The internet, today, has made a variety of content available and easily accessible for a reader across the digital spectrum. For a moment, imagine your life without the internet or digital access. Despite the advancements in online platforms, there aren’t systems or user-friendly modes at hand for the print disabled—those who cannot read due to vision impairment, learning or physical disabilities. They still find it a challenge to consume or download online content, especially in text.
To facilitate accessible books for those that can’t read print, a nationwide web-based digital ecosystem, ‘Sugamya Pustakalya’, was launched in 2016, powered by TCS’ Access Infinity. It is a specially designed inclusive and integrated online library, allowing multiple beneficiaries from anywhere and anytime to upload and access media in real time.
‘Sugamya Pustakalya,’ which literally translates to ‘the accessible library’, is a collaborative initiative by Daisy Forum of India (DFI), National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) and TCS.
A beneficiary of the platform described it as a “boon” for individuals who find it challenging to read print. Access to books anywhere off the internet in different consumable formats has had an enduring impact among this group of individuals.