33-year-old Sudheer from Ernakulam district in Kerala is 70% visually impaired. Born sighted, he began to lose vision while studying in Class 8. After completing his tenth grade, the family’s poor financial condition forced him into menial jobs. He worked in a flour mill, tried his hand at tailoring and even carpentry, but degenerating eyesight didn’t support any of those choices.

He finally succeeded at masonry and after mastering the skill, he is self employed as a building contractor. More than all the practical hurdles, Sudheer’s loss of vision most affected his innate love for reading. He found support in his wife who would often read out books to him. But he yearned to read independently. He went in search of low vision aids to Aluva Government Hospital.

The eye doctor redirected Sudheer to Eyeway Helpdesk at the Little Flower Hospital in Kochi. The Eyeway counselor not only introduced him to low vision aids but also apprised him of several other assistive devices for people with vision impairment. The counselor also demonstrated the use of smartphone applications that make reading accessible with the TalkBack feature.

This prompted Sudheer to buy a smartphone and learn using it, in subsequent sessions with our counselor. For reading material, he was advised to contact Kerala Federation of the Blind which provides books in accessible formats.

Having received adequate information and training, Sudheer was ecstatic to get hold of one of his favourite Malayalam novels and renew his passion.