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harish Kotian
Quoting:
Times of India:
Technology now aids them in 'reading without seeing'
Feb 11, 2013, 03.54AM IST TNN [ Payal Gwalani ]
NAGPUR: Sight and vision are not synonymous for them. They seek the latter
despite being denied of the former. On Sunday, members of city chapter of Blind
Graduates Forum of India (BGFI) got an insight into how to go about this vision.
The occasion was a workshop on 'reading without seeing' that introduced the
attendees to a few technologies that help them access books, news, electronic
communication and much more. It was inaugurated by paediatrician Dr Sunil Bajaj.
Trainers from a Mumbai-based Xavier's Resource Centre for Visually Challenged
had specially come to demonstrate some of their technologies that could help
the visually challenged.
On the occasion, Amravati based international swimmer Kanchanmala Pande, who
too is totally blind, was the chief guest. She and the other members of the
forum spoke about the low social expectations and acceptability of disabled
people.
Among the technologies showcased were some special applications on computers
such as screen readers that speak out the text and magnification software which
increase the font. They are useful for people with low vision and OCR readers
that can scan the text and read it out. "Today, we have a range of appliances
from thermometers to microwave ovens that have the 'talking' feature.
Government calls their efforts to include such technologies in public utilities
as 'reasonable accommodation'. Rather than being accommodated, we prefer to say
that we are enabling ourselves," said Rajesh Assudani, national vice president
of BGFI.
Kanchanmala, who has won many international awards, uses a tapping device that
helps her avoid bumping into people and things while under water.
"It was difficult 10 years ago when I started swimming but now things have
become easier. The credit goes to my parents as they always encouraged me," she
said adding that children suffering from any disability must be supported by
their parents so that they become confident and independent.
A teacher at an agricultural college at Warora, Ghanshyamdas Assudani, said the
apparent attitudinal changes in the society are only at the material level but
not mental. "But it's all right," he said, adding, "Big social changes take
time to happen."
Collegian Rahul Bajaj, who was a topper in both SSC and HSC examinations,
however, sees this difference everyday among his friends and classmates.
"Whether it is attending classes or bunking them and hanging out, my friends
ensure that I am part of the group. I don't find most people I meet rude or
gruff, but I don't like it when they are sympathetic or overprotective," he
said. Rahul feels this outlook stems from the society's low expectation from
people with disabilities. "Why else would people say they did this despite the
disability whenever we accomplish something? Sometimes, I am asked why I want
to hang out with my friends when it would be safer at home," he said.
Assudani sums up the feeling, "People think that disability means that we are
not supposed to find pleasure in activities that 'normal' people do. We are
expected to stick to the essentials and leave out the other things."
Some popular software for visually challenged
JAWS (job Access with speech): A computer screen reader that runs on Windows
NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access): An open source software for Windows
Mobile speak: A software that converts a cell phone to a talking phone to help
a person make and receive calls, read and write messages and access many other
functionalities of the phone
Talks: Software for mobiles, including those with touch screens
With thanks and regards
(Rajesh Asudani)
Assistant General Manager
Reserve Bank of India
Nagpur
Cell: 9420397185
o: +91 712 2806846
R: 2591349
(In youth you want things, and then in middle-age you want to want them.)
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