EMPOWERING VISUALLY IMPAIRED THROUGH AUDIO BOOKS

Bhubaneswar(27/09/2023): Children with visual impairments face disproportionate challenges in learning and by the time they reach college, they are significantly under-represented in science, mathematics, and other disciplines.

In the schools for the visually challenged in Odisha, students continue their struggle to learn not only without sight but also without textbooks.

Difficulties for visually impaired students in Odisha - already struggling with multiple learning challenges, worsened with the Covid pandemic bringing their education to a grinding halt.

However, with the covid pandemic striking the country last year, schools were shut in a hurry and access to these books became restricted.

To add to the miseries, there was a change in the curriculum causing additional hurdles.

For almost a year and a half, visually challenged students of the state have been living under uncertainty even as their able-bodied counterparts are being able to access education through online classes and various virtual platforms.

The unavailability of appropriate digital products in the local language and the lack of devices to access them remain the greatest challenge for these students.

This situation requires urgent attention, foresight and compassion without which hundreds of children who faced multiple challenges to have come this far with education will be pushed to an uncertain future languishing in hopelessness.

The overally objective of audio books initiative is promote inclusive education and empower visually impaired students through audio books in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

VIEWS has been developing audiobooks from Class 6 to Post Graduation for the students as per the state curriculum.

Our team has been establishing audio libraries at schools, providing training to teachers, parents, and students on the use of audiobooks, uploading audiobooks in the national library SugamPustakalya and addressing the needs of the visually impaired students through a dedicated helpline.

VIEWS is a member of the DAISY Forum of India (DFI).Notably, the set of DAISYS (Digital Accessible Information System) books introduced by VIEWS were sent across to schools to be used by students during class hours and the feedbacks received were very encouraging.

The products received a lot of appreciation for their ease of use.

It is here that VIEWS intends to intervene and bridge the gap by applying its previous experience in developing audiobooks to address the challenges faced by these children with visual impairments who are facing disproportionate challenges in learning.

Odisha Association for the blind (state-level blind association) requested VIEWS to support Special Model School for the slight-less.

The school is being run for the last 18 years to provide education, skills and rehabilitation for 50 children with visual impairments to empower them to take better decisions not only for themselves but also for their families.

Testimony from Audio Volunteer Shyamali Mazumdar “I was trained by the VIEWS team on audio book recording.

It was helpful for me to record audio books.

By doing this, I felt very happy because I was part of this inspiring idea to make audio books for visually impaired students and help them in their education.”India's first and largest collection of accessible books.

VIEWS was the first organization joined as a member and uploaded books.

VIEWS uploaded 61 recoded daisy books on online library “Sugamya Pustakalaya”.

Now the visually impaired students can access the audio books online as per their convenience by submitting certificate of disability.

VIEWS established audio book libraries in 25 Special Schools in 23 districts in Odisha and 30 blind and special schools in Andhra Pradesh.

More than 4000 students received the benefit of audio books.

In this library, we provided academic audio books, short stories, word book, translation book and audio listening devices like Bluetooth speakers, pen drives and ear cards. The study of school textbooks has become easier and faster for the visually blind.

VIEWS created more than 250 audiobooks from the 6th class to post-graduation.

A total of 61 audiobooks have been uploaded on "Sugamya Pustakalaya", India's largest collection of audiobooks for the visually impaired.

Audiobooks can now be listened to by the visually impaired from across the country.

With the use of audiobook, study will never be the same for the visually blind.

Learning has become faster for them.

The knowledge of vusually impaired will increase manyfold.

Voices from the Special Schools MKCG School for the Blind & Deaf, MR & CP (Gajapati,Mohana) “Audiobook is a new concept for us.

We are used to teach visually impaired students through Braille books.

But the audiobooks are very helpful and easy to learn.

It is very interesting alos.

I also got to know about the helpdesk which is especially set up for the visually impaired students.

It will be very helpful for us." - A Youdhistir Patra, a teacher. "It is great initiative by VIEWS to establish an audio library at our school.

Through this student get access to audiobooks easily." -Akhil Kumar Sahu, Head Master "Now I can listen the academic subject through audiobooks easily.

The audiobook library contains all the books of our class.

It is very helpful.

Thank you for this.“ Residential Model Girls School for the Blind (Berhampur, Ganjam) “It is great initiative by VIEWS to establish audio book library at our school.

This has made study easier for the visually impaired students.” - Purna Chandra Padhi, a teacher “Thank you very much VIEWS for thinking of us.

Now we can listen our entire subject through the audiobooks.

It is easy to understand and remember.” School for the Blind, Cuttack "I want to thank you for helping our visual impaired students.

Thank you so much VIEWS for your support.

I am grateful for your support.

Our all students can easily study the subjects through these audiobooks.

With the listening tool, they can also listen radio and get news updates.“ Pratisthan School for Deaf and Blind, Benagaon,Gadasahi, Kanas,Puri "Thank you so much for your generous contribution in the form of audiobooks.

We greatly appreciate your support for our school.

Your donation helps us to reach even more children and families in need." - Karunakar Nayak, the principal "No words could possibly express how happy I am when you shared this information about studying easily through audiobooks.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.".