In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pranav Savla, a 17-year-old resident of Bangalore who has been blind since birth due to Leber's congenital amaurosis, a genetic disease. Despite his visual impairment, Pranav has excelled in his education and has gained recognition for his digital expertise and social media presence, particularly in creating content for the visually impaired. Pranav shares how the teaching methods used by his school have helped create a level playing field for blind students, including an annual blind cricket match. He credits his school for sparking his interest in coding and computer skills, which has led to his notable achievement of creating a web application for his non-profit organization, Vidya Drishti. Pranav's coding skills have enabled him to achieve a high level of proficiency in his freelance work for multiple clients and in his recent internship at an Ad Agency. Pranav has a popular YouTube channel, Tech with Phoenix, where he discusses flawed designs and challenges faced by the visually impaired. He also has a keen interest in music and has received formal training in playing tabla. He also sings and uploads his vocal covers on Phoenix Covers on social media. Currently preparing for his 12th standard examination, he hopes to use his passions for computer science, photography, and accessibility to make a positive impact on others' lives, especially the people who are blind and visually impaired. Tune in to listen to young Pranav and his vision to make a positive impact through his work on YouTube, his vocal talents, and his coding skills. To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/tCgPqCJMAsJyoYvfza2bpj3bw0U?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham interviews Arjun Ghosh, a law student who comes from a rural background in West Bengal and was born with visual impairment due to medical oversight. Arjun was motivated to pursue a career in law to help ensure that justice is served for those who are often overlooked. He shares his journey towards getting selected at the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), a prestigious law school in India, through the IDIA Scholar Program that supports underprivileged students and students with disabilities to pursue a legal career in India. Despite facing various challenges due to cultural differences, language barriers, and difficulty communicating with fellow students, Arjun worked hard to improve his language skills, including learning how to use a computer with the help of the accessibility lab and supportive professors at NUJS. So far Arjun has managed to complete several internships under advocates, research organizations, and tier-one corporate law firms, including his dream internship under the Chief Justice of India, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. He has also participated in a research-based internship and a project where he coordinated with different agents in assisting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently doing another internship at Nishith Desai Associates in Bangalore. In his spare time, Arjun supplements his classroom learning and internships by opting for various certification courses on topics such as ITR and corporate law. He also enjoys reading classic novels in Bengali and adventure novels, including works by foreign authors like Charles Dickens and loves to play chess. He plans to join a law firm after graduation to gain more experience in handling legal matters and also explore the corporate world. But that's not where his journey ends. His ultimate goal is to establish his own law firm where legal assistance can be provided to those who are underprivileged and lack proper representation. Arjun is confident that he can make this goal a reality. The future looks bright, and we at Eyeway cannot wait to see where this exciting journey will take him next! Tune in to listen to his journey and get inspired to pursue your own dreams. To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/NNTirJGn1hx-M-2B9unDvvwTvEI?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

Atul Ranjan Sahay, a 56-year-old visually impaired individual from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, has dedicated his life to promoting inclusion and catalyzing collective impact in the disability sector. Despite facing numerous challenges due to his visual impairment, Sahay has achieved several remarkable accomplishments and continues to inspire those around him. Sahay's education includes a post-graduation in economics from NEHU Shillong in 1989, a certificate in computing from IGNOU in 2001, an executive diploma in general management from XLRI Jamshedpur in 2004, a certificate in social change management from Kanthari International Institute in 2016, and a Soapstone Fellowship from Enable India in 2022. Presently, Sahay is the Honorary General Secretary at NAB Jharkhand for nearly three decades and works as a disability professional in the private sector, promoting inclusion. He has previously served at Tata Steel for 29 years. Moreover, he has served as the President of All India Chess Federation for the Blind, Vice-President of NAB India, and Member of the Technical Committee on World Blind Cricket Council. His contributions have earned him several recognitions, including the Shell Helen Keller Award (NCPEDP), NIVH Excellence Award (Go), HR Professional of the Year Award (Genius Consultants), Role Model Award (Retina India), and the opportunity to appear in the book "Abilities Redefined" in its opening chapter. Sahay's passion for adventure has also led him to complete seven treks in The Himalayas ranging from 11,000 to 18,100 feet above sea level, proving that a visual impairment is not a barrier to pursuing one's dreams. Despite facing numerous challenges as a visually impaired individual, Atul Ranjan Sahay has refused to let his disability define him. He has dedicated his life to promoting inclusion, facilitating collaboration, and catalyzing collective impact in the disability sector. His remarkable achievements and unwavering determination serve as an inspiration to us all. Tune in to listen to his journey of resilience and passion for life! This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Rajat and Geetika Dalmia, a blind couple from Kolkata. Geetika, who lost her eyesight due to macular degeneration followed her dreams and started her own travel agency, driven by her love for adventure. Rajat, who lost his eyesight due to retinitis pigmentosa after his 12th completed his studies and has been running his family business for the past 25 years. The couple met when Geetika came to learn JAWS from Rajat, and they've been happily married for 17 years! Rajat and Geetika's love for travel and adventure is a major part of their lives. They enjoy exploring new places, embarking on jungle safaris, participating in water sports, and indulging in sightseeing. Their enthusiasm for traveling is infectious, and they love the thrill that comes with discovering new destinations. Food is another passion for the couple. They enjoy trying out different cuisines and exploring local food scenes wherever they travel as well as in their own city. Additionally, they share a love for music and play various instruments. Despite their visual impairment, they lead a fulfilling and exciting life. They have faced their challenges head-on and have pursued their passions with determination. Tune in to the podcast to learn more about Rajat and Geetika's exciting and fun-filled life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/RWWmtneanNglJS-GvgDKsFKMP-0?