What’s in My Bag? Accessible Learning Tools for Students with Visual Impairments

What does a student with visual impairment carry in their school bag? In this video, our young friend excitedly unpacks the accessible learning tools that help him explore, understand and engage with his everyday lessons.

These are no ordinary school supplies. Each tool supports a different aspect of learning, helping students access concepts through Braille, touch, tactile exploration and hands-on activities.

From a slate and stylus, Taylor Frame and abacus to a mathematics pad for geometry, a white-print Braille textbook, an RLF tactile diagram book, an accessible geometry box and a file for organising classwork and homework, each resource plays a role in making learning more accessible.

Assistive Technology for Independent Learning

Alongside these learning resources, students use assistive technologies such as Hexis, a refreshable Braille reader, and IRIS, a tactile comprehension device that helps them explore accessible diagrams. Together, these tools offer additional ways to access written content and understand visual concepts.

Making Accessible Learning Content Available

The tools are ready, but what about the learning content itself?

Vision Empower is working to ensure that students can access learning content in formats that meet their individual needs. An important part of this effort is the AI Innovation and Inclusion Initiative (A4I) SEEDS 2.0 platform, developed in collaboration with the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore, with support from Microsoft CSR.

Through this initiative, Vision Empower is developing AI-powered approaches to creating learning content in multiple accessible formats and delivering it through channels such as Hexis, IRIS and interactive voice response (IVR).

From Learning Tools to Learning Possibilities

Our goal is to help students access, explore, enjoy and understand their lessons in ways that work for them, while giving teachers the support they need to make accessible learning possible.

Inauguration of the Digital Accessible Resource Centre D-ARC

We are thrilled to share a milestone in accessible learning!

Vision Empower, in collaboration with Cognizant Foundation India, has established the Digital Accessible Resource Centre (D-ARC) at Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys’ Academy (RKM BBA), Narendrapur, Kolkata.

Designed with a focus on students with visual impairment and other disabilities, D-ARC brings accessible digital content, assistive technologies, STEM, coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and hands-on learning together in one accessible learning space.

What is the Digital Accessible Resource Centre?

The Digital Accessible Resource Centre (D-ARC) is an accessible learning space designed to help students with visual impairment and other disabilities explore digital technologies, STEM and emerging areas of learning through accessible and hands-on experiences.

The centre brings together assistive technology, accessible digital resources, tactile and experiential learning, coding, robotics and artificial intelligence, creating opportunities for students to explore, create, collaborate and build confidence.

Four Zones, One Connected Learning Experience

D-ARC brings together four interconnected spaces, each designed to support a different aspect of accessible learning: Sparsh Science Studio, Sristi Tech Lab, Shruti Digital Literacy and Reading Corner, Shared Convening Space

D-ARC represents a transformation of a conventional space into a vibrant, accessible and future-ready learning environment. The space brings technology, accessible resources and hands-on experiences together to create new possibilities for students with disabilities.

Watch the video to see how the space was transformed and explore the learning opportunities created through D-ARC.

(Watch the D-ARC video on YouTube)

Partnerships

The development of D-ARC was made possible through collaboration across organisations with expertise in education, technology, accessibility and design.

Vision Empower acknowledges the invaluable support of its CSR partner, Cognizant Foundation India, as well as the leadership and support of Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys’ Academy and the Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal.

The initiative also brought together knowledge, technology and design partners including Imagine Studio, Vembi Technologies, uDot, Curiouscity and STEMpedia.

The inauguration was attended by Mr. Sudip Mukherjee, Additional Secretary, Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal; Mr. Tapu Basu, DMEEO, South 24 Parganas, Government of West Bengal; Mr. Tanvir Hussain from Cognizant; Mr. Edwin Moses from Cognizant Foundation India; Swami Vasavananda and Swami Mahananda from RKM BBA, along with educators, students and other guests.

D-ARC is designed not only as a learning space for students, but also as a platform for educators, institutions and partners to explore new approaches to accessible and inclusive education.

We invite students and educators from other institutions to visit D-ARC, explore its facilities and discover the possibilities that accessible technology and hands-on learning can create.

Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy is as essential for teachers and students with blindness across the globe, as it is for the non-visually impaired. Unfortunately, there has been less focus on ensuring Digital Literacy among persons with visual impairment, though it has been found to improve their quality of life significantly. Vision Empower has embarked on a project along with Microsoft India to create a Digital Literacy curriculum for students and teachers with visual impairment. The feedback from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. The tutorials are created by Vidhya Y, founder of Vision Empower, based on the extensive research she has performed to bring the much needed knowledge to the fingertips of anyone with blindness who needs them.