Given the rapacious human resource (HR) practises of most profit-first newspapers, magazines and TV stations (which are otherwise lecturing the world on corporate social responsibility), there are few handicapped people on their rolls and even fewer facilities for them.
Bangalore’s oldest English newspaper, Deccan Herald, is an outstanding exception.
On Louis Braille‘s birthday, L. Subramani pens a poignant 859-word piece on how the internet is the gateway to a brave new world for people like him:
“There are several thousands of persons with vision challenge who use the net to teach spoken English, creating web content and do medical transcription, which would have made Louis Braille proud.
“Ten years ago, internet was merely a tool for learning and exchanging emails. It had since evolved into a huge social medium that connects the blind with several professional groups and provide them the best opportunity to earn exposing only their advantages. Many of the visually challenged have formed professional and interest based groups in Facebook, while others have also taken advantage of Linkedin.”
Two years ago in a world-first, Bangalore Doordarshan observed Braille’s birthday by getting visually challenged people to read the news:
“Society does not take note of us. Therefore such a platform is essential. We believe endeavours like these will spur people to empathise with us better,” said one of the news readers, Manjunath.
So, how many visually challenged and differently abled people does your newspaper, magazine, or TV station employ?
Read the full article: Internet opens a new world
Photograph: Students take part in the 203rd birth anniversary celebrations of Louie Braille, organised by the national federation of the b
Also read: When the blind read the news on Bangalore DD
IJR 
The Hindu had PA Seshan who wrote under the pseudonym of Leo before bylines became the rule. He had progressed into blindness and had a secretary assigned who read things out to him and took dictation. Seshan, from his Chennai office room wrote about most things connected with commerce and legend is that he recall over a thousand balance sheets.
Currently, Garimella Subramanyam, a deputy editor is visually challenged and yet walks about the office without any assistance, writes editorials and is a brilliant mind.
These two never fussed about their disability. Nor did The Hindu crow about it; it was just one of those things routine.
Not in India, but author/journalist Ved Mehta’s life is a fantastic example.
hi I’m prathamesh bendre from mumbai India. I’m also a vidually chalanged person. I would like to know that how many blind people are there on facebook? Please let me know.
blind friends can add me as a friend on facebook.
My profile name: prathamesh bendre
Thank you