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Vishal Kumar Jain, a Global HR Consultant at Shell in Bangalore. Coming from a small town, Vishal had to drop out after 9th standard due to deterioration of his eyesight from retinitis pigmentosa and lack of awareness to handle it. However, his inner urge to learn brought him to Bangalore where he developed computer skills and continued his studies. He later earned an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), and went on to work with TATA Motors. Vishal is also an adventurous individual who enjoys mountaineering and skydiving. He completed a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and successfully scaled the Mount Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 18,200 feet in 2016. In this podcast, he shares his journey of overcoming obstacles and getting back on his feet, along with his two siblings who also lost their eyesight. He also discusses the rigorous training he underwent to become a mountaineer. Vishal is now recognized internationally for his work in promoting inclusivity and empowering individuals with disabilities. In addition to his many accomplishments, Vishal is also a talented musician who plays the tabla, dholak, congo, octa pad, bongo, and drums. Tune in to listen to his journey of resilience and passion for life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/CBmlkhcZ274z5pu7YQjO0EHPglA?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Akhil Paul, the Executive Director of Sense International India, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with deafblindness in India. Akhil has over 30 years of experience in the disability sector, with a focus on community-based rehabilitation of people with multiple disabilities. He was awarded a scholarship from the Perkins School for the Blind to study Visual Impairment with Multiple Disabilities (VIMD). Upon returning to India, Akhil began working with people with deafblindness, leading to the establishment of Sense International in India. The organization has since played a significant role in transforming the lives of around 80,000 people with deafblindness across the country, working with grassroots organizations. Sense International India is the only national-level organization providing specialized educational and rehabilitation services for children and adults with deafblindness. The organization has unique technical know-how and expertise in providing information, guidance, support, and training. To learn more about Sense International India, visit their website at www.senseintindia.org. In the podcast, Akhil shares the importance of awareness of deafblindness and shares insights on how to nurture and support a deafblind child. He sheds light on the different types of schools that cater to deafblind children, the education they receive, and the various learning tools available to them. Tune in to learn more about the remarkable work being done to improve the lives of those with deafblindness! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: ⁠https://otter.ai/u/4CL9YtLvNMO-FrQmEZ-FmePVe_I?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nupur Joshi, a young and vibrant social worker with a Master's degree in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai, and Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology from St Xaviers College. Nupur's unwavering commitment to society is reflected in her work. She currently works with SNEHA, an organization working with women, children, and public health. This April, she will be joining TATA AIG where she will continue to dedicate herself to furthering disability inclusion in workplaces.  Nupur's effervescent personality and passion for human interaction are evident in her podcast, "Bol Baby Bol," where she shares her experiences growing up as a visually impaired girl and navigating the world around her. She is also launching a new series where she will be engaging in conversations with regular people such as watchmen, auto drivers, waiters, and delivery agents. Through these conversations, she aims to shed light on the lives of people who are often overlooked and provide them with a platform to share their stories. In addition to her work and podcasting, Nupur is also working on a project called "Maitri Kattaa", which is designed to offer a supportive community where women maids can share their experiences, learn new skills, and access essential services. Besides, Nupur likes singing and dancing. Tune in to learn more about Nupur's journey and the interesting initiatives she is spearheading. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: ⁠https://otter.ai/u/oYPQWp8OxuXxXznn0pzJ5l1eTV0?utm_source=copy_url⁠ This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: ⁠https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of  Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siddhant Shah, an Indian Heritage Architect who specializes in designing spaces that are inclusive. Siddhant is a Stavros Niarchos Scholar and completed his Master's in Heritage Management in Greece from the University of Kent. His journey began at home when he realized the difficulties his partially-sighted mother faced when trying to visit museums and public art venues. Siddhant also won a UNESCO and Archaeological Survey of India competition to make heritage sites in India disabled-friendly. These experiences motivated him to work towards making cultural sites more accessible for people with various disabilities and later, he was also diagnosed with tunnel vision.  After absorbing the wisdom of other countries through his study and travels, Siddhant came back to India and founded Access for All, a consultancy firm based in Mumbai that focuses on design-based solutions for Indian cultural destinations and monuments, rethinking accessibility and inclusion practices for all visitors. Siddhant has worked on several projects, including making Jaipur's City Palace more accessible. His work includes developing tactile replicas, audio descriptions, and other assistive technologies to make cultural sites more accessible to people with disabilities. He has also served as a Resource Consultant for the National Museum under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and continues to work with different art galleries, museums, schools, and spaces in India and abroad.  Tune in to listen to Siddhant's quest for accessible spaces and his efforts to transform India's cultural landscape. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/HSexRlR-eytdrCZIcwekIDbPKc4?