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Saksham Resource Center - Achievements

Saksham is delighted to share a momentous achievement – the recognition of our first FIDE-rated chess player!
Recently, Ashwin Rajesh, along with coach Somendra sir, proudly represented Delhi Team A at the Team Chess Championship in Latur, Gujarat. The team’s exceptional performance secured the 2nd position, filling Saksham with immense pride.
Ashwin’s remarkable skills were on full display as he clinched victory in 5 out of 7 games, securing the 3rd position for Board 3 in the tournament. Noteworthy is his triumph over 5 rated players, paving the way for him to receive an official rating in the upcoming months.
Coach Somendra’s stellar performance was truly outstanding, winning all 7 games and claiming the 1st position in the tournament.
Heartfelt congratulations to both Ashwin and Somendra Sir on this incredible feat!
We extend our sincere gratitude to Somendra sir for his unwavering guidance and support on this remarkable journey. Saksham continues to strive for excellence in nurturing talent and achieving new milestones.
In a remarkable display of determination and talent, students with visual impairment from the Saksham Resource Centre, have achieved outstanding results in the 2023 board examinations;
Their exceptional performance has not only set a benchmark for others but also paved the way for their admission into prestigious institutions like IIIT, Kota, IIM, Rohtak and Symbiosis, Noida;
This achievement stands as a testament to their hard work, resilience, and the unwavering support provided by the Saksham Resource Centre;
Congratulations to these students on their well-deserved success!
Pranam Srivastava
Pranam Srivastava is a visually impaired student who has recently completed his 12th grade with The Millenium School Noida with a science stream with 93% marks. He used a laptop to write his CBSE board examination. He is currently pursuing B.Tech. in computer science from IIIT Kota.
Reema Kumari
Reema Kumari is a visually impaired student who has recently completed her 12th grade with Bal Bharati Public School Noida with a commerce stream with 89% marks. She used a laptop to write her CBSE board examination. She is currently pursuing a BBA from IIM Rohtak.
Aarav Bindra
Aarav Bindra is a visually impaired student who has recently completed his 12th grade with Genesis Global School Noida with a humanities stream with 91% marks. He used a laptop to write his CBSE board examination. He is currently pursuing BBA in Symbiosis Noida.

Saksham and FICCI Report Launched Highlights How Technology Transforms Education and Employment of Persons With Disabilities

Saksham in collaboration with FICCI conducted a research study and launched its flagship report, “Status and Opportunities for Promoting the Use of Assistive Technologies and Content for Persons with Disabilities in India” on 26 April 2022 at Digital Bharat 2022, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and IT and Ministry of Communications, the Government of India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. The report was unveiled by Dr Rajendra Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, and Government of India.

The research study focuses on three groups of persons with disabilities – persons with visual impairment, persons with hearing impairment, and persons with specific learning disabilities – that represent a mix of differing levels of technology users and cover a range of age groups, languages and occupations. It was conducted in collaboration with implementing partners Chetana Trust (for deaf-blind disabilities), National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) (for hearing impairment), and Orkids (for specific learning disability (SLD) and Saksham (for visual impairment) who are respective experts in their disability domains.

The research demonstrates through evidence and data the potential role of technology in the lives of persons with disabilities, especially in the space of education and employment, and highlights the current gaps and opportunities that exist. It explores the variety of solutions that are available and used by persons with disabilities in India and the various aspects of availability, timing, training, preferences, and support that affect their ability to realize optimal efficiency and independence in mainstream education, work, and everyday life.

Analysis from the research study shows:
Technology positively impacts persons with disabilities and furthers their inclusion, especially in education and employment as well as enabling them to lead a more independent life. For example, among persons with visual impairment, 90% of the people used their technology for reading and writing, 100% used it for communicating with their friends, teachers, and peers; and 80% used it for internet search for information and reading material.
Early intervention of technology seems to work for all groups and is not limited to one sphere but improves the overall life skills of individuals as well as their ability to learn and use other devices.
A minimum of technologies- mobile and laptop/ any other appears to be a requirement for successful navigation of life – education, work, and communication. For example, among persons with hearing impairment, an overwhelming 98% of the participants above the age of 18 years used smartphones and 88% used a personal computer or laptop. The group relied on the internet and social media (77%) and peers (54%) as their primary source of information.
The study also highlighted the role social media plays in bridging the communication and literacy divide for persons with disabilities. For example among participants with specific learning disabilities, all the participants said that they are active on and connected with others through social media. Social media was used not only for connecting with others but also to get updates on news and information. Social media platforms like WhatsApp and LinkedIn were used by 86% of the participants with specific learning disabilities as learning platforms.
Presenting the report, Mr. Dipendra Manocha said, “Results of this study clearly indicate that we need to provide digital devices as their reading and writing tool to persons with disabilities along with traditional methods very early in their school education”.

The research also puts forth actionable recommendations for different stakeholders on how to scale up AT adoption across the country.
The launch is available for streaming at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn8b3WwWNGc
Read the press release by FICCI here: https://ficci.in/pressrelease-page.asp?nid=4431

Our Biggest Campaign Ever - Leveraging Social Media AccessAbility for All

With the support of Meta, Saksham has launched its largest campaign to date, titled “Leveraging Social Media AccessAbility For All”. 

