Visual impairment girls will be given laptops
Twelve girl students with visual impairment will be given laptops with screen-reading software.The Marga Schulze Foundation, an organisation that provides scholarships to visually impaired girl students in Asia and Africa to continue their higher education, will provide the laptops to these selected students through UDIS Forum, a network formed for helping people with disabilities. The laptops will be handed over to the students in March, M.N.G.Mani, President of the UDIS Forum, said.“The mission of the Marga Schulze Foundation is to provide laptops to each and every visually impaired student pursuing their higher education using the scholarship,” he said.The first assessment test was conducted for 28 visually impaired girls studying in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala at the Avinashilingam University for Women on February 18 and 19. The test was conducted after a training programme on computer skills organised for these students. They were assessed in computer knowledge and language skills. Anjum Khan from Avinshiligam University, Farnana from Jothinivas College, Bangalore, and Misha Vincent from St. Xaviers College, Alwaye topped the list.
Nine more students have been short-listed by the assessment team for their computer operating skills. They would be provided further training in developing adequate language skills.Besides assisting the students to continue higher education, the scholarship also aimed at developing their skills in Information and Communication Technology, Orientation and Mobility and using assistive devices, Mr. Mani said.The assessment examination would be held every six months, Mr. Mani said.
