Chennai: Among thousands of Bibliophiles who throng the annual Chennai book fair were a few enthusiastic visually challenged students this year, who were rushing towards a particular stall.
Their spirits go high, as they would have technological access to read the material online and to explore e-reading software. Organised by Karna Vidhya Foundation to promote e-learning amongst visually challenged, the stall were appreciated for facilitating friendly reading equipment for the fraternity.
Visually challenged can now be part of the technology, as an accessibility tool called Non Visual Desktop access would help them in reading electronic material.
The screen reading application, which works on windows and Linux, reads the content on the screen, guides the user in navigation and helps in typing the content.
“With the help of the application, visually challenged can access to most of the content online and be part of knowledge sharing platforms,” said M.K. Raguraman, secretary of Karna Vidhya Foundation, an organisation that helps in providing educational and employment opportunities to the visually challenged community.
Raguraman, a visually challenged person himself, is optimistic of more opportunities to his community as he said, “No more would a visually challenged person be confined to friendly professions like teaching and singing. It would now be easy to explore their passion.”
The application has induced a sense of happiness and the possibility to refrain sympathy from others. A. Anusuya, a 22-year-old from Kumbakonam, said, “I am always keen on acquiring knowledge. But, my mother is a vegetable seller and my father is dead. How can I fulfill my dream? The ability to access the application has opened a new world for me.” She is now working in a private company.
For 21-year-old M. Karthikeyan, the application means a better transformation towards independency. “We were using brail letters to study in those days. This application is a boon to us, as buying books is a costly affair. I feel independent and so normal,” said the Sivakasi-based resident.