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kamal Prajapati, a multi-talented Radio Journalist who dons various hats including that of a creative writer and is adept at crafting radio jingles and scripts. Kamal's love for radio dates back to his school days at the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in Dehradun where he regularly participated in the All India Radio programs. After graduating in History from St. Stephens College, he pursued a Radio and Television Journalism course at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Subsequently, he worked with News Express and also as a radio presenter with a community radio called Apna Radio stationed at IIMC, New Delhi before making it to the Indian Information Service (IIS). He is posted to All India Radio as a News Editor, where his responsibilities include preparing and supervising news content, organizing and moderating discussions, and presenting programs where he even interviews ministers and bureaucrats on his shows. He believes that his proficiency in Braille scripts, sound editing tools, and computers have stood him in good stead in his profession in radio. Besides, Kamal is also a talented poet and musician. Tune in to listen to his journey as a radio journalist! This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Lois Strachan, a bestselling author, disability advocate, transformational speaker, blogger, podcaster, and a part-time rock musician. Vision loss at the young age of 21, led Lois to discover new dreams and embrace her passion for music. Besides majoring in English Literature, she became a distinguished Toastmaster, coaching people to see new possibilities in life. She also hosts a podcast that focuses on travel for persons with disabilities. Her curiosity about the world has led her to travel around the world and facilitate numerous diverse topics through writing and blogging. She is the author of 6 books. Her books include a series of illustrated children’s books and her memoir, “A Different Way of Seeing: A blind woman’s journey of living an ‘ordinary’ life in an extraordinary way”, which achieved best-seller status on Amazon and a book written from the viewpoint of her guide dog. Lois lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and a houseful of dogs, one of whom is her beloved guide dog, Fiji. Tune in to hear about her extraordinary life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/20fUVkPBzHQVgbleymVCPmggXoY?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kartik Sawhney, a graduate from Stanford University with a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, focusing on artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. Kartik was the first blind student to pursue science education in high school in India and advocated for change in rules that now allow all blind students across the country to pursue sciences in high school. Besides working as a software engineer at Microsoft, Kartik has also worked on several entrepreneurial ventures over the years to empower people with disabilities. His venture, StemAccess (now I-Stem) provides technical training, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to blind math and science students across the country. I-Stem also works closely with the government, technical universities, and corporates to make their campuses and culture more inclusive. He has been a recipient of several national and international awards and scholarships including the Queen's Young Leaders Award 2016. Tune in to hear his inspiring journey of beating the odds and achieving his dreams! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/PhiJ-VQmwJHdl4XO7EqZh6PgPIw?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Taha Haaziq, Secretary, Office of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Goa. Taha speaks about the recent success of Purple fest; India’s first of its kind inclusive fest that embraced and celebrated Persons With Disabilities in Goa in January in 2023 and saw large numbers of participants from across the country. The Purple Fest was a culmination of various events and activities that was aimed to showcase ways to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone. Taha started his career as a computer and music teacher in National Association for the Blind before he ventured into civil services. He is the first 100 percent visually impaired person to be selected for civil services in Goa. Tune in to listen to Taha’s story of success and his mantra to live a well-balanced life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/2coiXsb8JEzjUly232oUUhKJUEg?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Manoj Govindraj, a professional musician and the founder of Swarras School of Music located in USA. Born blind, Manoj found his calling in music early on in life, and with the support of his parents; he began his formal training at the age of seven and parallelly completed his education from the mainstream. A rank-holder and a gold medalist from Mumbai University, he completed his Master of Fine Arts in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in 1999 and took up a part-time job teaching music in a school. Manoj later moved to the USA when an opportunity to teach music came along his way. His repertoire includes Hindustani classical (Khayal), semi-classical (Thumri, Dadra), bhajans, ghazals, and film songs in Hindi, Marathi, and other languages. He has performed extensively across the United States and parts of India. Besides his passion for music, Manoj is an ardent believer in technology. Tune in to listen to his musical journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kDIg1qptiP9HeEZm-icJuh_o7VU This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mujtaba Merchant, fondly known as Mister Kayne. He is a Project Management Professional, an accessibility advocate, a doting father and a champion of diversity and inclusion. Mujtaba lost his eye sight in the prime of his life. He was happily married with a child, headed for a promotion when Glaucoma threw his life off balance, putting a break on his future. While this experience was a traumatic one, Mujtaba rose above the challenges posed by blindness and underwent rehabilitation, after which he went back to work for the same company . In addition he actively works on Accessibility. Tune in to hear his heartening story of pre and post blindness and how determination paves the way in every circumstance! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/P7Z3go3o9AdnKV5oiKltH6ttyMo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Chetan Sharma, a banker turned social entrepreneur from Rajasthan. Chetan lost his eye sight to cancer at the age of four. He went on to complete class ten from a special school, securing 90th position in the entire state of Rajasthan competing with lacs of sighted students. He equipped himself with higher education in the mainstream, participating in extracurricular activities like debates, current affairs competitions, to emerge victorious among his sighted counterparts. Chetan was appointed as stenographer in a nationalized bank after completing his education. Through hard work and determination, he went on to become a Senior Chief Manager. Chetan took a voluntary retirement from his well-paying job at the age of fifty, to start UDBHAV VISION FOUNDATION, a non-profit set-up to work for the betterment of blind and visually impaired community. Chetan loves reading in his free time, especially inspiring autobiographies. Tune in to hear about his mantra for a successful life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/Lz_Pum847uO1cC3oY6oqRdgMddk This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kishor Gohil, a social activist, social entrepreneur, stand-up comedian, and music promoter. Kishor was born blind and grew up surrounded by people like him who didn’t have sight and was always aware of the challenges faced by the blind community. Kishor believes that with right opportunities come good education, employment, and overall well-being of blind and visually impaired people. He runs a skill development programme in Vangani (a small town in Maharashtra that is home to a large number of visually impaired people) where blind and visually impaired people learn candle making, paper products, and handicrafts which are marketed at a large scale to generate income. Kishor has been promoting the music band for the last twenty five years and has performed in countries like the US, UK, South Africa, Jordan, Israel, Gulf countries, etc. He also uses the music platform to promote and market the manufactured products to garner support for the people involved in the work. Kishor loves mimicking well-known Bollywood personalities and works passionately towards creating an empowered community of blind and visually impaired people. Tune in to hear about his journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kYaqx4K1OnsX3KBuWaums7vIAYo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nikita Vaid Raut, an HR and L&D professional, a passionate singer, and a motivational speaker. Blind by birth, Nikita never let the pity of people dampen her spirits and was committed to making a place for herself in the world. She completed her MBA degree and was recruited as a Manager-Human Resource by a leading public sector bank.  