Taking computer education for the visually impaired online: a new chapter for the ST Foundation
Last November, we took an important step forward in our ongoing initiative to teach basic computer skills to visually impaired individuals in India. This time, we decided to do something new: conduct the entire training ’online’, through virtual sessions designed specifically for visually impaired learners.
What started as a simple idea quickly turned into a powerful movement.
It all started with a simple message shared in a WhatsApp group of visually impaired people. That message was forwarded from one group to another, and soon it began to travel far and wide. Within few days, we started receiving interest from visually impaired individuals across multiple states in the country — each message carrying hope, curiosity, and a desire to learn. We believe this approach will encourage many people to join as they face daily challenges with transportation and travel cost, dependency on others to accompany them, and limited access to training centers in their locality.
By bringing the classroom to their homes, we hoped to remove at least some of these barriers.
To ensure focused attention, better control, and high quality in this new experiment, we decided to start with a pilot program. From the many entries we received, we enrolled 24 students on the Introduction to Computer Basics course, which officially started on 14 November 2025.
The course was designed as a two-month program, with 60–70 minute online sessions held five days a week. Conducted entirely online, the sessions were carefully structured to be accessible, interactive, and supportive for visually impaired learners. Screen readers, keyboard shortcuts, and audio-based guidance formed the backbone of the teaching methodology.
An important part of this journey was the involvement of Prof. Cristian Bernareggi, our consultant from the University of Milano (Italy). Initially, he was somewhat apprehensive about whether an online model could truly work for visually impaired learners. To understand it better, he joined a couple of sessions himself. After observing the flow of the classes, the trainers’ command of the subject, and the structure of the course, his doubts turned into confidence. He came away reassured and positive that this virtual approach is not only feasible, but also a powerful way to reach visually impaired individuals who might otherwise be left out.
As days turned into weeks, it became clear that this was not just another computer course. The students were not only learning how to use basic computer applications — they were gaining confidence, interacting with peers from different regions, and discovering new possibilities for their future. The virtual classroom slowly became a community: students helped each other, celebrated small milestones, and grew together.
For many participants, this course marked their first structured exposure to digital tools. What started as learning to type, navigate, and understand basic software soon evolved into something much deeper. It opened conversations around employment, higher education, and independent living in a digital world that had often felt inaccessible.
In the end, this journey has been about more than teaching computer basics.
It has been about opening doors—to jobs, to learning, and to self-reliance.
It has been about building confidence—one concept, one session, one success at a time.
It has been about transforming lives, one keystroke at a time.
If you are interested in knowing more about this project, and / or deploying it further in India, contact us.