Sachin Porwal suffered sight loss when he was studying in Class 6 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was forced to leave his school as the teachers didn’t know how to accommodate a blind student. Sachin’s parents tried hard to secure admission elsewhere but most schools declined given the boy’s impairment.

He studied in a special school for the blind up till Class 10, but aspired for quality education in an inclusive setup. The family once again approached a mainstream school citing Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 which mandates schools to reserve seats and bars them from discriminating on grounds of disability.

The school administration was apprehensive as to how a blind student could move independently between classes or eat on his own, let alone cope with his sighted peers.

Eyeway contacted a local disability rights group to intervene and advocate on behalf of Sachin. An official complaint was filed, following which the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities directed the school to grant admission.

Elated with this victory, the 17-year-old decided to address the school’s concerns. He demonstrated the use of a laptop equipped with screen reading software and a DAISY player which enabled him to read and write on his own. For his benefit, he requested the teachers to read out whatever they wrote on the board.

Due to the pandemic all education is being imparted digitally. And Sachin’s equal participation in the online classes has brought about a subtle shift in the authorities’ mindset. In fact, his school principal often attends the sessions to ensure that teachers are adapting and catering to his needs.