Accessible books for vision-impaired students using Android technology

Organization: Action on Disability Rights And Development-Nepal
Country of Implementation: Nepal
Region: Asia & Pacific
Subregion: South Asia
First published: 31.01.2016

As part of ELECTS (Enhancing Learning Capabilities of Students with Print and Visual Disabilities) ADRAD has adopted the playback function of Android devices and produced an orientation toolkit for easy usage. The aim is to enable students with visual impairments in Nepal to use free digital books based on DAISY and Epub.

Ms. Pokharel, head of ADRAD, handling a tablet with the Android operating system to read e-textbooks. ADRAD has improved the Playback function, etc.

Solution details

People

Birendra Raj SHARMA POKHAREL

“Promoting accessible ICT in making rights real for persons with disabilities.” Mr. Birendra Raj Pokharel, Head of Project

Problems Targeted

There are no accessible digital platforms in the libraries of Nepali public schools, where thousands of students with visual and print disabilities are studying. There is nominal support for providing Braille books for these students, but only the compulsory subjects are covered, and thus a quality education with accessible textbooks and curricula are not available to these students.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

ADRAD initiated the production of accessible books, which is an exciting development for promoting Inclusive Education. These e-publishing technologies can enable persons with print disabilities to read content at the same time and at no higher cost as their peers without disabilities. ADRAD has adopted the playback function of Android devices and produced an orientation toolkit for easy usage, and today a collection of audio books and accessible e-textbooks are available in most school libraries. Appropriate training is provided to persons with visual impairments to use the assistive technology.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The user ́s toolkit for accessible books will be further enhanced and will be made available to 10,000 students with disabilities in an accessible format. Training will be conducted in 15 remote districts throughout Nepal, making sure that students from mountainous and in less densely populated areas can also participate in the project. In addition, 140 more accessible books in the Nepali language will be developed and made available online in 2016.