Blog Details
“Disability is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Impairment is a problem in body function or structure; An activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; While a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations…” is described by the World Health Organization.More than billions peopleare disabled in the world. Government of India and non-profitable organizations are both taking initiative for educating and providing library service for physically and visually disabled.
The Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education in its initiative, ‘Action Plan for Inclusive Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities’ has entitled its objective as “Recognizing Education for All children as a fundamental right, to ensurethe inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in all available mainstream educationalsettings, by providing them with the learning environment that is available, accessible, affordable and appropriate to help and develop their learning and abilities…..”
For education the Libraries act an important role in our society. The resources and services they offer create an opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives. The Libraries, as the providers of information, should be at the forefront of breaking the barriers obstructive access to information.The libraries should have equipment in place that facilitates both easy mobility and easier intellectual access for those who are challenged by visual challenged.
We TURNSTONE GLOBAL strongly believe to provide equal opportunities in education irrespective of student’s disability. In the Audio- Digital Library program, we provide audio and electronic text study materials and tactile diagrams for the disabled students.We convert books into Braille form to make them accessible for the disabled.We published the first ever Braille form of Tagore’s immortal work “Geetanjali”. We cater to Visually Challenged students in pursuit of higher education.In addition to text books, houses the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Rudyard Kipling, R. N. Tagore and numerous other authors; all published by our Braille Press.Our objective is that no student should suffer in receiving accessible and unconditional education on the basis of physical disability or financial conditions.
The visually challenged, especially those living in the developing countries like India have been marginalized for too long because of the lack of accessible study materials.Hence, we must stand up to our moral responsibility in ensuring an inclusive and equitable library facilities and information services to the visually impaired.
