Smartphones Simplify Education for Visually Impaired Students in Rajasthan

Udaipur- Amidst the bustling corridors of education reform, a beacon of hope shines bright for visually impaired students in Chittorgarh.

In a ground breaking initiative, the Samagra Shiksha Udaipur, in collaboration with the Indian Artificial Limbs and Equipment Manufacturing Corporation, has launched a transformative Medical cum Functional Assessment Camp.

Prabodh Kumar Dashora, District Education Officer, Samagra Shiksha Chittorgarh stated that visually impaired boys and girls identified as eligible by the IALEMC are undergoing training on smartphones.

As per the Rajasthan School Education Council's blueprint, the innovative endeavor aims to equip visually impaired students with essential skills by providing comprehensive training on smartphone usage. Through this initiative, these students are set to embark on a journey towards enhanced educational access, social inclusion, and holistic empowerment.

By training visually impaired students to effectively use smartphones, the initiative aims to address various challenges they face in accessing education.

Smartphones equipped with accessibility features such as Talkback software enable visually impaired individuals to navigate digital content independently.

The training covers a range of skills, including using gestures to navigate the screen, accessing educational apps, and utilizing features like file management, calculator, and recorder.

Dr. Leela Chaturvedi, the Assistant Project Coordinator and Chittorgarh District Incharge Inclusive Education, announced that the inclusive education training, scheduled from March 14th to 18th, is underway. Fifteen visually impaired students from government schools in the district are participating in the training, aimed at simplifying and facilitating their education, enrollment, and retention in government schools.

The camp was inaugurated by Vimlesh Yadav, the program officer, and camp in-charge of Samagra Shiksha, Udaipur, who provided information about the program.

Hemendra Kumar Soni, a reference person and member of the training module writing team, introduced the talking software Talkback to the trainees, elaborating on its significance in the journey of this ICT program.

Trainers are providing instruction on various education apps like E-Pathshala, Easy Reader, Mission Gyan, and Optical Character Recognition App, among others.

Smartphone Integration Revolutionizes Education for Visually Impaired Students

Globally, around 785-795 million persons aged 15 years and older are living with disability based on 2010 population estimates.

In India, as per Planning Commission around 5% people live with disability. A report by the World Bank states that while estimates vary, there is growing evidence that persons with disability are around 40-80 million, which constitute between 4-8% of India’s population.

Social protection is increasingly recognised by government and development agencies as an important component of poverty reduction and development

" The initiative not only facilitates educational access but also fosters social inclusion and rehabilitation for visually impaired students. By equipping them with smartphone skills, the initiative empowers visually impaired individuals to participate more fully in academic and social contexts. Additionally, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to inclusive education and equal opportunities for all students, irrespective of their abilities" Lokesh Narayan Sharma, the program officer said.