Suno - the app to access CLABIL

Logo of the Suno App on Google Play Store

This has been a great week for Esha. First, we launched the volunteering page on the website.

Next, on June 12th, we held the first open 9Tanki workshop - where the participants were as young as 15 and some of them older than 40. For the first time, varied perspectives were present on the same stage and it enriched our view of how 9Tanki can change perspectives, and lives.

And now, we are so happy to share this : Yogesh is a bright engineer. On his own personal time, and out of his interest, he has created an app in partnership with CLABIL. All the free content of CLABIL in Hindi is now available on this Android app. It is simply called "Suno"(सुनो ) Suno literally means "Listen" in Hindi. Simple. And Powerful.

Some salient features of the app are:

• Content can be downloaded on the local phone.
• Chapter navigation is easily possible.
• The library will be remotely updated as and when we add books.
• Once downloaded, the book will not need to be downloaded again :)

I have personally tested the app with the native Android accessibility mode and its very good handling.

We encourage you to try the app even if you are sighted (since all content is free) . And of course, spread the word to NGOs, govt schools and children who are not enrolled in formal schooling. We have a lot of stories for them to learn from..

The app is available here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunobooks.suno

OR, just go to the Play store and search for "Suno" - we got it easily enough.

 

Visit to NAB with our volunteers

visit to NAB with our volunteers 

visually impaired person working on the computer

trainer who teaches the blind womens to work in kitchen

craft work training given to blind womens

teacher who trains them craft work

blind womens who are working in the kitchen

training given to blind women for working in the spa

training area for craft work 

9Tanki -12.06.2015

Theater workshop first time conducted in diverse age group and it was really more fun, and developed more creativity working in a team with different age group. Its was full of mixture of ideas from all the age group.

How to make a Geography tactile map

Earlier, Here and Here, we have created Tutorials on how to make tactile maps and 3D models of officers and buildings.

Today, lets see how we can convert normal maps of India, cities and continents to Tactile.

Step 1 : Determine the size. A tactile map almost always will need to be hanged at some place, so ask the person upfront if they want it hanged and if they have enough space.

2. Check the storage conditions. This is very important. Where the storage is in a damp place, ensure that only a laminated map is used.

3. Decide on the details. Tactile detailing takes space. Braille labels take space. Do work out what is possible in advance. The boundary (be it city, country) is definitely required. The capital is also required.

4. Get started: First, create the outline with the dark colored twine. It is easier to work from inside out than to work outside in.

5. After the twine, come the buttons, bindis or crystals.

6. The Braille labels come at the end.

7. Use long stay glue to ensure the longevity of the map.

8. Pack in cling film for storage.

Notes:
1.  It is NOT advised to put braille labels on cities unless the map is big enough to have labels next to ALL cities. Much easier to use a different type of button for each city, and then to create a legend somewhere (bottom right corner usually) . There need to be 2 buttons of each type. Please touch the buttons with your eyes closed to ensure that you can tell them apart without looking at them.

2. The continent boundaries should be thicker than the country boundary, and the country boundary thicker than the state boundary.

3. When creating maps of cities, use territorial markings only. Refer a municipality approved map.

4. Do not mix physical and political maps in the same map. Create 2 different maps . They are easy to do.

5. When doing physical maps, we can use the following indicative materials:
   1. Flat Lands: Green velvet paper.
   2. Mountains/ Peaks: Use simple game counters for peaks. You can also create small 3D peaks using play dough that children use. Don't make them so high that the person cannot navigate around the peaks to the base.
3. For plateaus, raise the surface according to the nature of the plateau. You can also use material like thermocol if required.
4. For water bodies, you can use 3D paints to create a "wave" pattern within the body in addition to using high contrast blue.
5. All physical maps can be legended using buttons, bindis, cones etc, so long as these items are physically distinguishable. But do legending only after discussion with the user. Not all users are braille literate.
6. DO draw a scale on tactile maps. That one needs to be labelled.

Here is a sample tactile map that we made once:

 

The Esha Volunteering Page is now Live!!

For a long time now, we have felt the need to create a page on our website where people who want to volunteer can see the currently open volunteering roles, and make specific, productive contribution with their time.

Finally, the Volunteering Page is up and Live!!

Here, you can see all the volunteering needs we have at that time..choose one or more, and express interest!

Special thanks to our Technical Friend of Esha who refuses to be named :)

If you know of any students looking for great volunteering work that comes with the relevant certificate for the work that they do, guide them here..

http://www.braillecards.org/volunteer.php

Wanted: Brand Name for Project for Schools

Dear All: We are looking for a brand name for a project that will work with school children in an year long project. During the year, the students will participate in activities that lead to an inclusive mindset - Blind Walk, Theater Workshop (9Tanki), Read Fest, Blind School visits et al. At the end of the year, these children will be ambassadors of inclusion in their own lives. The project will be fun, with no preaching, a lot of experiential learning.


 What should we call it?