A voluntary group for providing reading and scribe services gathered for its inaugural meeting at the District Central Library on Sunday vowing to reach out to visually challenged students in the city.

Over 50 members of the public from various walks of life have come forward to be part of the ‘Jagat Jothi Reading Circle’ that will utilise sighted volunteers to create a database of audio recordings of study material and help the visually challenged students with written course assignments.

“So far, the books available to us in the District Central Library’s Braille section are more suitable for leisure reading. Through the reading circle, we would like to get a bank of ‘talking text-books’ saved in the library’s computers and make it more accessible to the visually handicapped students of the city,” said Mr. Abdul Jaffar, one of the prime movers of the initiative, along with long-time scribe and reading service provider for the visually challenged, Ms. Prabha Venkatraman.

Mr. Jaffar, who is working as a senior History teacher at a government school in Kattur and a member of the National Federation of the Blind, outlined the objectives of the group, which include a daily evening (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) live reading service for school and college students, a weekend full shift (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) service and scribe assistance for internal and external examinations.

“Education is the only way forward for the visually challenged, and volunteers can help us to achieve these targets, as nearly every aspect of formal studies is based on visual learning,” said Mr. Jaffar.

He urged the visually challenged to make judicious use of the volunteers’ efforts, and not “waste their time” by falling behind in their studies.
 

Mr. Selvaraj, librarian, District Central Library, said that the premises would be available free of charge for tuitions to visually challenged students attempting competitive examinations. The library would be organising the celebration of International Day of People with Disability (December 3) this year, he added.

Ms. Prabha, who has been in the field for over 20 years, asked the visually challenged students and volunteers to work together either in the group, or through individual contact.

Ms.Prabha Venkatraman may be contacted on 9442174322.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/reaching-out-to-the-v...