Karna Vidya Foundation improves materials for visually impaired

The Karna Vidya Foundation in Chennai is making professional courses more accessible for visually impaired students. The organization has been working to enhance e-book content since 2017, focusing on school textbooks initially. After a slowdown during the pandemic, the foundation resumed its efforts in 2023, especially for subjects like law, commerce, and computer science. K. Raghuraman, an honorary advisor for the foundation, shared that they have converted around 300 books into the accessible EPub format. EPub allows users to read with their fingers on mobile devices or listen to audio versions. It offers flexibility for users to switch to Braille or a magnified view if needed. The foundation utilizes a team of trained volunteers, often parents of disabled children, to assist with these conversions. Raghuraman noted that adapting texts into EPub is complex and time-consuming due to the need to format images, tables, and text dimensions accurately. To expand their reach, the foundation uploads these books to Bookshare, an online library for print-disabled individuals. Users from Asian countries can access these resources for free by registering with a medical certificate. Raghuraman emphasizes the importance of making learning materials accessible for growth in the community. The foundation also encourages students to request specific books for conversion. They are looking for more volunteers to help with these efforts, allowing people to contribute from home. For more information, interested individuals can visit their website.