Workshop unveils new learning technologies for visually impaired

GANGTOK, 27 May [IPR]: Saksham Trust, a non-profit organization, closely associated with National Association for the Blind (NAB), New Delhi, in association with NAB-Sikkim branch organized a workshop on development of new technologies for the visually challenged at the conference hall of the Forest Secretariat, Deorali on 27 May.  The objective of the workshop was to make the end users, educational institutions and government policy maker’s aware of the various options for reading and writing for persons with blindness or low vision.

Special Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department, SK Silal who was present as chief guest for the workshop said that such sensitization programmes create awareness amongst the bureaucrat, civil society, NGOs. Besides, it will immensely benefit the visually challenged and demonstration about the various technologies would help them acquire skills and make them employable.
Deepika Sood, Arunish Sharma and Sradha Srivastav were the resource persons from the Saksham Trust. They made a presentation on how the various technologies have revolutionized the world of the visually challenged. Highlighting about the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY), a technology which covers different person’s visibility, can navigate chapter by chapter and pages by pages and is not voluminous and is portable in size, they informed.
The programme also witnessed the felicitation of President, Sikkim Viklang Sahayata Samiti, and also a Florence Nightingale Awardee Druapadi Ghimirey, by the chief guest and a visual presentation on activities of NAB Sikkim by Lhawang Tshering Lepcha.
Earlier, President NAB Sikkim, Jaishree Pradhan, in her welcome address mentioned that the workshop was organized mainly to get to know the development of new technologies for the visually challenged in the present world. Elaborating on NAB Sikkim, she stated that NAB believes in imparting education where the Government and Private Institutions are providing support in running the schools. She also felt the need of such sensitization programmes at the district level as well.
 The vote of thanks was proposed by Vice President NAB, Rajesh Verma.