Providing Accessible Laboratory Solution

We have found that Eco system of science and math education in early and foundation years for visually impaired is very much under developed due to various factors and we want to improve this by providing  accessible laboratory solutions in every blind school and also on virtual platform. Each and every scientific experiment and concept has been modified and made accessible for the use of visually impaired.  We have used these innovations for each and every concept and principle of science relevant to them and in their curriculum. This is catalyzing a strong interest and solid foundation in these subjects for these students so as to help them in opting for these subjects and subsequent careers once science and math become optional at high school level. STEM careers, in turn, will help them in accessing brighter livelihood opportunities and better economic prospects.The proposed solutions are replicable to be used globally.

Our suggested solutions are for ‘Good jobs and Inclusive entrepreneurship’ challenge. Our target segment of visually impaired people find major challenges while searching and looking for livelihood opportunities and variety of factors are responsible for it. Most of them land up in low paying jobs, which have been conventionally identified or tagged with their restrictive abilities, like music teacher, physiotherapy, data entry etc. Many reasons can be attributed for this but one of the main reason is lack of proper STEM education at school level. One of the study suggest that there are 4 lac blind students in India and only 4% of blind students opt for STEM subjects once these subjects are optional in high school thereby blocking chances of entering into lucrative and high paying STEM careers resulting in poor economic prospects and growth for them. Situation is similar all over world but more serious in developing world and problem start at very early stage because Eco system for systematic and effective STEM education of blind at early and foundation level is almost non existent leading to no or very weak foundation of STEM subjects especially science and math.

Our solution revolve around making complex principles and experiments of STEM subjects simple and fun for primary  and middle school blind students so as to develop an early interest in these crucial subjects leading to a strong foundation  on which they can build further knowledge and experiences. We have modified each and every scientific principles and experiments to make them suitable and accessible for blind students. For this purpose we have developed and used various modifications in these experiments which include, but not limited to, audio described videos, tactile diagrams, talking devices ( like weighing scale, calculator ), 3 D prints, simulations etc. depending on the requirement of each concept. For e.g. we have used laser beams to explain principles of light to those who can not see the light. A short film produced by us on this has won a national award also.Similarly we have used audio described technology to create explanatory videos about Physics  experiments like law of conservation of angular momentum and Newton’s third law. We are in the process of developing a talking calculator in the local language as a mobile application. Over the time we would like to create educational games for STEM learning.

It started with our primary research for National children Science Congress 2017 where we studied the status of science and math education in blind schools. The findings that quality STEM education is almost non existent for visually impaired were alarming and immediately we started working on solutions. Our solutions have helped blind students in developing an early interest and understanding of various principles and concepts of STEM subjects through accessible experiments and solutions. These solutions have also been made available in local language for better understanding and wider utility. We have developed and used these solutions on selected and interested blind students at local blind school and our one such solution in the form of a short film has received a national award. The feedback from students, teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders were also incorporated into our research. We visited many blind schools in India to understand the existing practices and how they can be improved. Our visits to Perkins school of blind, Boston and Royal National Institute of Blind, London helped us in gaining significant insights and knowledge into the problem.Our short immersion program at Perkins was of immense value in expanding our horizon about these solutions.

MIT Solve is a global platform of developing and sharing grass root problems and their solutions  so as to be able to apply them globally and benefit the humanity. Our solutions are also trying to solve a problem which is present globally and with the help of innovations and interventions we are trying to empower visually impaired students so as to give them confidence and skills to enter not only job market and also to equip them for entrepreneurial ventures leading to better economic prospects and growth.

We are a team of five people, three of which are high school students, one is a graduate students studying in Nanyang Technological University Singapore and our mentor Dr Manish jain who does the research and connect us with best institutions and practices around the world. Ananya is an avid film maker and STEM entusiast, Mudit is science geek while Krish is from commerce background who is working for business aspects of solution. Praachi is overall coordinator who is leading various efforts.None of us are full timer so far.

In 2017 our team did a primary research and submitted the dissertation for National Children Science Congress by ministry of science and technology Govt of India. since then we have worked on various aspects of this complex problem. Our team has participated and represented India at Diamond Challenge for High school social entrepreneurs by University of Delaware, USA. We also won a national bronze beaver award for best science film ' Accessible Light' where we used an innovative way to explain reflection, refraction and rectilinear propagation to those who can not see light. We visited many blind schools, interviewed and interacted with students which gave us immense insights into their problems. Our team was also selected as one of the five ' Global Trailblazer' teams in Village To Raise A Child (VTRAC) program of Social Innovation Council of Harvard University. During this visit we participated and were mentored by Harvard students for our project. During same visit we stayed with students at Perkins school of blind also which also helped us in understanding the best practices being used to teach science and math to visually impaired. Our collective passion supported by a will to bring blind students at par with us in STEM learning makes us a dream team who is well poised to undertake PALS ( Providing Accessible Laboratory Solutions) component of DREAMSS ( Delivering Right to Education And MORE to Special Students). 

Currently we have partnered with Andh Jan Shala Surat which is local blind school and department of science and technology, Govt of India.