Asha for Education

The main goal is to provide textbooks (math, science, languages, etc) for blind students. The Braille printer will enable National Association for the blind (NAB)- Junagadh to publish educational material for a large blind number of students in a quick and efficient way at the school. Currently, the books have to be translated into Braille by the Gujarat state government, which also decides the curriculum. Because of slow functioning of the government, students do not receive their materials until much later into the academic term (8-9 months delay). A Braille printer located at the school will drastically reduce this time, allowing students to have access to books for a longer time and enabling them achieve their best.

Presently, there is a law in Gujarat state that requires music teacher positons to be filled by the blind. As a result, most students who will study using these Braille books will go on to study music education and later take the positions of music teachers in state run programs

The National Association for the Blind-Junagadh will also use this printer to publish other reading material in Braille to expand their Braille library.

The National Association for the Blind-Junagadh has been serving the blind community since 1980’s in one of the most underprivileged areas of Gujarat. Many of the students that benefit from NAB Junagadh services come from lower economic status and “backward castes.” This is illustrated by the success of NAB Integrated Education Program For Disabled Students. The focus of this program is to mainstream blind students into non-blind schools by providing the necessary support and tools. They also maintain a school for the blind which currently houses 43 students in their hostel. At no cost to the residents, NAB-Junagadh provides food, training and other necessities to the students. Finally, some other activities of the NAB organization include housing for the elderly blind and free access to the Braille library.