National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This institute is an apex body which has been established for human resource development, research and development, and designing delivery of model rehabilitation services, extension and out reach services. It is also engaged in production of braille / audio books and assistive devices for the visually impaired . Activities / services: • Home-bound services for visually impaired children with additional disablities are also being extended. • Model school for the visually disabled - This is one of the few co-educational secondary schools for visually impaired children in the country. It provides education to both blind and low vision children from pre-school to 12th standard. The school also provides education to Visually Handicapped children with additional disabilities. All children are provided free tuition, boarding, lodging, clothing, medical care, pocket money, books and equipment. • The Central Braille Press produces text books, reference books and material of general reading for the blind. The reading material is supplied to the blind individuals and organisations. • The Institute's Training Centre for the Adult Blind (Men and Women) imparts vocational training to the adult blind in the age group of 18-40 years. All are provided free training, boarding, lodging, clothing, medical care, pocket money, books and equipment. Chair caning, handloom weaving, light engineering, braille stenography (Hindi), typewriting (Hindi and English), computer operation, etc, are some of the vocations in which training is imparted. • Manufacture of Braille Appliances workshop (MBA) - This workshop was set up in 1953 for producing aids and appliances for the use of blind. The Workshop manufactures a wide range of aids and appliances for writing, computing, mobility and recreational purposes. These aids and appliances are supplied to the visually impaired students/trainees and to the organisations working for blind people. • National Library for Print Handicapped - Braille Library contains more than 50,000 volumes of braille literature which includes braille books, journals, periodicals. The library circulates the books to members free of cost who visit the library. Facilities are also available to out-station readers through free postal services.