Taken from Times of India.
PUNE: In many ways, Pratibha Sanap is like any other 22-year-old, upbeat with her new full-time job with a city-based software major. On weekdays, Sanap tests the software designed by her company for the visually impaired and on weekends, she surfs social networking sites, cooks a sumptuous lunch for herself and her two friends, listens to songs and go shopping for clothes on FC Road.
The only thing that sets her apart from many other girls her age is her eyesight, which she lost when she was a young school girl in Aurangabad.
Sanap completed her education from the National Federation of Blind, Maharashtra (NFBM) Jagruti School for Blind Girls located in Alandi. But she did her higher-secondary and graduation from Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce, a mainstream institution.
In May 2011, Sanap and her two friends, Anjana Kale and Kavita Sadakal (who too suffer from partial and nearly complete blindness) were picked up by BMC India to be trained in IT-related and other soft skills.
The girls were trained in basic computer operations, spoken English and other soft skills and went on test the software developed by the company for user friendliness for the visually impaired, a job done so far by regular employees of the company.
Since November 2014, the trio has been working on Job Access With Speech (JAWS) software - a screen reader developed for visually-challenged computer users- that provides speech and Braille output for popular computer applications. They also use the software to write emails, chat on Skype and surf the net.
The three concede that it's an exciting phase in their lives. "Most of our other visually-challenged friends have got government jobs in schools, banks and as clerks and peons. We are happy to have got this opportunity and plan to make the most of it. The staff is very helpful and supportive, but we feel better doing most of our work independently," Sanap says, as she picks up her smartphone to answer a call.
Her friend Anjana Kale, also from Aurangabad, says, "We are able to manage just about everything, including getting around the city in buses, exchanging messages with friends on WhatsApp and even cooking, but I wish I could see actors dance as I wish to copy their steps and dance like them."
Daughter of a farmer in Ahmednagar, Kavita Sadakal says she can't thank her parents enough for letting her complete her education. "Girls should be allowed to study and pursue their dreams. I am thankful to my family that did not stop me from going to school. They said it's something they couldn't do themselves, so didn't want to deny it to me," she said.
Describing their attempt as a win-win for all stakeholders, Shashank Bhushan, area vice president (human resources)-APAC at BMC India says, "We are proud of the courage the girls have demonstrated and overcome challenges to be part of this social innovation of sorts. Hopefully our story shall inspire other organizations as well as people with challenges to overcome the odds."
Girls and women are extremely strong but need the correct opportunities, says Sakeena Bedi, spokesperson for NFBM Jagruti School for Blind Girls.
"Before joining BMC India, these three girls did not know how to even turn on the computer. English was a major challenge too. But the kind of effort that these girls put in has translated this opportunity into a life-changer for them. There are many more like them who are waiting for such chances," she said.
Source: Times of India.
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