Over twenty percent of the world’s visually impaired population resides in India. Looked upon with pity and viewed as objects of charity, they often find themselves treated unfairly by family, society and the government. They are not given the same opportunities as their sighted counterparts. Their limited access to information prevents them from leading independent and productive lives.
Eyeway aims to enable persons with blindness and visual impairment to become personally independent, economically self-reliant and integrate well into the mainstream society. Eyeway comprises of a network of partners that disseminates information, provides counselling, conducts research and engages in advocacy.
NATIONAL HELPDESK
Eyeway operates a national toll free number: 1800 53 20469. A team of counsellors at helpdesks across 7 locations respond to a variety of queries that are made on a day to day basis regarding education and employment opportunities, mobility, assistive technology and legal rights for the visually impaired and so on. Eyeway also disseminates relevant information like news, training, events and job updates through our WhatsApp messaging service and other social media channels.
RESEARCH
Staying up to date with information and news in the domain of visual impairment is a mandate for the Eyeway project. Our research is directed at sourcing, seeking and creating content that is valuable to the world of visual impairment. Our research often feeds into the large knowledge base that our counsellors tap in time and again, to respond to callers.
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
The Eyeway Website is a comprehensive repository of information and knowledge on living life with blindness. The Eyeway App available on iOS App Store and Google Play gives ready access to information and services on mobile devices.
We share inspiring stories, videos and stimulate participation through our social media pages. Eyeway India, our YouTube channel creates, curates and disseminates information about visual impairment. In the past we have produced a first of its kind TV series titled ‘Nazar ya Nazariya’, which was aired in a 13 part series on Doordarshan. The show featured real-life stories of visually impaired and blind achievers across India. We also ran a radio series ‘Eyeway Yeh Hain Roshni ka Karawan’ that was aired on All India Radio’s Rajdhani channel, FM Rainbow Delhi and FM Gold Delhi.
ADVOCACY
Another primary activity of Project Eyeway is advocacy. There is an awareness deficit in the general population towards persons with disabilities. This lack of awareness is also reflected in the policies formulated for the disabled. Attitudinal biases also exist, acting as barriers that have pushed the blind population towards exclusion. Eyeway takes up matters of advocacy where rights are violated and people are discriminated against or where legal provisions are not complied with. In the process, we first approach the entity responsible for rights violation. If that attempt fails, we approach the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) and as a last resort we file a case in the courts. Our counsellors on the Helpdesk urge the callers to stand up for their rights as equal citizens of the country. We provide all possible support to them in their battle for equality and justice.
OUR PARTNERS
At present, Eyeway is a network of 10 organizations based in Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir. The network hopes to expand in the years to come so as to cater to callers from every state of the country in the callers’ native language. We aim to map the entire network with our growing network.
THE EYEWAY NETWORK
National Association for the Blind (Delhi)
National Association for the Blind, Delhi has been working towards making visually impaired persons self-reliant and contributing members of the society. Their work ranges from preparing blind children for mainstream education and training them in daily living skills to producing accessible reading material and training them in computers and assistive technology.
Saksham Trust, Delhi
Saksham Trust works towards the empowerment of persons with visual impairment by playing a key role in advocacy and acting as a service provider in the domains of education, rehabilitation, training and assistive technology.
Score Foundation, Delhi
Score Foundation is working towards changing the mindset that exists with respect to blindness and visual impairment. Score foundation is committed to disseminating information that can empower and inform the visually impaired so they are in the know of the myriad possibilities that lie ahead of them to lead an independent life.
EnAble India, Delhi
EnAble India’s core activities include placing persons with disabilities in suitable work spaces. They offer consultancy and training, pre-employment services, supplemental education, counseling and support services as well as technology services.
MitraJyothi, Bangalore
Mitra Jyothi’s mission is to assist and enable visually impaired individuals to lead independent and dignified lives through education, training, counseling, communication and technology.
Navchetna Institute, Patiala
Navchetna Institute works towards providing free education and rehabilitation facilities to persons with blindness and visual impairment.
The Victoria Memorial School for the Blind (VMSB), Mumbai
An institution dedicated to creating a bright and sustainable future for visually impaired boys through holistic education, skill development and self-empowerment.
Blind People's Association(India), Ahmedabad
Blind People's Association is a professional organization which believes in providing equal opportunities to all categories of people with disabilities. Consistent with the philosophy, it works for providing education, employment opportunities, equal rights and quality life for them.
Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly
Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre is not-for-profit organization, registered as a charitable trust. Also a research centre, it operates as a 610 bedded multi-speciality hospital and also imparts training in medical, paramedical and nursing care.
HELP (Human Effort for Love and Peace) Foundation, J&K
HELP Foundation in J&K is a Civil Society Organization who work on holistic upliftment of people worst hit by adversities. Their work entails providing quality education, empowerment and mental health counselling to women and children who are victims of violence. The organization also provides relief and rehabilitation to people with physical disability challenges.
Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)
Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) division is a part of Socio Legal Information Centre (SLIC). It works to provide free legal aid and legal literacy across India in partnership with social movements and groups. HRLN’s mission is to, “Create a justice delivery system that is accessible, efficient, accountable, affordable, and pro poor.”
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