With hard work and determination, she became the first blind employee to rise to the senior leadership level of an Assistant General Manager in the bank. She is presently posted as the Learning Head of the Training College of the Bank in Mumbai and designs and conducts programmes in the domain of Leadership, Soft skills, and HR. With all her achievements Nikita has been bestowed with many accolades and awards. The most prestigious and recent one being the “National Award in the category of best Employee [Visual impairment] conferred upon her by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment” Awarded by the Honorable President of India. Nikita is an accomplished Singer and has sung for All India Radio for over 10 years. She has been invited as a motivational speaker by different corporates and institutes and so far has conducted more than 100 such sessions/interviews inspiring people. Tune in to learn more about her mantra of life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/cPY4eP4-brJwl6e4cC4OmvKo8To This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/--

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sachin Porwal, a visually impaired Law student from The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad. Sachin lost his vision in class six due to Retinitis Pigmentosa and was forced to drop out from the mainstream English medium school and take admission in a government-run Hindi medium school for Blind children. The transition from being a sighted child to becoming totally blind came with a lot of challenges, but his mother’s support encouraged him to study further and give his best. Sachin who aspires to be a lawyer advocated for his rights when he was denied admission to class 12 by a mainstream school. He later cleared the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to get into one of the most prestigious Law universities and wants to use his experience to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Besides studying Law, Sachin is a stand-up comedian, technology enthusiast,  and loves watching travel-related videos. Tune in to learn more about Sachin’s resilient journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BUsklpAqYfFomWDLk7lSpYjCfiI This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Justin Philips, a Braille and spoken English trainer at Vision-Aid, an organization working to empower blind and visually impaired people in the country. Born with congenital blindness, Justin lost his sight by the age of seven. Despite the lack of technology and resources for blind people during his growing up years, Justin achieved a master’s degree in Economics. He navigated his career path as a telephone operator, salesperson, a trainer and even worked as a transcriptionist for eight years, before learning to use computers. Today he not only trains people on Orbit Reader, Windows, iPhone etcetera but also works actively to ensure blind people have access to jobs. Justin also teaches Bollywood and Western popular music and loves reading books, and listening to podcasts and music. Tune in to learn more about his journey from ordinary to extraordinary! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/N97jZArU_UKoNGdL7_PGQrCkAhA This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Shakila Maharaj, a social entrepreneur, innovator, recognised global disability trainer and strategist from Durban, South Africa. After losing her vision in early twenties due to a childhood injury, Shakila’s life was uprooted. Her family shifted to Ireland to ensure she had access to quality education and life. Over the years, Shakila’s remarkable and diverse accomplishments have contributed towards creating an inclusive society. She pioneered audio description for 12 years across South Africa and established AudioDescribe (Pty) Ltd in 2010 and in 2020 the sister company, ShazaCin Accessible Media .(A first in the country and continent) with the aim to bring young blood and shift audio description into the digital space. Shakila’s aspiration for blind persons to see the visual world resulted   in the creation of the ShazaCin mobile app which is soon to be released on the google play store. Shakila loves travelling and experiencing new places and cultures as it allows her to interact with different kinds of people, giving her an opportunity to create awareness on life with blindness. Her other initiatives include an eight year old Audio Descriptive movie club, that allows blind and visually impaired people  to come together to experience mainstream cinema. Tune in to learn more about Shakila’s  work in the field of inclusion! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ku_lpUq2EUAJKNoPtqbqkRQLiZY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Peter Donovan, a visually impaired financial planner and a cricketer from Queensland, Australia. Peter, who was born with Albinism, struggled with vision issues since childhood. After completing his education, he chose a financial institution to work as a financial planner. But the highlight of his career was his cricket journey, where he got to represent Australian National Blind Cricket team from 1987. Peter became the first captain of his team. He was part of the Australian cricket team that participated in the first Blind World Cup, held in New Delhi in 1998, as a partially blind B3 player. He was a left handed batsman and a right arm fast bowler. Peter was also part of the founding team of the World Blind Cricket Counsel and served as a chairman in 2004. Tune in to learn more about Peter’s impressive innings and the history of blind cricket in Australia. To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/gM5mq__bBtmtfIZpRWnKKE8QKrQ This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pramit Bhargava, founder of Visioapps, a Gurugram-based startup, which developed the Louie Voice Control app, a 'virtual friend' to help visually impaired navigate digital apps. Pramit graduated from India’s prestigious engineering and management institutions (IIT and IIM) and worked for global companies such as Unilever, Motorola, and Quest Diagnostics before losing his vision to the side-effects of medicine, impacting his Retina. Vision loss took Pramit on a journey of finding a higher purpose, enabling him to use his software engineering background to create accessible apps for visually impaired people like himself. Today his accessible louie app is used worldwide and has gained recognition in the Digital Accessibility space. Tune in to hear about his experiences and learnings from his journey so far. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ilcmeWYnyDIgjUVJW2ya4J6WCz4 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sathish Kumar, a passionate digital accessibility engineer, accessibility coach, mentor, A11y blogger, editor, speaker and trainer. Born blind, Sathish was enrolled in a blind school at the age four. His love affair for computers began at the age of seven when his school introduced him to computers with screen readers. He remembers it as a magical device. An MPhil in English Literature, Sathish chose digital accessibility as his profession and through his career has achieved various milestones. He has given consultations, written VPATs, trained developers, testers and other stakeholders in digital accessibility. He speaks at developer forums, meetups, Wordcamps, A11y conferences like CSUN and authors and edits blogs. Besides a technology enthusiast, Satish loves public speaking, audio editing, and playing keyboard and beat boxing. Tune in to listen to his experiences! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/6Cz3qWFT7niEVKS_Y3bfP56-nlo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr Sharad Philip, a practicing Psychiatrist and a Clinical Assistant professor in a prestigious public medical school in India. Sharad and his two younger brothers were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and lost his vision at a young age, leading to challenges through his growing up years. Despite a discouraging eco system during his college years, Sharad was determined to study Science and not let his lack of sight become a barrier in achieving his dream of being in a medical profession. Sharad had to go the extra mile to prove that he was as capable as his sighted peers, by taking up additional responsibilities, participating in activities to convince his teachers to see him for his abilities.  He completed his MBBS, MD and several diploma degrees in his specialized area to qualify as a doctor. Today Dr Sharad works with people with substance abuse, their families, people with severe mental illnesses, children with intellectual disability and autism. He has traveled all over the world for International conferences to present his research papers and work, for which he has received many awards. Tune into listen to his story of determination and grit in the face of unfavorable circumstances! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/Q-Mz092oQy-GmqvehptHzFuqbcA  This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Praveen Kumar G, a development professional with over two decades of expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation, organisation development, diversity, equity and inclusion.  Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Praveen has not let his blindness become an impediment in achieving his goals. His passion for travelling, experiencing diverse cultures, meeting people and visiting historical places has taken him across 22 states and 150 cities and towns for work and pleasure in India. Praveen is also a mentor and coach for young people, persons with disabilities and civil society organisations. As a trainer he has facilitated trainings for civil society organisations, government, UN agencies  and corporates on diversity and inclusion. Tune in to hear about his interesting experiences and how he navigates each day with humor and zeal for life. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/DpjEoidZdg7yURA8rrohrBBWvZY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Adriana Galani, fondly known as Adina Galani. Adina was born with vision impairment in the main city of Bucharest in Romania and currently lives in Austria with her husband who is an Indian. Adina’s love affair with India began at the age of seven when her mother took her to watch a famous Hindi film,’Yaadon ki Baraat’ in a theatre in Romania. With her first stint at learning the title song of the film, Adina had found her lifelong passion for Hindi songs. Despite her growing love for Indian music, she could not afford the training back then but today is known for her accurate and melodious singing. Besides singing, Adina loves cooking various Indian dishes that she learnt while touring India for work. She has also mastered Reiki and uses the healing technique to help others. On the work front, Adina is certified as an end of life care therapist and has worked with children in a hospital in Romania.  You can subscribe to her YouTube channel here. Tune in to hear more about Adina's experiences in this podcast! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/LcN2PsVVfsDgFJEo5akEbSb_z4U This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with John Samuel, a person of Indian origin born and raised in North Carolina in the United States. He is an award winning entrepreneur and a writer.  John first learnt of Retinitis Pigmentosa when he was in college. The news of degenerative eye disease was devastating to him, which would take him more than fifteen years to accept and be open about. Over the years, John navigated through ups and downs of life. His determination to excel at his career took him around the globe, including Bangalore, New York, Douala, Kampala, and Washington.  John holds an MBA from George Washington University, a BS in accounting from North Carolina State University, and a Certified Professional in Accessible Core Competencies (CPACC) credential from International Association of Accessibility Professionals.  John is the Cofounder & CEO of Ablr, where he focuses on helping organizations be more inclusive by removing the barriers that have hindered people with disabilities from accessing education, retail, entertainment, and employment.  John is all set to launch his book ‘Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions’, an  inspirational journey against his inevitable blindness as he searched for acceptance. Tune in to learn more about his inspiring journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:https://otter.ai/u/myHDxe_iIHRpUN0saY5UvoqWWzM This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Amar Jain, a visually impaired corporate lawyer and a Co- Founder of Mission Accessibility Campaign.  Amar who hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan was enrolled into a Hindi medium Blind School at an early age. Despite coming from a conservative society, Amar’s parents were supportive and encouraged him to carve a path for himself that was unconventional.  He chose law as a profession to fight for the rights of blind and visually impaired community. Through his legal journey, he became aware of the accessibility challenges with various websites and apps and this prompted him to take a certified course in Web Accessibility, placing him in a better position to negotiate for web accessibility laws with big companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, PayTm , OYO , etcetera. Amar is also known for his extensive work on policy advocacy for persons with disabilities. He is actively involved in speaking and training engagements to build awareness and sensitivity towards disability.   Tune in to learn more about his contribution and achievements in the space of Accessibility! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:https://otter.ai/u/bz5HqzVnX-4otM8246jUP8xM1Ms This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a young, visually impaired tech geek, Aarush Bhat who believes in the power of technology for an inclusive world. Blessed with supportive parents, Aarush could pursue his interest in technology from a young age.  