Eyeway Conversations

In this episode of  Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siddhant Shah, an Indian Heritage Architect who specializes in designing spaces that are inclusive. Siddhant is a Stavros Niarchos Scholar and completed his Master's in Heritage Management in Greece from the University of Kent. His journey began at home when he realized the difficulties his partially-sighted mother faced when trying to visit museums and public art venues. Siddhant also won a UNESCO and Archaeological Survey of India competition to make heritage sites in India disabled-friendly. These experiences motivated him to work towards making cultural sites more accessible for people with various disabilities and later, he was also diagnosed with tunnel vision.  After absorbing the wisdom of other countries through his study and travels, Siddhant came back to India and founded Access for All, a consultancy firm based in Mumbai that focuses on design-based solutions for Indian cultural destinations and monuments, rethinking accessibility and inclusion practices for all visitors. Siddhant has worked on several projects, including making Jaipur's City Palace more accessible. His work includes developing tactile replicas, audio descriptions, and other assistive technologies to make cultural sites more accessible to people with disabilities. He has also served as a Resource Consultant for the National Museum under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and continues to work with different art galleries, museums, schools, and spaces in India and abroad.  Tune in to listen to Siddhant's quest for accessible spaces and his efforts to transform India's cultural landscape. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/HSexRlR-eytdrCZIcwekIDbPKc4?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kamal Prajapati, a multi-talented Radio Journalist who dons various hats including that of a creative writer and is adept at crafting radio jingles and scripts. Kamal's love for radio dates back to his school days at the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in Dehradun where he regularly participated in the All India Radio programs. After graduating in History from St. Stephens College, he pursued a Radio and Television Journalism course at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Subsequently, he worked with News Express and also as a radio presenter with a community radio called Apna Radio stationed at IIMC, New Delhi before making it to the Indian Information Service (IIS). He is posted to All India Radio as a News Editor, where his responsibilities include preparing and supervising news content, organizing and moderating discussions, and presenting programs where he even interviews ministers and bureaucrats on his shows. He believes that his proficiency in Braille scripts, sound editing tools, and computers have stood him in good stead in his profession in radio. Besides, Kamal is also a talented poet and musician. Tune in to listen to his journey as a radio journalist! This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Lois Strachan, a bestselling author, disability advocate, transformational speaker, blogger, podcaster, and a part-time rock musician. Vision loss at the young age of 21, led Lois to discover new dreams and embrace her passion for music. Besides majoring in English Literature, she became a distinguished Toastmaster, coaching people to see new possibilities in life. She also hosts a podcast that focuses on travel for persons with disabilities. Her curiosity about the world has led her to travel around the world and facilitate numerous diverse topics through writing and blogging. She is the author of 6 books. Her books include a series of illustrated children’s books and her memoir, “A Different Way of Seeing: A blind woman’s journey of living an ‘ordinary’ life in an extraordinary way”, which achieved best-seller status on Amazon and a book written from the viewpoint of her guide dog. Lois lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and a houseful of dogs, one of whom is her beloved guide dog, Fiji. Tune in to hear about her extraordinary life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/20fUVkPBzHQVgbleymVCPmggXoY?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kartik Sawhney, a graduate from Stanford University with a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, focusing on artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. Kartik was the first blind student to pursue science education in high school in India and advocated for change in rules that now allow all blind students across the country to pursue sciences in high school. Besides working as a software engineer at Microsoft, Kartik has also worked on several entrepreneurial ventures over the years to empower people with disabilities. His venture, StemAccess (now I-Stem) provides technical training, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to blind math and science students across the country. I-Stem also works closely with the government, technical universities, and corporates to make their campuses and culture more inclusive. He has been a recipient of several national and international awards and scholarships including the Queen's Young Leaders Award 2016. Tune in to hear his inspiring journey of beating the odds and achieving his dreams! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/PhiJ-VQmwJHdl4XO7EqZh6PgPIw?