Education and Employment

More job avenues for blind: PM promises federation

After series of fruitful discussions with the members of the National Federation of the Blind (N.F.B.), the Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh has assured to bring about reforms, to improve the condition of visually impaired persons in the country.

The major breakthrough being the participation of the Government to bring about change. The Prime Minister has agreed to three main demands of N.F.B. that will bring about an improvement in job opportunities for visually impaired persons.

Universities likely to allow blind students to give examinations on computers

Universities are likely to allow visually impaired students the option of writing answer papers for examinations on computers. This would do away with the age-old system of students using a ‘scribe’ during examination.

In a letter to all universities, including deemed universities, the University Grants Commission (U.G.C.) has taken note of a request in this regard from the office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (C.C.P.D.), and requested universities to take ‘necessary action in the matter’ and bring it to the notice of colleges affiliated to it.

Satellite technology helps blind students <br>in Gujarat prepare for board examinations

Back in October 2005, eyeNews reported on Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) EDUSAT project in Gujarat that gave visually impaired people a chance to access the latest information. The good news is that this system has got into wider usage. The modern technology involving satellite and digital equipment enabled over 2,000 students at 10 blind schools across Gujarat to revise subjects such as mathematics, science, hindi and social studies before the board examinations.

Chicago blind students forced to take driving lessons to graduate

Mayra Ramirez is blind. She knows she's never going to drive. She can think of a lot of things she'd rather be studying than rules of the road, but she didn't have a choice. Blind students in Chicago, U.S.A. wonder why city schools make them take driving course.

Chicago public schools requires all sophomores (pre-college) to take the class and pass a written road-rules exam--a graduation requirement that affects about 30 blind and visually impaired students in specialised programmes.

New talk and touch system reads maps and diagrams

Almost every subject has diagrams, charts and graphics, or artwork and these graphics and diagrams are largely inaccessible to a visually impaired learner and totally inaccessible to a blind student.

That may not be the case any more. Herefordshire's Royal National College for the Blind, U.K. (RNC) has created a new talk and touch system to help students use maps, charts and diagrams.

International Computer Driving License curricula <br>to be available soon in United Arab Emirates

International Computer Driving License (I.C.D.L.) curricula will be available in an accessible format to visually impaired persons in United Arab Emirates by the end of year 2006.

The world's first Arabic Braille I.C.D.L. courseware has been developed by I.T. Education Project (I.T.E.P.) and ‘Tamkeen’- the training centre for visually impaired people.

A vision for blind girls

"When I was small and studied in a blind school I came across a number of girls who couldn't pursue their dreams due to poverty. I decided that very time that I will do something for such blind girls.”

The result is ‘Pragna Chakshu Mahila Sevakunj’. An organisation run by Muktaben Dagli and her husband Pankajbhai, both being visually impaired.

‘Pragna Chakshu Mahila Sevakunj’ started ten years ago in a tiny room as a project to help visually impaired girls become self-sufficient. Today, it takes care of 125 girls in nine tenements in Surendranagar, Saurashtra.

Exploring Egyptian civilization with Braille

Blind visitors are now able to feel the magic of history, thanks to a special new gallery which will let them discover by touch the historic treasures.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mr Zahi Hawass said that a group of blind and sighted people participated in the project. Braille facilitates blind visitors to explore the antique pieces. He emphasised that the project received local and international praise.

DU to cut MA application fee for blind students

At present, a student in the general category pays Rs. 300 (as a draft) as application fee, while SC/STs pay Rs 100. The proposal seeks to bring the application fee for the blind on par with SC/STs.

However, the waiver can be availed only for those courses for which applications are still open.

‘‘The proposal is as good as passed. We are just waiting for a formal notification,’’ Vij says.

Canada fails disabled workforce

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (C.N.I.B.) has released a study, which indicates that many blind, visually impaired educated people live in poverty because they can not find work. Many of the barriers they faced 30 years ago still exist.