His first stint with coding started in class five when he was able to make his own website. Ever since, there has been no looking back. He has independently written his examinations using computers, proving that blind students could achieve everything with the right tools and inclusive environment. One of the highlights from Aarush’s school life has been his participation in the one week space camp at Huntsville, Alabama on a 100% scholarship offered by SIVIS, where he networked with bright minds and learnt about technology used in space. Besides procuring several certificates through his MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) learning journey, Aarush has developed learning software to help other visually impaired students study advanced stem subjects using computers. Aarush is also known for his contribution to Vedantu, an Indian online tutoring platform, where he worked as an intern to guide their tech and pedagogy professionals on making study material more inclusive for visually impaired learners. His hard work and ‘never give up’ attitude has landed him a seat in the University of Alberta, Canada, for a graduate program where he will study to become a software engineer. You can follow Aarush on his YouTube channel ‘Inclusion The Motto’! Tune in to be inspired by his life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/5NMfpPlp9B4h6plEmxTHmSPvkDk This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a multi-talented nineteen-year-old Hannah Alice Simon from Kochi, Kerala. Her name began to make the rounds after she topped the CBSE Class 12 exam 2022 with 496 marks in the specially-abled category. Hannah’s journey from a blind girl to the topper of the CBSE came with a lot of challenges. But what remained constant in her life was the support of her parents who believed in her abilities and encouraged her to take life heads on. She studied in the mainstream school, learnt to write in braille and later acquainted herself with technology that enabled her to become an avid reader and helped her write her examinations independently without needing a scribe. Besides being academically bright, Hannah is a trained singer, composing her own songs. She also travels and speaks to audiences from across the world, sharing her inspiring story, and motivating people to live their best life. As a result of her sheer determination, Hannah has become the only Keralite to win a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States. Tune in to learn more about her remarkable journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/rGUOLrbn-KonebnjSKALHx3cfwE This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mahenoor Ali who is a Postgraduate in Mathematics from IIT Delhi and an aspiring civil servant. Though Mahenoor was born blind, it did not stop her from pursuing her passion for Mathematics. She was supported and encouraged by her father who assisted her throughout her schooling years. She graduated from Miranda House and did her master's in Mathematics at the prestigious IIT Delhi. As a young achiever, Mahenoor is a topper in class, has received various awards, represented India at the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students, and has undertaken various courses from foreign universities. With a keen interest in rural development, public health, climate change, and a passion to serve the community, she is currently preparing for the UPSC exam. Mahenoor shares her journey of hardships in learning Mathematics in school and college and how she decided to appear for the civil service exam. Tune in to listen to her story! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/O9EiZk6qK6xGJ2BB2K2MGvc9lU0 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Reshmi Pramod, an Ayurveda Doctor. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Jeevaniyam Ayurveda Hospital & Research Center, Kochi, Kerala. In 2004, Dr. Reshmi lost her eyesight. However, she did not allow this impairment to hamper her dream and career. Born in a family of doctors and Ayurveda practitioners, she grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor and serving the community. With the help of her family's support and learning new skills, she revived her profession in 2006 with the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC) at the Bolgatty Palace. With the confidence and experience gained through this, Dr. Reshmi launched the Jeevaniyam Hospital and Research Centre, with a vision to inspire, rehabilitate and empower children with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and mental retardation through Ayurveda treatment, counseling, and vocational training. Tune in to listen to this inspiring conversation. To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/hN_LT0P0QEeuQBQr1WDOKbEdF3k This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Hein Wagner, a Global Adventurer and a Motivational Speaker. Hein who was born blind, discovered his passion for adventure as a teenager when he took his first hike and fell in love with nature. He went on to start his career as a switchboard operator and soon entered the IT industry and worked his way up the career path. In 2014, he quit to pursue his passion for action. Hein lives a life of high adventure, competing in endurance events around the world. He has completed the Absa Cape Epic on a tandem, Cape to Rio Yacht race, ran the Antarctica Marathon, climbed the ten highest mountains in the Western Cape, and set the World Blind Land Speed Record 2009 at 322.52 km/h and more. Beyond his daring trysts across the land, air, river, and sea, he has traveled the world and spoken to varied audiences on topics of leadership, management, and facing obstacles. Tune in to listen about his adventures! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/PAoIjGvRnXRVxmIIw84N7gLcHb0 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Melody Goodspeed, Major Gifts Specialist at American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). An adventurous and fun-loving person, Melody is also a wife and a doting mother to two children. After losing her vision at a young age of twenty-six, Melody hit rock bottom until she decided to fight and persevere through the disability. She went through rehabilitation, learned computer software, assisted living skills and made a re-entry into the world. Ever since, Melody has been advocating for persons with blindness and actively engages with people from all walks of life to create systematic and social change. Tune in to hear her story of perseverance! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/lVDchN47ev0T_zsRBX3Ic18gdq8 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks to a young and vibrant social entrepreneur Sristi KC from Nepal. She is also a motivational speaker, dancer and a trainer. Sristi lost her eyesight at the age of sixteen due to the negligence of the doctor who was treating her for an eye infection. Despite a setback at a young age, she went on to top her university, receiving an award from the president of her country. Her love for dance helped her get a scholarship in Europe for her master’s degree in Dance Anthropology where her research work allowed her to create an accessible dance form for the Blind called ‘ Acoustic dance’ that uses music to make dance accessible for the Blind. With an ambition to help blind people live a rocking life, Sristi started an organization called ,’Blind Rocks’ where blind people are taught dance, communication skills, public speaking, and many other things to help them live a life beyond their disability by focusing on their abilities. Sristi has also featured on TEDx Talk. Tune in to know more about her secret to becoming an achiever! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/M0xgfPGZVWdSBEx8jUXiAAlENeA This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siobhan Meade, a digital marketing professional, journalist and a disability activist from the United Kingdom. After losing her vision at the age of sixteen to Glaucoma, Siobhan found it challenging to go about her life until she heard a blind man share about his achievements over a radio programme.  