Voice Vision is an organization working toward the empowerment and education of the visually impaired individuals. Started off as a Computer Training Institute for the blind and low vision people to enable them to work at par with their sighted peers, the organization, Over a period of time, has grown into an institution for the holistic development of the VI community.

It was started in the year 2000. Ms. Sushmeetha B. Bubna, single handedly initiated the inception of this organization all by herself in spite of her sight impairment. After having struggled in her own life to acquire computer education due to various difficulties in information accessibility, she was driven to make this fractious task easier for the community at large.

It continues to inspire, nurture and mentor not just its alumni by holding frequent get together’s and one on one interaction with them, but also the VI community from across the globe through the VV mailing list.

Besides playing the role of an educator, VV has evolved into an information provider & facilitator since May 2009 through the commencement of the Knowledge sessions held at regular intervals. In 2010, VV launched its new, interactive and fully accessible website www.voicevision.in, to provide information on anything and everything related to the VI community under one roof ranging from the reader-writer support, facilitating easy access of NGO information on one platform, incepting a matrimonial portal to name a few.

Problem

MISSION The mission of Voice Vision is to see every visually impaired person become an asset to their family & earn their due place in the Indian society which has historically been nothing more than sympathetic to people with a handicap. VISION “Placing the Blind on the Right Side of the Digital Divide” is the vision of Voice Vision. Creating more opportunities for blind in every sphere is the foremost endeavor of the organization. Need Every school & college should be equipped with a inclusive setup for empowering all the people with visual impairement. Also blind should be seen as an asset for the organisation recruiting them.

Solution

Solution is to provide the VI community with the basic & fundamental right facilities of inclusive & equal education opportunities. Followed by increasing the employment opportunities. The innovative idea is to provide computer training using internet or mobile services. Which can be replicated in various cities and reach to each & every blind or low vision person across the country. Employment opportunities can be increased by creating more & more awareness about the capabilities of blind people. Holistic improvement of lives of blind people can be improved by the matrimonial segment of our website, where more & more people register from both with disable community & non disable community. Also wholistic approach of providing all kind of information & knowledge to the community, without discreminating will surely make the world better for blind people.

Example

Our first student, post learning basics of computers from our organization, could complete his graduation with flying colours. Also successfully completed his MBA in HR and is now working in an MNC as a senior HR Manager. He is leading a successful life, with having his own house & dignified job. When compared to the time before he enrolled at our organization & now, his financial conditions have changed with a positive shift. Our organization role was of giving him the key of success of providing the access to computers, which could fetch him good education, along with an equal opportunity job. • Till date, Voice Vision has successfully trained more than 80 students, and almost all of them hold good posts in their respective fields. They are from diverse career backgrounds, each one successful in their own right, from MBA’s, CA’s, Physiotherapists, entrepreneurs, to Musicians, Mass media professionals, Language translators, and so on. The successful training gave these individuals an opportunity to enhance their skills, which has in turn helped them excel in their respective fields of work. It has made them not only more knowledgeable and competent, but also has helped them develop wholesome personality and carve an image for themselves in the society.

Marketplace

Our goal is towards the betterment of the visually impaired community and strongly believe that a joint effort from every organization can make the goal achievable easily. Hence we don’t see our peers as competitors, whereas would always look towards marching together towards the fulfillment of the common goal. As no single person or organization can bring change or do wonders to the society. Similar paradigm shift in the thoughts & workings of the peer’s organization is required.