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Taha Haaziq, Secretary, Office of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Goa. Taha speaks about the recent success of Purple fest; India’s first of its kind inclusive fest that embraced and celebrated Persons With Disabilities in Goa in January in 2023 and saw large numbers of participants from across the country. The Purple Fest was a culmination of various events and activities that was aimed to showcase ways to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone. Taha started his career as a computer and music teacher in National Association for the Blind before he ventured into civil services. He is the first 100 percent visually impaired person to be selected for civil services in Goa. Tune in to listen to Taha’s story of success and his mantra to live a well-balanced life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/2coiXsb8JEzjUly232oUUhKJUEg?utm_source=copy_url This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Manoj Govindraj, a professional musician and the founder of Swarras School of Music located in USA. Born blind, Manoj found his calling in music early on in life, and with the support of his parents; he began his formal training at the age of seven and parallelly completed his education from the mainstream. A rank-holder and a gold medalist from Mumbai University, he completed his Master of Fine Arts in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in 1999 and took up a part-time job teaching music in a school. Manoj later moved to the USA when an opportunity to teach music came along his way. His repertoire includes Hindustani classical (Khayal), semi-classical (Thumri, Dadra), bhajans, ghazals, and film songs in Hindi, Marathi, and other languages. He has performed extensively across the United States and parts of India. Besides his passion for music, Manoj is an ardent believer in technology. Tune in to listen to his musical journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kDIg1qptiP9HeEZm-icJuh_o7VU This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mujtaba Merchant, fondly known as Mister Kayne. He is a Project Management Professional, an accessibility advocate, a doting father and a champion of diversity and inclusion. Mujtaba lost his eye sight in the prime of his life. He was happily married with a child, headed for a promotion when Glaucoma threw his life off balance, putting a break on his future. While this experience was a traumatic one, Mujtaba rose above the challenges posed by blindness and underwent rehabilitation, after which he went back to work for the same company . In addition he actively works on Accessibility. Tune in to hear his heartening story of pre and post blindness and how determination paves the way in every circumstance! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/P7Z3go3o9AdnKV5oiKltH6ttyMo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Chetan Sharma, a banker turned social entrepreneur from Rajasthan. Chetan lost his eye sight to cancer at the age of four. He went on to complete class ten from a special school, securing 90th position in the entire state of Rajasthan competing with lacs of sighted students. He equipped himself with higher education in the mainstream, participating in extracurricular activities like debates, current affairs competitions, to emerge victorious among his sighted counterparts. Chetan was appointed as stenographer in a nationalized bank after completing his education. Through hard work and determination, he went on to become a Senior Chief Manager. Chetan took a voluntary retirement from his well-paying job at the age of fifty, to start UDBHAV VISION FOUNDATION, a non-profit set-up to work for the betterment of blind and visually impaired community. Chetan loves reading in his free time, especially inspiring autobiographies. Tune in to hear about his mantra for a successful life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/Lz_Pum847uO1cC3oY6oqRdgMddk This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kishor Gohil, a social activist, social entrepreneur, stand-up comedian, and music promoter. Kishor was born blind and grew up surrounded by people like him who didn’t have sight and was always aware of the challenges faced by the blind community. Kishor believes that with right opportunities come good education, employment, and overall well-being of blind and visually impaired people. He runs a skill development programme in Vangani (a small town in Maharashtra that is home to a large number of visually impaired people) where blind and visually impaired people learn candle making, paper products, and handicrafts which are marketed at a large scale to generate income. Kishor has been promoting the music band for the last twenty five years and has performed in countries like the US, UK, South Africa, Jordan, Israel, Gulf countries, etc. He also uses the music platform to promote and market the manufactured products to garner support for the people involved in the work. Kishor loves mimicking well-known Bollywood personalities and works passionately towards creating an empowered community of blind and visually impaired people. Tune in to hear about his journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kYaqx4K1OnsX3KBuWaums7vIAYo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nikita Vaid Raut, an HR and L&D professional, a passionate singer, and a motivational speaker. Blind by birth, Nikita never let the pity of people dampen her spirits and was committed to making a place for herself in the world. She completed her MBA degree and was recruited as a Manager-Human Resource by a leading public sector bank.  