Eyes Free Science
2020 Online Eyes Free Science Camp
participants and mentors
Less than a year of operation, Chakshumathi realise the truth that the major reason for 99% unemployment of the visually impaired community world over is the result of conventional education which fully ignore science and mathematics education to a student with blindness thinking they can’t study those critical subjects. The major setback was the inability of the teachers to teach the subject differently to these children and the primary education these students received at the special school. In fact studying science could develop confidence, mental ability and employability with these students of differently able.
Studying science, in general, helps students to explore the world they live in. It allows one to develop more knowledge. By studying science, one can have possible solutions to all problems. Those who study science use scientific methods to derive knowledge systematically, perform repeatable experiments to make sure that their hypothesis is accurate. In short, by denying studying science has created unprecedented problems in the lives of people with visual impairment. They were more and more framed into the inward mentality of a victim of disability and to live with less confidence to face this world build by sighted for the sighted.
The major reason to ignore these students in the classroom was the non-availability of the educational contents, teaching methodology and the less scientific temper these children possess due to the pressure of the society and school. Chakshumathi bravely decided to encounter this problems through creating accessible educational contents, creating pragmatic teaching methods for the teachers and popularising an awareness programme asking Why Not Science education for these brilliant children?
In 2012, Chakshumathi conducted a 10 day long Eyes Free Science Camp for the visually Impaired Students of Kerala. The camp proved that even without any accessible contents, few of the students from schools that cared showed extra brilliance in science and mathematics subjects. We come to a conclusion to take up Eyes Free Science project as a national movement and create awareness and educational contents, so none of the students will be deprived of studying these critical subjects.
Worked on accessible mathematics and text books for science and mathematics, spread awareness with teachers and parents, fight for the equal opportunity and the rights for admissions in science and engineering studies it was an eventful 8 years. Now many visually impaired students successfully completed their engineering and technology studies and started working in well paid jobs.
We worked along with global pioneers to research and create accessible contents and products. Thanks to BookShare, Google, IIT Delhi’s Assistech Lab (Now Raised Line Foundation), Saksham, Microsoft, Progressive Access, Vernier, Infty Projects etc for their support and cooperation to create eyes free science a reality. We could now confidently confirm that a blind student can study, write, read and research in any science and mathematics projects without seeing and participate 100%. To know more and support please write to mail.chakshumathi@gmail.com
Eyes Free Science
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