Young child holding a sign that reads \"Right to education\"

Dreams
Primary school bilnd child unable to read a book.

Challenge

A 5th grade blind student reading a book by listening using Text To Speech software on an Android Nexus 7 tablet.

Reading Without Seeing
Visually challenged Kartik Sawhne (now a sophomore at Stanford Uiversity) receiving 2009 National Child Award for exceptional achievements in Delhi.

Dreams Come True

Android App lets vissually Impaired in India Listen to Texts in native languages (Full article)
Link to Android App in the Google Store.

Bridging the Digital Divide for Blind and Low Vision Indic Language Speakers

  • Same quality of education for the visually impaired as for people with sight
  • Open doors to all professional employment and business opportunities
  • Empower people with visual impairment to become productive members of society

Challenges

  • Less than 10% of blind children in India get any formal education.
  • 90% of people with visual impairment (VI) live below the poverty line.
  • Education is key to economic empowerment.
  • People with visual impairment must be able to access (read) digital information without printing it in braille which requires access to a Braille Embosser.

Solution

  • Text to Speech software allows visually challenged people to read digital media (email, documents, websites, e-books, etc.) just as people with sight do without printing it. (TEDx talk)
  • Open source Text to Speech software for Indian Languages that runs on low cost Smart Phones and Tablets allows access to digital content.