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Mathru Project Proposal 2009-10. Pravin Shankar. Outline. History New School Building Achievements in 2008 Future Plans Budget Proposal. Mathru School for the Blind: Timeline. 2000 School started with first grade Rented premises and “kutcha” sheds.
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MathruProject Proposal 2009-10 Pravin Shankar
Outline • History • New School Building • Achievements in 2008 • Future Plans • Budget Proposal
Mathru School for the Blind: Timeline • 2000 • School started with first grade • Rented premises and “kutcha” sheds. • Goal: Add one grade per year. Be a 10 Grade High School by 2010 • 2002 • Subsidised Civic Amenities Plot allotted By local government • Appeals made for funds and services to local donors & individuals • 2003 • Appeal and plans sent to Asha CNJ for funds to construct a 10 room school • 2004 • Asha CNJ issues first grant for school construction ($17,000) • Appeal made for local funds to construct dorms, kitchen, dining room. community and computer center. • 2005 • Construction started.. Started 5th grade • Second Asha CNJ grant and WAH grant made ($18,000, $10,000) • 2006 • Construction completed. School moved to new premises. • School named The Asha School in appreciation. • ESlate successfully designed, built and tried out in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon Institute • 2007 • Strated 7th grade • Application made to Central Government for grant to run school. When approved Grant will pay 70% of expenses. • Asha resources • Time: 3 years, Money: $35,000, SiteVisits: 6+, resident volunteer for several months..
Achievements in 2008 • ESlate - CMU • Braille Printer – IFlex • Recording Studio • Vocational Training Center
Braille • Easy to read • but…
Braille • Easy to read but… • Difficult to Write • Written in reverse, from right to left • Children need to learn mirror images of all letters • Delayed feedback • Paper needs to be removed • Longer time taken to identify mistakes
ESlate • Digital Stylus – Interfaced to Computer • Text2Speech • Speak Sentences to the student • Student writes letters on stylus • Provides immediate audio feedback • Lessons and Exercises • Video Demo: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~nidhi/brailletutor.html
ESlate – Current Status • Was presented at the International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, 15-16 December 2007 in Bangalore. (Sponsored by Microsoft, IEEE, ACM, IDRC) • Mathru staff and students were invited to give a special demonstration of the Braille Tutor at the conference • Field trial of ESlate2 at Mathru – May to Aug 2008 • Partnership with • Carnegie Mellon Technology Consulting in the Global Community program • Microsoft Research India (MSRI)
Braille Printer • Donated by IFlex Solutions, Bangalore • Being used to print all textbooks and reading material • Future plan: • Have a library of books which will be made available to any visually challenged person in the area as a borrowing library • Cost of a Braille blank: Rs 1.30
Vocational Training Center • Planned to become operational in Summer 2008 • Vocational training with residence for 20 students by Teachers (volunteers) • 5 of the 20 will be Mathru personnel/students. • 5 will be physically disabled and the remaining 10 will be selected from the visually challenged general populace • The 20 will be selected by a qualified group of selectors. • Subjects will be Screen Printing, Knitting, Book Binding, Plumbing and Electrics • Mathru is already talking to potential employers • Students will also be able to be self-employed • Besides training in these fields, the students will have daily classes in Marketing, finance, computer skills, accounting
Budget Proposal – 2009-10 • Needs money for annual Administrative Expenses • For the year 2009/2010 they need Rs. 4,00,000 (between USD 8,000 and 8,500). • Breakup of Budget* • Educational Expenses • Hostel Expenses • Administrative Expenses * Detailed Breakup available in Proposal – Question 43
Recording Studio • Donated by Ashraya, NJ (http://ashraya-usa.org/ - Different from Ashraya Project of Asha CNJ!) • A Mathru teacher has been trained to operate it • Produce material that will be later made available to other visually challenged persons and institutions