Expanding Opportunities for the Blind and Visually Impaired Across India

Summary

In 2024, Benetech committed to expand its Saksharta program over three years to address the significant challenges faced by India’s blind and visually impaired (VI) population. Through the provision of comprehensive support, including digital skills training, access to assistive technologies, and capacity building for educators and administrators, Saksharta will directly reach more than 5,000 students and 500 educators across approximately 65 schools and colleges that support the blind and VI. Leveraging its digital transformation and inclusive education expertise, the Saksharta program will empower directly impacted populations to independently pursue education and employment opportunities.

Approach

Benetech commits to scale its Saksharta program to address the significant challenges faced by India’s blind and VI population. Building on the successes of their existing initiatives like Bookshare and ‘Bookshare: Pathways to Independence,’ Saksharta aims to reach diverse groups, including students in schools for the blind, young individuals aged 15-35, government personnel, and educators. Saksharta will be implemented over 36 months and reach at least 5,000 students, 500-800 educators, and between 50-80 schools and colleges that support the blind and VI. This project is a component of Benetech’s more extensive outreach and collaboration efforts in India.

Through strategic partnerships, Saksharta will provide comprehensive support, including digital skills training, access to assistive technologies, and capacity building for educators and administrators. Benetech anticipates challenges such as low adoption rates of assistive technologies and the need for sensitization efforts. However, their approach of raising awareness, providing career experience, skilling towards employability, and enhancing digital literacy will help overcome these challenges.

Leveraging its digital transformation and inclusive education expertise, the Saksharta program will continue to expand and empower blind and VI individuals to independently pursue education and employment opportunities. Benetech’s goal is to break down barriers, improve academic outcomes, and foster societal inclusion for people who are blind and the VI community in India.

Action Plan

Benetech’s program addresses reading challenges faced by the blind and VI through targeted strategies and a detailed implementation plan. Benetech utilizes the “Awareness and Sensitization” process which educates students, educators, administrators, and policymakers about the potential of blind and VI individuals when supported by Assistive Technologies (AT) , promoting AT adoption, policy changes, and societal acceptance improving access to transformative educational approaches. The “Career Experience” strategy aims to enhance employment and income opportunities for those served.

From July 2024 to June 2025, Benetech will support 30 schools and colleges with the infrastructure to propel digital literacy transformation, offering a mix of in-person and virtual training for teachers, students, and administrators. Ten schools will be added in early 2025, preparing for Year two. The program will document baseline behaviors and periodically assess the use of technology to demonstrate growth. Updated training sets, incorporating feedback and new technology, will be deployed in Q3 and Q4 of 2024, while 15,000 pages per month of relevant content will be converted into accessible formats. Outreach to partner organizations and schools will finalize resources and publicize training options.

In Year Two (July 2025-June 2026) , Benetech will support Year One programs with refresher training and guidance, adding 15 more schools in early 2026. The program will document and assess technology usage, emphasizing measurable growth. Education and career support will include targeted training and follow-up surveys and continue converting 15,000 pages per month into accessible formats. Year Three (July 2026-June 2027) will support both year program schools, facilitate knowledge sharing, and conclude the evaluation with a detailed analysis. In-demand fields training, and continued content conversion will support these areas. This comprehensive approach aims to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion, improving academic outcomes and quality of life for future generations.

Background

India is home to the world’s largest blind and visually impaired (VI) population. As of 2020, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) estimated a population of 270 million Indians live with VI, and at least 9.2 million are blind. Poverty, often both a cause and consequence of VI, reinforces systemic barriers caused by blindness and can affect an individual’s health status and employment prospects, reducing economic opportunities.

Blind and VI individuals in India face significant stigma fueled by negative social attitudes, leading to discrimination and exclusion. Their difficulties in accessing quality education amplify their vulnerabilities, posing considerable challenges in obtaining gainful employment. Employers frequently perceive this population as unproductive when job opportunities arise, resulting in unequal treatment and placement in lower-tier roles, perpetuating stereotypes.

Most schools and universities catering to the blind and VI rely on traditional methods like Braille and scribes, which, while essential, present limitations. Braille materials may not be readily available, especially for advanced subjects, and reading and writing speed can be slower, hindering learning efficiency. Moreover, Braille requires fine motor skills, posing challenges for some students with disabilities.

Benetech promotes a blended method that combines assistive technologies with inclusive teaching, fostering self-reliant learning. This strategy expands access to various digital resources, such as e-books, online materials, and digital documents.

While the Saksharta program will support blind and VI individuals within institutions serving this population, it aims to reach the most vulnerable by targeting regions with a high prevalence of poverty.

Progress Update

Partnership Opportunities

To scale its commitment, Benetech seeks resources to address key risks identified through previous work and independent evaluations. The most critical need is for substantial funding and sufficient student devices. Individual access to phones, computers, and other assistive devices is essential for effective learning and teaching. Partnerships like Lavelle Fund for the Blind, providing $650K, and Mjunction and Tata Steel, providing $100K in devices, are vital with more collaborations needed to meet the growing demand. Additionally, support for change management to help schools, teachers, and communities adapt to digital transformation is required. Building trust and adjusting long-standing procedures takes time and effort. Financial support will enable Benetech to manage potential device procurement and distribution disruptions, ensure adequate staff capacity, and mitigate external risks such as political or social changes and unforeseen events. Addressing these needs will enable Benetech to expand its impact and improve educational outcomes for the blind and VI., Benetech’s India team combines comprehensive technical and programmatic implementation expertise in education and employment for blind and VI people in India. Benetech will lead overall grant and project management, direct coordination, and liaising with stakeholders in the education sector, including peer agencies, partners, authorities at local and national levels, and the Ministry of Education.