Date:22/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022203092100.htm

Back Call for facility to train disabled in software

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Thiruvananthapuram Feb. 21 The best people to develop software for the visually impaired are those who are themselves visually impaired, according to Dr Arun Mehta, Managing Director of Indata Com Pvt Ltd.

A technologist who works to enable people with disabilities, especially the visually impaired, to access information and communication technology (ICT), Dr Mehta was in the city for a workshop on using ICT for the visually challenged.

The workshop was organised by the Kerala State Information Technology Mission.

Dr Mehta said that India needs an institute to train visually impaired people to develop software products and services for them.

However, so far there has been no systematic effort to establish a facility to train visually impaired software developers.

DISTANCE-LEARNING

Such an institute could use distance-learning methods to train visually impaired software developers.

It can also study and promote ventures that use technology to improve the lives of the visually impaired, he added.

Dr Mehta, who is a supporter of the community radio movement in India, said that the country's community radio policy must be amended to de-licence low power radio transmitters.

Such transmitters can serve the needs of a village and can also cover a larger area using a Wi-Fi mesh, he said.