With the new found confidence and support from her family, friends and teachers, Siobhan has come a long way in making a mark in the disability domain. In her early years, she particularly chose radio and media as her profession to spread awareness on  life with blindness. Besides writing for a local newspaper, Siobhan started a YouTube channel where she talks about her experiences as a blind person and encourages people to ask questions to educate them about her disability. A passionate advocate for inclusion and equality, Siobhan has started the ‘Respect campaign’ after being subjected to violence and abuse in the public for being blind that left her traumatized. She now visits various schools and colleges to raise awareness about her campaign and blindness. Tune in to learn more about her work! You can follow her YouTube channel ‘Blind Girl Vlogs’ here To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/0ITJzo63qwP5JSkpOJUMcOAX_qo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with, Sabriye Tenberken, German Tibetologist and co-founder of the organisation Braille Without Borders. Sabriye became totally blind by the age of twelve due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. Despite a set back at an early age, she learnt to deal with her blindness. An adventurer at heart, she wanted to travel the world.  After completing High school from an Institute for the Blind in Germany, Sabriye enrolled at the University of Bonn and focused her studies on central Asia. She was the only blind student out of the thirty thousand. With no Tibetan texts available in braille, she developed her own method of translating the Tibetan language into braille. It later became the officially recognized Tibetan Braille.  Sabriye left college to travel alone to China. She traveled on horseback from China through rural Tibet and discovered a deep prejudice against the blind children who were shunned and hidden away from the world. She talked to parents about enrolling their blind children in the residential school she planned to open in Lhasa. She persuaded them that their children, too, could learn to read and write, and even ride a horse. Committed to bring a change in the lives of these children, Sabriye along with her partner, Paul Kronenberg started Braille Without Borders (BWB), a nonprofit organization. In addition to the school in Lhasa, BWB runs a vocational training centre for blind adults with a farm and cheese factory near Shigatse. In 2009, they also set up kanthari International at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, an educational and training institute, where they train social entrepreneurs from various vulnerable groups with all the required tools and skills to drive social change. Tune in to learn more about her social venture in India and her story of courage, resilience and determination! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BCcqY4uOJ7PoGbIzyOxXZSZO-XY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Guneet Sethi who acquired blindness much later in life. But she never gave up on life. In a career of 30 years, Guneet has worked different jobs like teacher, communications specialist, creative writer and trainer. A motivational speaker, she is known for her recipe of a perfect cup of coffee! Do listen in to this delightful account of perseverance. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/YWet_56sos-dw4qiRL9NQtgvtOs This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

Our guest in this episode of Eyeway Conversations is Jim Stovall, a celebrated author, humanitarian, national champion Olympic weightlifter, entrepreneur and a highly sought after platform speaker. In conversation with George Abraham, Jim shares his inspiring journey. Born in Oklahoma, United States, Jim grew up to be a professional football player until he was diagnosed with macular degeneration, an eye disease that most often attacks the elderly, at the young age of seventeen. By the age of twenty-nine, he had turned completely blind. What may have seemed like an end to one’s dream, Jim took the challenge in his stride and accomplished many dreams. Jim is the author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate Gift, which is a major motion picture starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin. He is also author of The Ultimate Life and The Ultimate Journey, which have inspired other major motion pictures. Jim advocates on behalf of people with blindness. He works to make television and movies accessible to the blind as President of the Narrative Television Network, an organization that has received various award recognitions including an Emmy award, a Media Access Award, and an International Film and Video Award. Jim was selected as the 2000 International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as recipients of this honor. Tune in to hear more about Jim’s extraordinary achievements and life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ZfHbYhLKjH6Rlz95mWlUyWcn5_I This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Tiffany Brar, founder of Jyothirgamaya Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala that trains blind people of all ages in Braille, mobility, basic computer use, and life skills. Tiffany, who became blind as an infant due to oxygen toxicity, completed her primary education in England where she found an inclusive setup, doing things like other sighted children with a special resource person dedicated to her. But when her father was posted back to India, Tiffany found school difficult as she experienced segregation and isolation from students and teachers.  After completing her Bachelors in English literature from Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, she started working for Braille without Borders as a telephone operator. Later she pursued her B.Ed in special education (visual impairment) after which she began running the Jyothirgamaya (meaning "leading to light") mobile school for the blind. In 2020 Tiffany, became the first Indian to receive Holman Prize from the US-based organization LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Tune in to listen to Tiffany’s journey and her dream of making the state of Kerala into an accessible space for people with disabilities. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/hHcfKAcqoHjCYaMjRp2bzM6z9Wc This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway conversations, we get to hear about Geetha’s journey in her husband Saleesh’s words (as Geetha only communicates in Malayalam). Geetha, our guest, an inspirational entrepreneur from Thrissur, Kerala shares her experiences with the host, George Abraham. Geetha was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 13, a rare genetic disorder that causes gradual vision loss. By the age of 15 she had turned totally blind. Despite the challenges, she focused on becoming independent by learning braille and completed her graduation. After her marriage to Saleesh, Geetha was keen to contribute to the family’s income but was rejected from the private jobs she applied to because of her blindness. But not letting that discourage her, she started a small scale food business from home with the support of her husband and children. Fast forward to today, she has a team of 7 members working under her and has orders from across the country. Tune in to listen to her story of beating odds and accomplishing her dream! