, the Islamic Association of the Visually Impaired, is a non-profit organisation run by the visually impaired in Malaysia. It is the sole publisher of the Braille Quran and the space where the printing is performed is no bigger than an office pantry.
Says Zakaria Yahya, Chairman of the publishing bureau, "There is actually a big demand, but we are unable to meet the orders fast enough due to staff shortage and a lack of capital to purchase additional printers."
'Beyond Sight', a unique exhibition of photographs taken by the visually impaired, was held recently at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. It was a first-of-its-kind programme, where nine visually challenged persons learnt the art of photography, sharpened their skills for a year and captured sounds, voices, smells and touches through the camera. Partho Bhowmick, the man behind the show, is an IT professional and a skilled photographer who moved from Kolkata to Mumbai in 1999.
Visually impaired children at the Institute of Blind in Chandigarh had their first experience with technology when global IT major Dell Computers opened its computer centre for them. Set up with funds from Dell Foundation, the centre is fitted with 12 Dell desktops and two Dell latitude laptops. The hardware is enabled to support software that will aid the education of visually impaired children. Dell had earlier set up similar computer centres in Hyderabad and Bangalore.
When openers from the National Association for the Blind (NAB) team from Silvassa stepped on the field in the finals no one knew it was a brand new champion in the making. The Silvassa team, chasing the 101-run target put up by NAB Idar, won the title with eight wickets in hand, winding up the game in just 10 overs. Silvassa opener Ganesh Bhusara made a sparkling 47 off 33 with six boundaries; Ramesh Jamadar contributed 27 with four fours, which helped them clinch the title.
More than 100 visually impaired navigators partnered with their rally drivers at the 70-kilometre Blind Man's Car Rally held recently in Mumbai. The navigators guided the participants through a series of checkpoints, highlighting their skills and ability. The Mumbai chapter of Round Table India organised
the event.
For details, visit www.archive.gulfnews.com
Aimed at identifying and solving the basic issues being faced by visually challenged people while using computers, a model Information Communication Technology centre for the visually challenged is being set up in Thiruvanthapuram.
As part of this venture, the Kerala State IT Mission recently organised a national workshop in association with the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment.
Karen Gourgey, Director, Baruch Computer Centre for Visually Impaired People and Steve Landau of Touch Graphics, Inc, were recently awarded Baruch’s first-ever patent for a device that helps students learn visual concepts. Called the Talking Tactile Tablet (TTT), it incorporates Braille, raised graphics and voice technology to help students who are visually impaired.
For details, visit www.theticker.org
The Bharatiya Welfare Association for the Blind opened its karate training facility for visually impaired boys in Gulbarga recently. Amrita Somnath, national referee for karate and an international karate player from Kerala, inaugurated it. Association President Dattu Agarwal said it was the first time that a unique programme for training the visually impaired in karate had been taken up in North Karnataka
The International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIIT-B) and two Chennai-based companies, Lattice Bridge Info and Spatial Data (Spinfo), are together developing cell phone-based technology designed to help the visually impaired and tourists find their way in a particular location.
"The investment in this whole set-up will have to be met by the subscribers," said Professor S. Rajagopalan of IIIT-B.
In each issue of beyond the I, this column presents a first-hand account of a visually impaired person's experiences in the 'real' world. Here, Diwakar Sharma writes about his emotional, spiritual and physical growth during his time as a 'Little Champ' in a popular music show on television, where his disability did not
in any way dampen his enthusiasm.
I went to Mumbai to try my luck at Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs. From the top 46 kids I qualified for the next round, competing with the remaining 22 children.
An Ottawa-based communications company is doing its part to help more children participate in a popular Christmas tradition. T-Base Communications is assisting Canada Post's annual Santa letter-writing programme by providing response letters in Braille to blind and partially-sighted children from around the world. The Canada Post programme has been running for 24 years. It receives more than one million letters to Santa each year and responds in more than 20 languages.
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