The campaign aims to promote the inclusion of all individuals’ content and accessibility requirements on various Social Media platforms. This initiative specifically addresses the needs of India’s 26.8 million people with disabilities and 138 million older individuals.

We invite you to join us in raising awareness and acquiring knowledge about simple measures to ensure that our everyday communication on Social Media platforms is accessible to everyone.

The official launch of this campaign took place on December 3rd, 2022, coinciding with the International Day for Persons with Disability.

Banner for leveraging Social Media AccessAbility for All The banner has Saksham Logo on the left and leveraging campaign logo on the right
Saksham Tek Fiesta - 14th and 15th August 2022

Saksham organized a two-day Tek Fiesta on the 14th and 15th of August to inaugurate our newest resource center in Shimla. We set up an experience zone containing many of our assistive technology solutions, intended as a one-stop spot for persons with visual impairments and/or their allies to try their hand at all the available assistive tech in order to make an informed choices about the products that will best suit their needs. 

Another landmark event of the Tek Fiesta was the lightning training component, conducted by trainers from Saksham Delhi, focusing on the use of three devices: laptops, DAISY players, and Android phones.

SAKSHAM TEK FIESTA WEBSITE BANNER

Equipping the students with laptops at Young Scholars Educational Trust - July 15, 2022

We have wonderful news for you! It gives us great pleasure to share that we recently inaugurated the Saksham Resource Center in Jalandhar, Punjab. We would like to make a special mention of Dr. Vinod Pal, who is associated with Niti Aayog. He has been one of our strongest pillars of support in the process of getting the Saksham Jalandhar Resource Center up and running. 

Ms. Seema Chopra graciously presided over the inauguration ceremony as a special guest. She has had a long history of engagement with social work in the disability sector in Punjab.

Launch of Preparatory School for Children with Blindness in Jalandhar banner

Equipping the students with laptops at Young Scholars Educational Trust - July 15, 2022

9 laptops were distributed with the support of Access Braille to the students during an event organized at YSE on 15th July 2022. Before handing over the laptops to the students, they were configured and loaded with all requisite softwares that can aid the students in reading, writing, and performing other such day-to-day tasks. Ms. Sadhna Arya the founder of Young Scholars Book Bank thanked Saksham for supporting the students with visual impairments who are enrolled at the centre. The beneficiaries would be provided training by YSE.

Specially Configured Laptops for students with Visual Impairment website banner

Digital India Week 2022

It was a proud moment indeed when Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi met our student Reema at the exhibition organised during the Digital India Week 2022. Reema explained how Tactile diagrams created by Raised Lines Foundation (RLF) help her understand visual concepts of Science, Math and Economics. She also described some features of the tactile diagrams to Modi ji, like how different textures are used to denote different colours in the Indian flag and the map of India. She shared that she finds these tactile representations immensely helpful in understanding different visual concepts, and she attributes her 84% score in class 10th to facilities like these, that helped her compete on equal terms with her sighted peers.

Reema presented the honourable Prime Minister with a tactile photo of himself, and Modi ji gave her his blessings.

Reema is a class 12 student studying in Bal Bharati Public School, which is a mainstream school in Noida. Reema is late-blind, and additionally belongs to a low-income family. She has made great strides in learning accessibility and independence skills at the Saksham resource centre in Noida after her vision loss, and now looks forward to enroll in a reputed BBA program after she finishes high school.

Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Reema, one of our students from Saksham Resource Centre, at the exhibition showcasing accessible tactile books.

Digital Empowerment for Education and Employment of Persons with Visual Impairment - Date: June 21, 2022

On June 21, 2022, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Saksham and Vikasa Tarangini joined hands to work towards ‘Digital Empowerment’ of students with blindness and low vision. Under this initiative, specially configured laptops were provided at subsidized cost, along with books and training to make students self-reliant in their reading & writing, as well as to prepare and empower them for quality education and employment. Pujya Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, Founder Vikasa Tarangini, VTS World, and Netra Vidhyalaya, graced the occasion as chief guest, and celebrated the beginning of this phenomenal initiative with us.

Saksham and Vikasa Tarangini joined hands to work towards ‘Digital Empowerment’ of students with blindness and low vision. Under this initiative, specially configured laptops were provided at subsidized cost.

Voice of Saksham and Singing competition - Date: June 27, 2022

On the 27th of June, 2022, Saksham organised the finale of the “Voice of Saksham” singing competition for young visually impaired people from the three states of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to comemmorate Helen Keller’s 142nd birthday. The event was sponsored by Canara Bank, with whose generous support Saksham could award laptops, tablets, and DAISY Players as first, second and third prizes to the 3 winners from each participating state, to encourage digital empowerment of students. Deepak Kumar (Haryana), Radhika Ahuja (Punjab), and Ravi (Himachal Pradesh) won the first prize. Saima (Haryana), Ranjan (Punjab), and Kuldeep Kondal (Himachal Pradesh) bagged the second prize. Shadma (Haryana), Veer Singh (Punjab), and Srishti Chauhan (Himachal Pradesh) secured the third position. Heartiest congratulations to all the winners, and three cheers to all the participants who made the event such a success!