<p>As someone with a restricted eyesight due to astigmatism -a kind of visual impairment- it is not surprising to understand when we come to know that Vignesh has been staring at the screen containing pages from his textbook blown up almost 80 times for him to see clearly the text and images printed on its pages. <br /><br />"He has never seen the letter so clearly and is certainly thrilled to read the print by himself," said his mother Manjula. <br /><br />The second standard student was one of several low vision persons who had visited IAR (International Agency for Rehabilitation)-India, a city-based NGO which recently had organised an exhibition of low vision aids in the city with the help of Jutron Vision, a Baroda-based distributor of the equipment. <br /><br />"This device, called Acrobat, has been manufactured by US-based company Enhanced Vision. It has a camera fixed on a stand that can be moved 360 degree that is used to capture text and images from printed pages," said Mukul Patel from Jutron Vision. <br /><br />It then magnifies the image large enough for low vision persons to read clearly, he said. <br />Despite the fact that most of the 15 devices on display here cost more than Rs 20,000, several individuals and organisations have shown interest in buying them, Mukul told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />"Devices such as these enable low vision students to be integrated with mainstream schools," said R Anand from IAR-India, who has been training low vision persons for the past 28 years. <br /><br />"Without technology that helped them make use of the residual vision, most low vision persons were sent to special schools, where they were treated as blind persons. If schools make the devices available on their campus, it will be easier for them to integrate low vision persons with their able-bodied peers." <br /><br />Subburathna, a teacher from JSS school, who takes care of children with special needs, said, the children are able to read much better using the devices. <br /><br />"We would like to hold the exhibitions in as many organisations as possible, so that many people can use the devices and realise the advantage of using them," Mukul said.</p>
<p>As someone with a restricted eyesight due to astigmatism -a kind of visual impairment- it is not surprising to understand when we come to know that Vignesh has been staring at the screen containing pages from his textbook blown up almost 80 times for him to see clearly the text and images printed on its pages. <br /><br />"He has never seen the letter so clearly and is certainly thrilled to read the print by himself," said his mother Manjula. <br /><br />The second standard student was one of several low vision persons who had visited IAR (International Agency for Rehabilitation)-India, a city-based NGO which recently had organised an exhibition of low vision aids in the city with the help of Jutron Vision, a Baroda-based distributor of the equipment. <br /><br />"This device, called Acrobat, has been manufactured by US-based company Enhanced Vision. It has a camera fixed on a stand that can be moved 360 degree that is used to capture text and images from printed pages," said Mukul Patel from Jutron Vision. <br /><br />It then magnifies the image large enough for low vision persons to read clearly, he said. <br />Despite the fact that most of the 15 devices on display here cost more than Rs 20,000, several individuals and organisations have shown interest in buying them, Mukul told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />"Devices such as these enable low vision students to be integrated with mainstream schools," said R Anand from IAR-India, who has been training low vision persons for the past 28 years. <br /><br />"Without technology that helped them make use of the residual vision, most low vision persons were sent to special schools, where they were treated as blind persons. If schools make the devices available on their campus, it will be easier for them to integrate low vision persons with their able-bodied peers." <br /><br />Subburathna, a teacher from JSS school, who takes care of children with special needs, said, the children are able to read much better using the devices. <br /><br />"We would like to hold the exhibitions in as many organisations as possible, so that many people can use the devices and realise the advantage of using them," Mukul said.</p>