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/zJ6ePS5A3xTxheRqRz8IsUVPaEc This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation and the transcript is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt.Ltd To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with David Absalom, Honorary General Secretary of Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA) and the Asia Continental Chairperson of International Blind Sports Federation. IBSA was founded in 1986 and has since emerged as the premier national blind sports body in the country with over 247 affiliates in 27 States. It is the sole Indian Affiliate of the International Blind Sports Federation, the apex sports organization for blind sports in the world.  It is also affiliated to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). David, who is passionate about providing opportunities to young blind athletes, travels extensively across the country scouting for talent. Through IBSA, he has also initiated camps for blind women athletes who otherwise lack the opportunity and support to find their way into the sports world. Tune in to listen to their interesting work and how they have changed the sports scenario for visually impaired people in the country! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/i0Jx-LISex9pJ3Gt52x82insBY8 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation and the transcript is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt.Ltd To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ram Kamal Manoj; a social engineer, journalist and a brand consultant who runs a not for profit organization, Chakshumathi based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Ram believes that assistive technology is the solution to all the present day challenges of blind and visually impaired people and this belief led to an Empowerment and Assistive Technology Centre for Blind in Kochi, Kerala in 2011. A member of the DAISY forum of India, Chakshumathi provided the daisy and angel players to young blind children to ensure independence at an early age. Over the years the organization has initiated various programmes such as ‘Lets FICE (Let's Flatten inaccessibility curve), ‘Eyes free science summer camp’, to address accessibility challenges and help  blind and visually impaired students excel in science and technology streams and pursue professions in the field. Tune in to learn more about the work being done by Chakshumathi! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ozT2n8mVDMfB1ZENgWvA1k9EokA This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Sam Taraporevala, a retired Associate Professor & Head Department of Sociology and Anthropology of the autonomous St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai.  Born blind, his parents chose to educate him in a mainstream school and college, after which he pursued his PHD. Between 2002 and 2003, while teaching at St Xavier's College, Dr Sam set out to explore the reason behind the declining numbers of blind and visually impaired students in his college, that resulted in the inception of the famous Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC),one of the country’s finest resource centres for the blind. Fast forward to today, as an Executive Director, he has been at the forefront of social advocacy, creating awareness and addressing key access challenges for persons with low vision and blindness.  His work so far has resulted in the amendment of the Copyright Act, India in 2012; the deployment of over 30,000 accessible ATMs in India; and the opening up of Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics(STEM) education for blind and low vision students.  Tune in to listen to Dr Sam's inspiring journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/FoqS7imJ0byrJQH0sRmHoh4ey3o This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kiran Kaja, who works as an Accessibility Program Lead with Instagram in Menlo Park, California, United States.  Born in India with a rare degenerative eye disease, Kiran sought out his passion for accessibility and working to make software and hardware useful and accessible for people with disabilities. He has over 16 years of experience in working with the leading tech companies across the globe that includes Google, where he worked as an Accessibility Program Lead for Search, Assistant and Devices in London, United Kingdom. Kiran credits technology for his success and believes that it has the power to change the lives of people with disabilities. Through his work he wants to provide others with the same opportunity. He also founded the Access India Email discussion group which has provided a platform for thousands of blind computer users in India to discuss technology developments and solutions.  Tune in to listen to Kiran, as he shares his enriching experiences of working and living overseas. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/6sYHN2POTIqNeRSPIDJaeiNGwD8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nagraj More, Chief Manager, Training and Development at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Nagraj was born blind and growing up had often heard people blaming his karma for his blindness. But his mother ensured that he grew up to be an independent man shunning all the negative comments people made about her blind son. After completing Masters in Human Resource, Nagraj joined BPCL, where he received immense support from his team and colleagues to carry out his duties. Now a full time coach, Nagraj has also received an outstanding disabled employee award in 1988 by the former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Tune in to listen to Nagraj’s success story that he has created with sheer determination and hard work. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/_yuwljajSaN7ANPwGZBlMNekWlE This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pranjal Patil, the first visually impaired woman IAS officer in India. Pranjal lost her eyesight at an early age of six due to Retinal Detachment. Following which she was shifted to a special residential School for Blind girls in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the decision she is grateful for and that changed the course of her life.  Pranjal’s interest in civil service examinations was a result of her keenness towards social issues and the enthusiasm to tackle them. In her first stint as an IAS officer, she was posted as an Assistant Collector in Ernakulam, Kerala, in 2018. Currently posted as District Magistrate for Shahdara district, Pranjal believes in fulfilling her roles and responsibilities with utmost sincerity. Tune in to listen to Pranjal’s exciting journey of achieving her dream and the contributing factors that led her to where she is today. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kaXWxIgSMoIDfWReBo28l17x0z8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Preetham Gandhi Sunkavalli, who works with a leading automobile company in Mumbai, as part of their Business Transformation team.  Preetham experienced vision loss at an early age due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. But he was fortunate to pursue a good education from mainstream institutions. His initial dream was to become a physicist but given the limited awareness and opportunities, he chose Economics and Management instead. An MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Preetham learnt a great deal from his peers, faculty and the supportive system at the premier institute.  In a largely traditional automotive industry, clear communication and hard work has helped make a place for himself. Tune in to listen to his journey and aspirations of building inclusive brands and products for exceptional customer experience. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BcMZq1iQgV6a7r2jAMPRoOHFzS8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd