Eyeway Conversations

They told him his face made people uncomfortable.

Manoj Kumar, an acid attack survivor, has been job hunting for years — not because he lacks skills, but because society can’t look past his scars.

This is Eyeway Rubaru, where we talk to people who have experienced late blindness in their lives to understand their journeys.

It leaves us wondering: If we claim to be an inclusive society, why do we force people like Manoj to cover their faces just to step outside? Why do we measure human worth by appearance rather than ability?

Help Manoj get a Job.

If you know someone with vision impairment who needs help or guidance, share the Eyeway Helpline: 8800 00 4334

Or Visit:⁠⁠ www.scorefoundation.org.in

After losing her mother, Aanchal began to lose her eyesight just before her Class 10 exams. Despite the emotional and physical challenges, she didn’t stop.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, Aanchal shares her powerful journey—from being denied admission due to her blindness to cracking CLAT and becoming a lawyer. Now working with the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, she’s helping shape a more inclusive legal and digital system in India.

Aanchal talks about:

• Navigating mainstream education as a blind student
  

• Facing institutional rejection and choosing law over medicine
  

• Preparing for CLAT with minimal accessible resources
  

• Working at top law firms and pushing for structural inclusion
  

• Fighting for digital accessibility as a fundamental right
  

She also reflects on the recent Supreme Court judgment that recognised digital accessibility as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

If you know someone with vision impairment who needs help or guidance, share the Eyeway Helpline: 8800 00 4334Visit: www.scorefoundation.org.in

Siddharth Mahajan grew up in Vijayapura, a small town in northern Karnataka. Born blind, he faced many challenges in school, including being teased and excluded. But with the support of his family and a few teachers who believed in him, Siddharth slowly built a strong academic path for himself.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, he talks about:

• Studying in a mainstream school as a blind student
  

• Developing a deep interest in English literature
  

• Interning with The Hindu and completing online global courses
  

• Teaching himself music and releasing his first Kannada track
  

• Why he wants to become a professor and change how people see disability in education
  

If you know someone with vision impairment who needs help or guidance, share the

Eyeway Helpline: 8800 00 4334

Visit: www.scorefoundation.org.in

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sandeep Sharma, a government school teacher from Bikaner, Rajasthan. Blind since childhood, Sandeep’s journey is rooted in curiosity—from tinkering with radios and playing harmonium to mastering screen readers and launching one of the most unique platforms for blind users: Techno with Friends.

What started as a group of friends sharing tech tips evolved into a YouTube channel, a 24x7 internet radio, and a hub of accessible learning content—including tutorials on music production, screen readers, and computers. Sandeep’s love for Hindi, his innovative DIY spirit, and his belief in self-learning are inspiring a generation of visually impaired individuals across India.

Listen in to hear how one teacher turned his limitations into a launchpad.

Connect with Techno With Friends:WhatsApp: 9460504850YouTube: Techno With Friends

For guidance on life with blindness, call the Eyeway National Helpdesk: 8800 004 334

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ummehaani Bagasrawala, a corporate executive at Deutsche Bank and the founder of Pearls of Vision. Ummehaani shares her journey navigating the structured world of banking, her early career in marketing and sales, and the personal challenges she faced as a visually impaired student seeking accessible education.

She talks about facing exclusion in the workplace, the lack of systemic support for students with disabilities, and how these experiences motivated her to start Pearls of Vision, a volunteer-led initiative that connects blind students with scribes, readers, and career guidance.

Tune in to hear how one woman turned everyday hurdles into meaningful support for others in the blind community.

For scribe or reader support, or to volunteer, reach out to Pearls of Vision via WhatsApp or social media.

Eyeway Helpdesk: 8800 00 4334⁠ www.scorefoundation.org.in

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sameer Latey, a finance professional with over 25 years of corporate experience, currently working at Reliance Industries.

Despite losing his vision completely in 2000, Sameer pursued Chartered Accountancy, navigated articleship without digital accessibility, and steadily built a successful career in finance and accounting. From Tally and SAP to mergers, acquisitions, and taxation, his professional footprint spans major organizations across Mumbai.

Beyond work, Sameer is actively involved with Snehankit Helpline, mentoring others, developing screen reader-compatible Tally training, and supporting blind students with accessible study materials. In this conversation, he shares:

• How he entered finance and cracked CA before accessibility tools were mainstream

• Working in diverse roles at Union Bank, MCX, and Reliance

• Tips on navigating corporate life as a blind professional
  

• How screen readers, self-learning, and teamwork shaped his career

• His ongoing volunteer work and why staying updated is non-negotiable

• Reflections on AI’s growing role in finance and accessibility

Eyeway Helpdesk: 8800 00 4334 www.scorefoundation.org.in

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nyonyok, a multi-talented blind student from Arunachal Pradesh, currently pursuing English Honours at St. Edmund's College, Shillong.

From growing up in a remote corner of Northeast India with limited awareness about disability, to becoming an international blind football player, rapper, music producer, and voice artist—Nyonyok’s story is full of quiet determination and creativity.

In this episode, he shares:

• His early years in inclusive and residential schools across Assam and Meghalaya

• Representing India in blind football, and his childhood experiments with tying plastic bags to footballs to make them audible

• Discovering his voice through music in class 3, and later teaching himself beatboxing and multiple instruments

• Transitioning into rap music as a form of personal expression, delivering 478 words per minute

Eyeway Helpdesk: 8800 00 4334

Learn more at: www.scorefoundation.org.in

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sagar Patil, a visually impaired entrepreneur from Mumbai and founder of Ideal Innovative Group (IIG).

After being denied admission to study electronics due to his blindness, Sagar pursued his passion independently—repairing radios, reading technical manuals, and learning through practice. What began as self-study evolved into a structured business model. Today, he designs and manufactures solar-powered torches, sensor-based lighting, and accessible tools such as talking multimeters—devices now used by other blind professionals.

Sagar also runs a training program where visually impaired individuals learn electronics and gain work experience. Some go on to join his company, while others start ventures of their own in cities across Maharashtra.

In this conversation, he shares:

• How curiosity led him to electronics

• Designing tools tailored for blind users

• Collaborating with companies like Tata Power and Mahindra

• Creating food products using mushroom byproducts

• Supporting others to build independent livelihoods
  

  For information or support, contact the Eyeway Helpdesk: 8800 00 4334

  Listen to the full episode now.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with O. Aishwarya, a PhD scholar at IIIT Bangalore, working at the intersection of assistive technology, social sciences, and inclusive education.

Aishwarya’s research focuses on developing tactile art opportunities for children who are blind, with a goal to establish an independent grammar of tactile expression—distinct from visual interpretations. Through her work, she questions visual-centric notions of art and explores how texture, space, and sequencing redefine creative engagement for blind learners.

She also opens up about:

• Studying in mainstream schools in Kerala and Karnataka, and the gaps in inclusive practices

• Her experience of being denied access to swimming pools in Bangalore, despite being a trained swimmer

• Missing out on geometry, lab work, and life skills due to a lack of accessible pedagogy

• Learning braille, computer skills, and mobility much later, led entirely by family effort and timing

• The shift she experienced when Azim Premji University proactively asked her about accommodations—an empowering first step.
  

This is a compelling conversation that challenges conventional ideas of access, participation, and the role of institutions in enabling inclusion.

For information or support, contact the Eyeway Helpdesk: 8800 00 4334

Listen to the full episode now.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Divya Bijur, a Mumbai-based physiotherapist and trained singer. Divya, who is visually impaired, has built a successful independent practice while pursuing her passion for music,travel and languages.

She shares her journey of navigating physiotherapy education at a time when mainstream inclusion for visually impaired students was rare in India. Drawing from her international exposure in the UK and Australia, Divya adopted adaptive techniques and practical solutions to deliver high-quality patient care.

🔹 Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy through mainstream education 🔹 Establishing her own clinic to create a structured and accessible work environment 🔹 Building patient relationships through communication and personalized care 🔹 Developing a love for languages, travel, and Hindustani classical music 🔹 Using music as a medium for self-expression and emotional wellbeing

Divya’s story offers insight into determination, professional excellence, and the importance of accessible education and workspaces for persons with disabilities.

For information or support, contact the Eyeway Helpdesk: 1800 53 20469

Listen to the full conversation now.