Eyeway Conversations

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Sanjay Jain, Professor at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

Blind since childhood, Dr. Jain opens up about his journey from studying music to becoming a leading academic in law. He reflects on the role of inclusive education, strong mentorship, and self-advocacy in overcoming systemic barriers—both in academia and public life.

• From braille textbooks in school to inaccessible law classrooms

• Contributing to accessibility reforms under the guidance of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, as part of a Supreme Court Committee

•  Researching feminism and later championing disability rights

• The importance of attitude, technology, and resilience

• Guidance for visually impaired students pursuing legal careers

A powerful story of purpose, perseverance, and paving the way for others.

If you or someone you know needs support, call the Eyeway Helpdesk: 1800 53 20469

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In this heartfelt episode, George Abraham speaks with Nzano Shitio, a young writer and musician from Kohima, Nagaland, who is currently interning at Enable India in Bangalore. Nzano, whose name means "lovely" in her native language, opens up about her inspiring journey as a woman with visual impairment.

She shares her early struggles growing up in Nagaland, where limited accessibility and delayed education posed significant hurdles. Nzano also bravely talks about her long battle with depression, which spanned nearly a decade. Despite facing rejection from music institutions and the weight of societal prejudice, she found solace and strength in her creative pursuits. A turning point came through the guidance of a compassionate mentor, which helped her rediscover her voice and purpose. Today, Nzano channels her experiences into music and writing, using them as powerful tools of self-expression and resilience.

Learn about:

• How Nzano discovered music at age nine and taught herself to play guitar

• The inclusive school environment that supported her despite limited resources

• Her struggle with accepting her disability due to societal attitudes

• The transformative mentorship that helped her overcome suicidal thoughts

• Her current work with the Manomaya project focusing on mental health for persons with disabilities

• Her creative aspirations including songwriting and upcoming music release

This inspiring conversation highlights the importance of resilience, mentorship, and following one's passion even in the face of significant obstacles.

This podcast is brought to you by the Score Foundation. If you know anyone with vision impairment who needs guidance, please share the Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline number: 1800 53 20 469.

In the light of World Autism Acceptance Week, George Abraham talks to Moneisha Gandhi and Gopika Kapoor, two mothers from Mumbai who created the BuddyUp Network app to help people with disabilities find friends and build connections.

The guests share their personal journeys as parents of children with disabilities (Down syndrome and autism) and how their children's friendship inspired them to develop a secure, accessible app that now connects 4,000+ users across India. Interestingly, most of the users of this app belong to the visually impaired community.

This conversation highlights how innovative solutions can address the social isolation often experienced by those with autism and other disabilities.

Learn about:

• The challenges of social isolation faced by people with disabilities

• How the BuddyUp Network app works and its security features

• The impact of meaningful friendships on their children's lives

• Why the app has become particularly popular among visually impaired users

• Success stories of users forming community groups

• Upcoming features including a dating/matchmaking option for users seeking life partners

This free app is available in both English and Hindi on iOS and Android, with special accessibility features including dark mode for users with low vision. The platform welcomes people of all disabilities and ages.

This podcast is brought to you by the Score Foundation. To support work with the blind and visually impaired, visit: www.scorefoundation.org.in

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline: If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Veena Mehta Verma, an accomplished HR professional and the Director of the National Association for the Blind Center at Dwarka, New Delhi. She is transforming opportunities in both corporate and social sectors.

Despite facing challenges with retinitis pigmentosa since birth, Veena pursued higher education, including an MBA in Human Resources, fighting institutional barriers along the way. After an 18-year career as an HR Manager at NTPC, she has taken a sabbatical to serve as Director of the National Association for the Blind Center at Dwarka, New Delhi.

Today, Veena is revolutionizing services for the visually impaired through comprehensive programs including an old age home facility, crisis intervention for newly blind adults, and cooking workshops that promote independence and self-reliance.

Topics Covered:

• Journey from breaking educational barriers to corporate success.
• Creating pathways for the elderly and newly blind.
• Innovative crisis intervention and vocational programs.
• Practical cooking techniques for the visually impaired
• Transforming workplace attitudes through personal initiative

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline: If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. B.S.M. Kumar, a visually impaired professional working at Continual Engine, a company developing AI-driven accessibility solutions for education and digital content.

Dr. Kumar was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in his teenage years, leading to progressive vision loss. Despite accessibility challenges, he pursued MSc in Chemistry and M.Tech in Chemical Analysis and Control from IIT Delhi, followed by a PhD in Analytical Chemistry focusing on Air Pollution. In the GATE examination, he scored 98 percentile in Chemistry, securing an All India Rank of 10.

Navigating higher education with limited access to Braille, screen readers, and assistive technology, he adapted innovative methods to continue his studies. His personal experiences with inaccessible academic resources shaped his understanding of digital accessibility and its impact on education.

At Continual Engine, he develops AI-powered solutions to improve digital accessibility, ensuring that learning materials, documents, and online platforms become more inclusive for visually impaired users.

Topics Covered:

• Adapting to vision loss and assistive technology

• Studying Chemistry at IIT Delhi and securing an AIR 10 in GATE
• Accessibility challenges in STEM education
• Transitioning into a career in digital accessibility and AI
• The role of AI in making educational content inclusive

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline:If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Salman Ali Qazi, Head of the Special Education Department at Christchurch College, Lucknow, who is breaking barriers for visually impaired students.

Despite facing challenges with retinitis pigmentosa since childhood, Salman completed his education including law school, before finding his true calling in special education. After discovering screen reading software and learning Braille during his B.Ed. at Dr. Shakuntala Mishra University, where he topped his batch and received a gold medal, he went on to transform inclusive education practices.

Today, at Christchurch College, Salman has developed an innovative system where visually impaired students receive specialized training in Braille and computers, transition successfully to mainstream classes, and learn independently through technology-enabled solutions.

Topics Covered: 

• Journey from low vision to becoming an inclusive education advocate 

• Creating pathways for mainstream education inclusion 

•  Innovative solutions for math, science, and digital literacy 

• Real-life impact of inclusive education practices 

•  Personal experiences and family support system

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline:If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. T.K. Bansal, an innovator, mentor and educator whose life journey is as inspiring as his contributions to accessibility.

A physics topper, Dr. Bansal pursued MTech, and PhD degrees from IIT Delhi, and a postdoctoral research at Oxford. While he also built a successful career in coaching institutes, his true passion lay in technology and education for the visually impaired.

From introducing the Marshmallow Cane in India to mentoring blind students who aspire to study engineering, Dr. Bansal has dedicated his life to make education more accessible for the blind. He believes that innovation and the right guidance can transform lives, and through his organization, he continues to empower individuals with visual disabilities.

Join us as we explore his remarkable journey—his academic achievements, his belief in technology-driven solutions, and the impact of a teacher’s role in shaping lives.

Topics Covered:

• Dr. Bansal’s journey from being a physics topper to earning a postdoc at Oxford

• His transition from mainstream coaching to mentoring blind students in engineering

• Introducing the Marshmallow Cane in India

• The role of technology in education and accessibility

• How a teacher’s guidance can change the course of a student’s life

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline:If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode ofEyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sukriti Suri, a visually impaired student pursuing mathematics from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu & Kashmir. 

Sukriti’s academic path has been anything but conventional. Initially opting for history because she was unsure about mathematics, she couldn’t ignore her passion for numbers. Taking a bold step after her graduation, sheemailed her current university to inquire about switching tomathematics—a decision that changed the course of her academic journey.

Beyond academics, Sukriti has a love for poetry, writing and watching informative content on youtube  and is deeply interested in research. She aspires to contribute meaningfully to the field of mathematics and make academic spaces more inclusive for people with disabilities.

Join us as we explore Sukriti’s journey of perseverance, curiosity, and advocacy in higher education.

Topics Covered:

• Sukriti’s early academic choices and her love for mathematics.

• The turning point: emailing her university to pursue mathematics.

• Her experiences navigating higher education as a visually impaired student.

• The importance of accessibility and inclusion in academic spaces.

Eyeway National Toll-Free Helpline:If you or someone you know with vision impairment needs guidance, contact1-800-5320-469.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham reminisces about Sadhan Gupta in conversation with his daughter, Chandriya Alam.

Blind from the age of 15 months, Sadhan Gupta defied all odds. He rose to become a prominent Member of Parliament, Advocate General of West Bengal, and a dedicated trade union leader. This episode explores his remarkable journey, showcasing his resilience, his passion for social justice, and his unwavering commitment to workers' rights and disability rights.

Discover how Sadhan Gupta, despite his visual impairment, lived a full and impactful life. Learn about his multifaceted career, his contributions to Indian politics, and the profound influence he had on his family and community.

This is a conversation that celebrates the life of a truly remarkable individual and serves as an inspiration to all.

Key Points:

Sadhan Gupta's life and career: Lawyer, politician, social activist.

Overcoming adversity: Living a fulfilling life despite blindness.

Dedication to workers' rights, social justice, and disability rights.

His profound impact on family and community.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates the life and legacy of a truly remarkable individual.