IAS officer Smita Sabharwal's recent comments regarding disability quotas in the UPSC Civil Services examination raise important questions about inclusion and opportunity. While her concerns about physical demands are valid, they overlook the vast potential of disabled candidates and the critical role quotas play in creating a truly representative and equitable civil service.
Two essential voices are often muted in the symphony of languages that fill our classrooms: sign language and braille. While curriculums brim with French conjugations and Spanish verb tenses, we overlook the languages that are key to unlocking entire communities – the deaf and the visually impaired. But why should schools prioritize these seemingly specialized communication methods? The answer lies not just in inclusivity for a specific group, but in fostering a society where communication transcends words, creating a richer and more empathetic world for all.
A groundbreaking tool designed to enhance the accessibility of chart images for blind and visually impaired individuals has been developed by experts from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Allahabad, in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.
We must distinguish between ‘disability humor’ which helps in understanding the disabled and ‘disablement humor’ which denigrates it.
A hospital corridor, flickering lights painting the walls with an uneven glow. Waiting, observing – a simple act that becomes a window into lives we rarely glimpse. This is where the story begins, a chance encounters that sheds light on the world of blindness and the silent strength of those who navigate it.
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In a world where architecture often focuses on visual appeal, Emily Annakin offers a fresh perspective on creating spaces that everyone can enjoy. At 23, Emily has lost most of her sight due to Stargardt disease, which affects her central vision. Yet, instead of holding her back, this challenge has motivated her to make urban areas more accessible for all.
We all know that feeling of wanting to peek into your partner's phone, but this TikTok user took it to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!
Anastasia Pagonis’ story is one of resilience, determination, and a refusal to let limitations define her. At 19 years of age, she’s a Paralympic gold medalist swimmer, a social media influencer with millions of followers, and a makeup enthusiast — all while navigating life with blindness.
In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship and international camaraderie, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, met and cheered India’s Blind Cricket Team during his official visit to Bengaluru. The occasion was the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup, where the blind cricket team from India is gearing up to promote the sport in the United States.
Lucknow girl, Sarah Moin, has defied the odds to achieve academic excellence, scoring a remarkable 95% in her ICSE class X exams. What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is that Sarah is blind, deaf, and speech-impaired. Her story is a testament to the power of unwavering determination, supportive family, dedicated educators, and assistive technology.
Rosamma, a visually impaired lottery seller in Kottayam, Kerala, has become an unlikely hero after catching thieves who repeatedly stole her tickets. But her story goes beyond just outsmarting criminals — it’s a tale of resilience, community spirit, and a surprising act of forgiveness.
The roar of the crowd, the electrifying crack of the bat against the ball, and the strategic tension in the air are the hallmarks of a thrilling cricket match. But for millions of visually impaired fans, these experiences have often remained inaccessible. However, Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL 2024, has taken a groundbreaking step towards inclusivity by introducing a dedicated commentary feed for visually impaired viewers.
In the digital age, the Internet has become an essential tool for communication, education, and commerce. However, for many blind and visually impaired internet users, navigating the online world has traditionally been a challenge. Many rely on AI-powered screen readers and other assistive technologies to access the web. Unfortunately, many of these AI tools are riddled with errors, creating frustration and confusion for the very people they were supposed to help.
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Lieutenant Colonel Dwarakesh isn't your typical army officer. In 2016, a cruel twist of fate robbed him of his sight. Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, Lt Col Dwarakesh emerged as a symbol of resilience, redefining what it means to be a soldier and an athlete.
Vikrant Massey, who recently won the hearts of the audiences with his stellar performance in the Vidhu Vinod Chopra film “12th Fail”, is now preparing for “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan”. According to a report by the Peeping Moon, the story of “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan” will be based on the popular short story titled “The Eyes Have It” by Ruskin Bond. As per the speculations, Vikrant Massey will be reportedly playing the role of a blind musician. While the film is scheduled to go on floors by August 2024, here is a little review of the short story as penned by Ruskin Bond.
It’s a big for all the football fans. The Meghalaya Blind Football Team secured their dominant victory at the recently concluded North East Zonal Blind Football Tournament held in Aizawl, Mizoram. The North East Zonal Blind Football Tournament was organized by the Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF).
Darpan Inani is a 25-year-old blind chess champion from Vadodara. Darpan participated in the Para Asian Games in China in 2023 and won two gold medals in Rapid Chess. While he was entitled to a reward of Rs. 3 crore reward, he only received Rs. 40 lakhs. It was then that Darpan was left with no other choice but to take the help of the Gujarat High Court seeking directions to the State Government and the Sports Authority Of Gujarat to release the rest of the cash reward payable under the 2022 sports policy for players winning international and national tournaments.
Eclipse can be defined as the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another. This is indeed an awe-inspiring experience but this experience remains inaccessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Having said so, there is an innovation called “LightSound”. This innovation allows blind people to experience the phenomenon of eclipse through the power of sound.
