From the States

Using the power of Information Technology

The Kerala State IT Mission is working on a project to set up information technology centers for the visually impaired. As the first step in this process, the IT Mission is planning to establish a model IT centre for the visually impaired in Thiruvananthapuram. The centre will allow visually impaired people to work with computers and access the Internet e-mail, e-books, dictionaries and other resources.

Speech Software: The center will be set up in association with the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Empowerment. The initiative is a part of the State Government’s commitment to take the benefits of information and communication technologies (ICT) to all sections of society.

Computers in the model IT centre will use Emac-speaks, a free, speech-based software programme- developed by Mr T.V. Raman, a visually impaired scientist at Google Research in the US that allows visually impaired people to interact with the computer.

According to IT Mission officials, an audio desktop is the main interface between the user and the computer. It features a screen reader that reads out whatever is typed by a user or is printed on the screen. The audio desktop can be used to create text files, browse the net, read e-mail, play music and so on.

Research Facility: Besides being free, this software works well even on computers that are not very powerful. This means that it will be possible to recycle old computer hardware by using it in the model center, thereby pushing the project’s costs down.

Once the concept of an IT center for the visually impaired is tested in Thiruvananthapuram, it can be rolled-out across the State.

The model IT center will also support training programme for the visually impaired to allow them to use the Emac-speak software.

The IT Mission also has plans to use the model center as a research facility for programmes to take the benefits of ICT to physically challenged people.

Source: IT centers planned for visually impaired. Hindu Business Line, Daily, New Delhi, 17 February 2007.

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Kudos to CBSE

From making seating arrangements on the ground floor to setting up six dedicated centers for blind students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made special provisions this year to help physically challenged students during their board examinations.

“This year, a total of 2,132 physically challenged students are appearing for Class 10 and 12 examinations. After discussing the problems they face, we have made a number of arrangements for them,” said CBSE chairperson Mr Ashok Ganguly.

“For the first time, six examination centers have been set up exclusively for the blind candidates. Besides, we have asked all schools to allow physically challenged students to sit on the ground floor,” he said.

Of the 2,132 physically challenged students, 1,307 are appearing for Class 10 board examinations and 826 students for Class 12 examinations. So far, blind students get alternative questions in lieu of questions that require visual inputs in English Communicative and Social Science in Class 10. In the Class 12 examinations, they can avail this benefit for history, geography and economics.

“Like previous years, this year too they will get one hour more to complete their examinations. Separate question papers in enlarged print for Mathematics and Science and Technology in Class 10 are also provided to blind students,” Mr Ganguly said.

In 2007, a total of 705.152 candidates from 7,658 school will appear for the Class 10 examinations both in India and abroad; an increase of 8.11 per cent over last year. Similarly, 502,688 students from 4,789 schools would take the Class 12 examinations both in India and abroad. This is an increase of 9.59 per cent from 2006.

Source: Special provisions by CBSE for handicapped kids. The Tribune, Daily, New Delhi, 17 February 2007.

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