Our Winners : The Marathi Short Story Writing Contest for the Visually Challenged

Prakash Pandagle, Sushma Nikam, Sandeep Bhalerao, Radha
Ikankar & Kaushalya Sathe
Sakal Marathi, Page 3, 2nd September
“So far, we have read about the world as seen by others, in their words. But now, we are also writers. We can write about the world we see and experience. It is not as if our lives are only about sorrows, there are many elements of fun and joy
too. We will now share these in our writings."
Pandagle
“It is necessary to express and share our lives and experiences in words. This contest has given us the opportunity do so”
Sushma“ We may not have sight, but we do have thoughts and imagination and can write. Many people tell us that writing isn’t for us…but this contest is a chance to bust this myth.”-
Radha“ We have been able to come this far with support from friends and society and we can’t forget that”
The winners vowed to always write about their world they way they percieve it, using their imagination and experiences - without
pandering to the stereotypes of the sighted world. [Rough translation of relevant feedback]
Ikankar & Kaushalya Sathe
Sakal Marathi, Page 3, 2nd September
“So far, we have read about the world as seen by others, in their words. But now, we are also writers. We can write about the world we see and experience. It is not as if our lives are only about sorrows, there are many elements of fun and joy
too. We will now share these in our writings."
Pandagle
“It is necessary to express and share our lives and experiences in words. This contest has given us the opportunity do so”
Sushma“ We may not have sight, but we do have thoughts and imagination and can write. Many people tell us that writing isn’t for us…but this contest is a chance to bust this myth.”-
Radha“ We have been able to come this far with support from friends and society and we can’t forget that”
The winners vowed to always write about their world they way they percieve it, using their imagination and experiences - without
pandering to the stereotypes of the sighted world. [Rough translation of relevant feedback]
Sensitization

Sensitization for Design Students at MIT, Loni.
Conference

Beyond Disabilities, Infinite Possibilities: Our Conference to make education, training and employment opportunities and facilities better for PwD: 19/20 July 2012
The conference was attended by concerned individuals from Pune and other parts of India most of who have worked extensively towards empowering PwD in different ways.
The outcome of the conference was the proposal of a forum and the decision to publish handbooks with important information on Disabilities and related aspects, issues and solutions.
The conference was attended by concerned individuals from Pune and other parts of India most of who have worked extensively towards empowering PwD in different ways.
The outcome of the conference was the proposal of a forum and the decision to publish handbooks with important information on Disabilities and related aspects, issues and solutions.

Participants with Visual Challenges came over to learn some soft skills at our Weekend Course on 16/17 June 2012. They learnt a lot and taught us some lessons too!
We took them Djembe drumming with a motley group of people at Empress Garden, Pune after the training was over. Everyone watched them discreetly as they drummed in total abandon paying rapt attention to the audio cues they got from the group that was reacting to visual cues from the Taal Inc. team. Needless to say they had the time of their lives!
We took them Djembe drumming with a motley group of people at Empress Garden, Pune after the training was over. Everyone watched them discreetly as they drummed in total abandon paying rapt attention to the audio cues they got from the group that was reacting to visual cues from the Taal Inc. team. Needless to say they had the time of their lives!
Our workshops

Speechless and Ex-sight-ed are our sensitization workshops for all. We had different groups of people participating and going back with a completely new understanding of Visual, Speech and Hearing impairments.
Sensitization via participation and sponsorship

Fabulous Wall Painting contest by Desart..wonderful turn out...fun morning. Disability wasn't one of the causes listed but EKansh ensured it made it to the wall..and the event.
Working with the Visually Challenged

Training for VISUALLY IMPAIRED candidates at Pune Blind Men's
Association - TTI, Hadapsar. Confidence, self esteem, work skills and happiness.
11 of our students were absorbed in the VODAFONE call-centre right after our training.
Association - TTI, Hadapsar. Confidence, self esteem, work skills and happiness.
11 of our students were absorbed in the VODAFONE call-centre right after our training.
Indian Sign Language for all

Our group learning Basic Indian Sign Language: We had students from Turkey, Germany, Bangladesh, USA, UK, Spain, Slovakia, Guatemala & India. What fun!
Reaching out to slums and rural areas

Our calendars for 2012 with important information on prevention and detection of disabilities and understanding early steps to be taken once they are detected. We need your help to ensure that these calendars reach health workers/centres and other such organizations in rural and semi urban areas.
The calendars are in SIMPLE MARATHI with a lot of pictures too.
The main idea is to ensure that children born with disabilities do not miss out on early intervention. Please send us your address and work details in our contact form and we will mail you the calendars [3 per request] right away.
The calendars are in SIMPLE MARATHI with a lot of pictures too.
The main idea is to ensure that children born with disabilities do not miss out on early intervention. Please send us your address and work details in our contact form and we will mail you the calendars [3 per request] right away.
Reaching out via calendars.

Over 1100 calendars have been distributed already. Our work for early awareness continues.