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Empowering Visually Challenged: Mathru School Progress & Future Plans

Explore the journey of Mathru School for the Blind from humble beginnings to its current achievements, such as the innovative ESlate project and vocational training center. Discover the impact of Braille technology and the budget needs for future growth.

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Empowering Visually Challenged: Mathru School Progress & Future Plans

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  1. MathruProject Proposal 2009-10 Pravin Shankar

  2. Outline • History • New School Building • Achievements in 2008 • Future Plans • Budget Proposal

  3. 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..

  4. Building Construction (Site Visit – Pravin – Dec 2005)

  5. “Asha” School(Site Visit – Pravin – May 2007)

  6. More Pictures of the School Building

  7. More Pictures of the School Building

  8. Reception

  9. Inside…

  10. Inside…

  11. Classrooms…

  12. Classrooms…

  13. Classrooms…

  14. Playarea…

  15. Playarea…

  16. Braille Snakes & Ladders…

  17. Library

  18. Library

  19. Computer Lab

  20. Computer Lab

  21. Computer Lab

  22. Computer Lab

  23. Kitchen & Dining Area

  24. Kitchen & Dining Area

  25. Kitchen & Dining Area

  26. Dormitory

  27. Dormitory

  28. Achievements in 2008 • ESlate - CMU • Braille Printer – IFlex • Recording Studio • Vocational Training Center

  29. Braille • Easy to read • but…

  30. How Braille is Written

  31. How Braille is Written

  32. 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

  33. ESlate

  34. 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

  35. 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)

  36. 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

  37. Braille Printer

  38. Braille Printer

  39. 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

  40. 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

  41. Questions?

  42. 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

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