With hard work and determination, she became the first blind employee to rise to the senior leadership level of an Assistant General Manager in the bank. She is presently posted as the Learning Head of the Training College of the Bank in Mumbai and designs and conducts programmes in the domain of Leadership, Soft skills, and HR. With all her achievements Nikita has been bestowed with many accolades and awards. The most prestigious and recent one being the “National Award in the category of best Employee [Visual impairment] conferred upon her by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment” Awarded by the Honorable President of India. Nikita is an accomplished Singer and has sung for All India Radio for over 10 years. She has been invited as a motivational speaker by different corporates and institutes and so far has conducted more than 100 such sessions/interviews inspiring people. Tune in to learn more about her mantra of life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/cPY4eP4-brJwl6e4cC4OmvKo8To This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/--

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sachin Porwal, a visually impaired Law student from The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad. Sachin lost his vision in class six due to Retinitis Pigmentosa and was forced to drop out from the mainstream English medium school and take admission in a government-run Hindi medium school for Blind children. The transition from being a sighted child to becoming totally blind came with a lot of challenges, but his mother’s support encouraged him to study further and give his best. Sachin who aspires to be a lawyer advocated for his rights when he was denied admission to class 12 by a mainstream school. He later cleared the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to get into one of the most prestigious Law universities and wants to use his experience to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Besides studying Law, Sachin is a stand-up comedian, technology enthusiast,  and loves watching travel-related videos. Tune in to learn more about Sachin’s resilient journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BUsklpAqYfFomWDLk7lSpYjCfiI This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Justin Philips, a Braille and spoken English trainer at Vision-Aid, an organization working to empower blind and visually impaired people in the country. Born with congenital blindness, Justin lost his sight by the age of seven. Despite the lack of technology and resources for blind people during his growing up years, Justin achieved a master’s degree in Economics. He navigated his career path as a telephone operator, salesperson, a trainer and even worked as a transcriptionist for eight years, before learning to use computers. Today he not only trains people on Orbit Reader, Windows, iPhone etcetera but also works actively to ensure blind people have access to jobs. Justin also teaches Bollywood and Western popular music and loves reading books, and listening to podcasts and music. Tune in to learn more about his journey from ordinary to extraordinary! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/N97jZArU_UKoNGdL7_PGQrCkAhA This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Shakila Maharaj, a social entrepreneur, innovator, recognised global disability trainer and strategist from Durban, South Africa. After losing her vision in early twenties due to a childhood injury, Shakila’s life was uprooted. Her family shifted to Ireland to ensure she had access to quality education and life. Over the years, Shakila’s remarkable and diverse accomplishments have contributed towards creating an inclusive society. She pioneered audio description for 12 years across South Africa and established AudioDescribe (Pty) Ltd in 2010 and in 2020 the sister company, ShazaCin Accessible Media .(A first in the country and continent) with the aim to bring young blood and shift audio description into the digital space. Shakila’s aspiration for blind persons to see the visual world resulted   in the creation of the ShazaCin mobile app which is soon to be released on the google play store. Shakila loves travelling and experiencing new places and cultures as it allows her to interact with different kinds of people, giving her an opportunity to create awareness on life with blindness. Her other initiatives include an eight year old Audio Descriptive movie club, that allows blind and visually impaired people  to come together to experience mainstream cinema. Tune in to learn more about Shakila’s  work in the field of inclusion! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ku_lpUq2EUAJKNoPtqbqkRQLiZY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Peter Donovan, a visually impaired financial planner and a cricketer from Queensland, Australia. Peter, who was born with Albinism, struggled with vision issues since childhood. After completing his education, he chose a financial institution to work as a financial planner. But the highlight of his career was his cricket journey, where he got to represent Australian National Blind Cricket team from 1987. Peter became the first captain of his team. He was part of the Australian cricket team that participated in the first Blind World Cup, held in New Delhi in 1998, as a partially blind B3 player. He was a left handed batsman and a right arm fast bowler. Peter was also part of the founding team of the World Blind Cricket Counsel and served as a chairman in 2004. Tune in to learn more about Peter’s impressive innings and the history of blind cricket in Australia. To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/gM5mq__bBtmtfIZpRWnKKE8QKrQ This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pramit Bhargava, founder of Visioapps, a Gurugram-based startup, which developed the Louie Voice Control app, a 'virtual friend' to help visually impaired navigate digital apps. Pramit graduated from India’s prestigious engineering and management institutions (IIT and IIM) and worked for global companies such as Unilever, Motorola, and Quest Diagnostics before losing his vision to the side-effects of medicine, impacting his Retina. Vision loss took Pramit on a journey of finding a higher purpose, enabling him to use his software engineering background to create accessible apps for visually impaired people like himself. Today his accessible louie app is used worldwide and has gained recognition in the Digital Accessibility space. Tune in to hear about his experiences and learnings from his journey so far. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ilcmeWYnyDIgjUVJW2ya4J6WCz4 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sathish Kumar, a passionate digital accessibility engineer, accessibility coach, mentor, A11y blogger, editor, speaker and trainer. Born blind, Sathish was enrolled in a blind school at the age four. His love affair for computers began at the age of seven when his school introduced him to computers with screen readers. He remembers it as a magical device. An MPhil in English Literature, Sathish chose digital accessibility as his profession and through his career has achieved various milestones. He has given consultations, written VPATs, trained developers, testers and other stakeholders in digital accessibility. He speaks at developer forums, meetups, Wordcamps, A11y conferences like CSUN and authors and edits blogs. Besides a technology enthusiast, Satish loves public speaking, audio editing, and playing keyboard and beat boxing. Tune in to listen to his experiences! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/6Cz3qWFT7niEVKS_Y3bfP56-nlo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr Sharad Philip, a practicing Psychiatrist and a Clinical Assistant professor in a prestigious public medical school in India. Sharad and his two younger brothers were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and lost his vision at a young age, leading to challenges through his growing up years. Despite a discouraging eco system during his college years, Sharad was determined to study Science and not let his lack of sight become a barrier in achieving his dream of being in a medical profession. Sharad had to go the extra mile to prove that he was as capable as his sighted peers, by taking up additional responsibilities, participating in activities to convince his teachers to see him for his abilities.  He completed his MBBS, MD and several diploma degrees in his specialized area to qualify as a doctor. Today Dr Sharad works with people with substance abuse, their families, people with severe mental illnesses, children with intellectual disability and autism. He has traveled all over the world for International conferences to present his research papers and work, for which he has received many awards. Tune into listen to his story of determination and grit in the face of unfavorable circumstances! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/Q-Mz092oQy-GmqvehptHzFuqbcA  This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Praveen Kumar G, a development professional with over two decades of expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation, organisation development, diversity, equity and inclusion.  Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Praveen has not let his blindness become an impediment in achieving his goals. His passion for travelling, experiencing diverse cultures, meeting people and visiting historical places has taken him across 22 states and 150 cities and towns for work and pleasure in India. Praveen is also a mentor and coach for young people, persons with disabilities and civil society organisations. As a trainer he has facilitated trainings for civil society organisations, government, UN agencies  and corporates on diversity and inclusion. Tune in to hear about his interesting experiences and how he navigates each day with humor and zeal for life. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/DpjEoidZdg7yURA8rrohrBBWvZY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Adriana Galani, fondly known as Adina Galani. Adina was born with vision impairment in the main city of Bucharest in Romania and currently lives in Austria with her husband who is an Indian. Adina’s love affair with India began at the age of seven when her mother took her to watch a famous Hindi film,’Yaadon ki Baraat’ in a theatre in Romania. With her first stint at learning the title song of the film, Adina had found her lifelong passion for Hindi songs. Despite her growing love for Indian music, she could not afford the training back then but today is known for her accurate and melodious singing. Besides singing, Adina loves cooking various Indian dishes that she learnt while touring India for work. She has also mastered Reiki and uses the healing technique to help others. On the work front, Adina is certified as an end of life care therapist and has worked with children in a hospital in Romania.  You can subscribe to her YouTube channel here. Tune in to hear more about Adina's experiences in this podcast! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/LcN2PsVVfsDgFJEo5akEbSb_z4U This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with John Samuel, a person of Indian origin born and raised in North Carolina in the United States. He is an award winning entrepreneur and a writer.  John first learnt of Retinitis Pigmentosa when he was in college. The news of degenerative eye disease was devastating to him, which would take him more than fifteen years to accept and be open about. Over the years, John navigated through ups and downs of life. His determination to excel at his career took him around the globe, including Bangalore, New York, Douala, Kampala, and Washington.  John holds an MBA from George Washington University, a BS in accounting from North Carolina State University, and a Certified Professional in Accessible Core Competencies (CPACC) credential from International Association of Accessibility Professionals.  John is the Cofounder & CEO of Ablr, where he focuses on helping organizations be more inclusive by removing the barriers that have hindered people with disabilities from accessing education, retail, entertainment, and employment.  John is all set to launch his book ‘Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions’, an  inspirational journey against his inevitable blindness as he searched for acceptance. Tune in to learn more about his inspiring journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:https://otter.ai/u/myHDxe_iIHRpUN0saY5UvoqWWzM This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Amar Jain, a visually impaired corporate lawyer and a Co- Founder of Mission Accessibility Campaign.  Amar who hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan was enrolled into a Hindi medium Blind School at an early age. Despite coming from a conservative society, Amar’s parents were supportive and encouraged him to carve a path for himself that was unconventional.  He chose law as a profession to fight for the rights of blind and visually impaired community. Through his legal journey, he became aware of the accessibility challenges with various websites and apps and this prompted him to take a certified course in Web Accessibility, placing him in a better position to negotiate for web accessibility laws with big companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, PayTm , OYO , etcetera. Amar is also known for his extensive work on policy advocacy for persons with disabilities. He is actively involved in speaking and training engagements to build awareness and sensitivity towards disability.   Tune in to learn more about his contribution and achievements in the space of Accessibility! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:https://otter.ai/u/bz5HqzVnX-4otM8246jUP8xM1Ms This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a young, visually impaired tech geek, Aarush Bhat who believes in the power of technology for an inclusive world. Blessed with supportive parents, Aarush could pursue his interest in technology from a young age.  His first stint with coding started in class five when he was able to make his own website. Ever since, there has been no looking back. He has independently written his examinations using computers, proving that blind students could achieve everything with the right tools and inclusive environment. One of the highlights from Aarush’s school life has been his participation in the one week space camp at Huntsville, Alabama on a 100% scholarship offered by SIVIS, where he networked with bright minds and learnt about technology used in space. Besides procuring several certificates through his MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) learning journey, Aarush has developed learning software to help other visually impaired students study advanced stem subjects using computers. Aarush is also known for his contribution to Vedantu, an Indian online tutoring platform, where he worked as an intern to guide their tech and pedagogy professionals on making study material more inclusive for visually impaired learners. His hard work and ‘never give up’ attitude has landed him a seat in the University of Alberta, Canada, for a graduate program where he will study to become a software engineer. You can follow Aarush on his YouTube channel ‘Inclusion The Motto’! Tune in to be inspired by his life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/5NMfpPlp9B4h6plEmxTHmSPvkDk This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a multi-talented nineteen-year-old Hannah Alice Simon from Kochi, Kerala. Her name began to make the rounds after she topped the CBSE Class 12 exam 2022 with 496 marks in the specially-abled category. Hannah’s journey from a blind girl to the topper of the CBSE came with a lot of challenges. But what remained constant in her life was the support of her parents who believed in her abilities and encouraged her to take life heads on. She studied in the mainstream school, learnt to write in braille and later acquainted herself with technology that enabled her to become an avid reader and helped her write her examinations independently without needing a scribe. Besides being academically bright, Hannah is a trained singer, composing her own songs. She also travels and speaks to audiences from across the world, sharing her inspiring story, and motivating people to live their best life. As a result of her sheer determination, Hannah has become the only Keralite to win a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States. Tune in to learn more about her remarkable journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/rGUOLrbn-KonebnjSKALHx3cfwE This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mahenoor Ali who is a Postgraduate in Mathematics from IIT Delhi and an aspiring civil servant. Though Mahenoor was born blind, it did not stop her from pursuing her passion for Mathematics. She was supported and encouraged by her father who assisted her throughout her schooling years. She graduated from Miranda House and did her master's in Mathematics at the prestigious IIT Delhi. As a young achiever, Mahenoor is a topper in class, has received various awards, represented India at the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students, and has undertaken various courses from foreign universities. With a keen interest in rural development, public health, climate change, and a passion to serve the community, she is currently preparing for the UPSC exam. Mahenoor shares her journey of hardships in learning Mathematics in school and college and how she decided to appear for the civil service exam. Tune in to listen to her story! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/O9EiZk6qK6xGJ2BB2K2MGvc9lU0 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Reshmi Pramod, an Ayurveda Doctor. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Jeevaniyam Ayurveda Hospital & Research Center, Kochi, Kerala. In 2004, Dr. Reshmi lost her eyesight. However, she did not allow this impairment to hamper her dream and career. Born in a family of doctors and Ayurveda practitioners, she grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor and serving the community. With the help of her family's support and learning new skills, she revived her profession in 2006 with the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC) at the Bolgatty Palace. With the confidence and experience gained through this, Dr. Reshmi launched the Jeevaniyam Hospital and Research Centre, with a vision to inspire, rehabilitate and empower children with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and mental retardation through Ayurveda treatment, counseling, and vocational training. Tune in to listen to this inspiring conversation. To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/hN_LT0P0QEeuQBQr1WDOKbEdF3k This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Hein Wagner, a Global Adventurer and a Motivational Speaker. Hein who was born blind, discovered his passion for adventure as a teenager when he took his first hike and fell in love with nature. He went on to start his career as a switchboard operator and soon entered the IT industry and worked his way up the career path. In 2014, he quit to pursue his passion for action. Hein lives a life of high adventure, competing in endurance events around the world. He has completed the Absa Cape Epic on a tandem, Cape to Rio Yacht race, ran the Antarctica Marathon, climbed the ten highest mountains in the Western Cape, and set the World Blind Land Speed Record 2009 at 322.52 km/h and more. Beyond his daring trysts across the land, air, river, and sea, he has traveled the world and spoken to varied audiences on topics of leadership, management, and facing obstacles. Tune in to listen about his adventures! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/PAoIjGvRnXRVxmIIw84N7gLcHb0 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Melody Goodspeed, Major Gifts Specialist at American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). An adventurous and fun-loving person, Melody is also a wife and a doting mother to two children. After losing her vision at a young age of twenty-six, Melody hit rock bottom until she decided to fight and persevere through the disability. She went through rehabilitation, learned computer software, assisted living skills and made a re-entry into the world. Ever since, Melody has been advocating for persons with blindness and actively engages with people from all walks of life to create systematic and social change. Tune in to hear her story of perseverance! To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/lVDchN47ev0T_zsRBX3Ic18gdq8 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks to a young and vibrant social entrepreneur Sristi KC from Nepal. She is also a motivational speaker, dancer and a trainer. Sristi lost her eyesight at the age of sixteen due to the negligence of the doctor who was treating her for an eye infection. Despite a setback at a young age, she went on to top her university, receiving an award from the president of her country. Her love for dance helped her get a scholarship in Europe for her master’s degree in Dance Anthropology where her research work allowed her to create an accessible dance form for the Blind called ‘ Acoustic dance’ that uses music to make dance accessible for the Blind. With an ambition to help blind people live a rocking life, Sristi started an organization called ,’Blind Rocks’ where blind people are taught dance, communication skills, public speaking, and many other things to help them live a life beyond their disability by focusing on their abilities. Sristi has also featured on TEDx Talk. Tune in to know more about her secret to becoming an achiever! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/M0xgfPGZVWdSBEx8jUXiAAlENeA This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siobhan Meade, a digital marketing professional, journalist and a disability activist from the United Kingdom. After losing her vision at the age of sixteen to Glaucoma, Siobhan found it challenging to go about her life until she heard a blind man share about his achievements over a radio programme.  With the new found confidence and support from her family, friends and teachers, Siobhan has come a long way in making a mark in the disability domain. In her early years, she particularly chose radio and media as her profession to spread awareness on  life with blindness. Besides writing for a local newspaper, Siobhan started a YouTube channel where she talks about her experiences as a blind person and encourages people to ask questions to educate them about her disability. A passionate advocate for inclusion and equality, Siobhan has started the ‘Respect campaign’ after being subjected to violence and abuse in the public for being blind that left her traumatized. She now visits various schools and colleges to raise awareness about her campaign and blindness. Tune in to learn more about her work! You can follow her YouTube channel ‘Blind Girl Vlogs’ here To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/0ITJzo63qwP5JSkpOJUMcOAX_qo This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with, Sabriye Tenberken, German Tibetologist and co-founder of the organisation Braille Without Borders. Sabriye became totally blind by the age of twelve due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. Despite a set back at an early age, she learnt to deal with her blindness. An adventurer at heart, she wanted to travel the world.  After completing High school from an Institute for the Blind in Germany, Sabriye enrolled at the University of Bonn and focused her studies on central Asia. She was the only blind student out of the thirty thousand. With no Tibetan texts available in braille, she developed her own method of translating the Tibetan language into braille. It later became the officially recognized Tibetan Braille.  Sabriye left college to travel alone to China. She traveled on horseback from China through rural Tibet and discovered a deep prejudice against the blind children who were shunned and hidden away from the world. She talked to parents about enrolling their blind children in the residential school she planned to open in Lhasa. She persuaded them that their children, too, could learn to read and write, and even ride a horse. Committed to bring a change in the lives of these children, Sabriye along with her partner, Paul Kronenberg started Braille Without Borders (BWB), a nonprofit organization. In addition to the school in Lhasa, BWB runs a vocational training centre for blind adults with a farm and cheese factory near Shigatse. In 2009, they also set up kanthari International at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, an educational and training institute, where they train social entrepreneurs from various vulnerable groups with all the required tools and skills to drive social change. Tune in to learn more about her social venture in India and her story of courage, resilience and determination! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BCcqY4uOJ7PoGbIzyOxXZSZO-XY This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Guneet Sethi who acquired blindness much later in life. But she never gave up on life. In a career of 30 years, Guneet has worked different jobs like teacher, communications specialist, creative writer and trainer. A motivational speaker, she is known for her recipe of a perfect cup of coffee! Do listen in to this delightful account of perseverance. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/YWet_56sos-dw4qiRL9NQtgvtOs This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

Our guest in this episode of Eyeway Conversations is Jim Stovall, a celebrated author, humanitarian, national champion Olympic weightlifter, entrepreneur and a highly sought after platform speaker. In conversation with George Abraham, Jim shares his inspiring journey. Born in Oklahoma, United States, Jim grew up to be a professional football player until he was diagnosed with macular degeneration, an eye disease that most often attacks the elderly, at the young age of seventeen. By the age of twenty-nine, he had turned completely blind. What may have seemed like an end to one’s dream, Jim took the challenge in his stride and accomplished many dreams. Jim is the author of the best-selling book, The Ultimate Gift, which is a major motion picture starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin. He is also author of The Ultimate Life and The Ultimate Journey, which have inspired other major motion pictures. Jim advocates on behalf of people with blindness. He works to make television and movies accessible to the blind as President of the Narrative Television Network, an organization that has received various award recognitions including an Emmy award, a Media Access Award, and an International Film and Video Award. Jim was selected as the 2000 International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as recipients of this honor. Tune in to hear more about Jim’s extraordinary achievements and life! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ZfHbYhLKjH6Rlz95mWlUyWcn5_I This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Tiffany Brar, founder of Jyothirgamaya Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala that trains blind people of all ages in Braille, mobility, basic computer use, and life skills. Tiffany, who became blind as an infant due to oxygen toxicity, completed her primary education in England where she found an inclusive setup, doing things like other sighted children with a special resource person dedicated to her. But when her father was posted back to India, Tiffany found school difficult as she experienced segregation and isolation from students and teachers.  After completing her Bachelors in English literature from Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, she started working for Braille without Borders as a telephone operator. Later she pursued her B.Ed in special education (visual impairment) after which she began running the Jyothirgamaya (meaning "leading to light") mobile school for the blind. In 2020 Tiffany, became the first Indian to receive Holman Prize from the US-based organization LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Tune in to listen to Tiffany’s journey and her dream of making the state of Kerala into an accessible space for people with disabilities. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/hHcfKAcqoHjCYaMjRp2bzM6z9Wc This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway conversations, we get to hear about Geetha’s journey in her husband Saleesh’s words (as Geetha only communicates in Malayalam). Geetha, our guest, an inspirational entrepreneur from Thrissur, Kerala shares her experiences with the host, George Abraham. Geetha was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 13, a rare genetic disorder that causes gradual vision loss. By the age of 15 she had turned totally blind. Despite the challenges, she focused on becoming independent by learning braille and completed her graduation. After her marriage to Saleesh, Geetha was keen to contribute to the family’s income but was rejected from the private jobs she applied to because of her blindness. But not letting that discourage her, she started a small scale food business from home with the support of her husband and children. Fast forward to today, she has a team of 7 members working under her and has orders from across the country. Tune in to listen to her story of beating odds and accomplishing her dream! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/zJ6ePS5A3xTxheRqRz8IsUVPaEc This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation and the transcript is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt.Ltd To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with David Absalom, Honorary General Secretary of Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA) and the Asia Continental Chairperson of International Blind Sports Federation. IBSA was founded in 1986 and has since emerged as the premier national blind sports body in the country with over 247 affiliates in 27 States. It is the sole Indian Affiliate of the International Blind Sports Federation, the apex sports organization for blind sports in the world.  It is also affiliated to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). David, who is passionate about providing opportunities to young blind athletes, travels extensively across the country scouting for talent. Through IBSA, he has also initiated camps for blind women athletes who otherwise lack the opportunity and support to find their way into the sports world. Tune in to listen to their interesting work and how they have changed the sports scenario for visually impaired people in the country! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/i0Jx-LISex9pJ3Gt52x82insBY8 This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation and the transcript is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt.Ltd To support our work, kindly visit the link: https://scorefoundation.org.in/get-involved/

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ram Kamal Manoj; a social engineer, journalist and a brand consultant who runs a not for profit organization, Chakshumathi based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Ram believes that assistive technology is the solution to all the present day challenges of blind and visually impaired people and this belief led to an Empowerment and Assistive Technology Centre for Blind in Kochi, Kerala in 2011. A member of the DAISY forum of India, Chakshumathi provided the daisy and angel players to young blind children to ensure independence at an early age. Over the years the organization has initiated various programmes such as ‘Lets FICE (Let's Flatten inaccessibility curve), ‘Eyes free science summer camp’, to address accessibility challenges and help  blind and visually impaired students excel in science and technology streams and pursue professions in the field. Tune in to learn more about the work being done by Chakshumathi! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ozT2n8mVDMfB1ZENgWvA1k9EokA This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Sam Taraporevala, a retired Associate Professor & Head Department of Sociology and Anthropology of the autonomous St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai.  Born blind, his parents chose to educate him in a mainstream school and college, after which he pursued his PHD. Between 2002 and 2003, while teaching at St Xavier's College, Dr Sam set out to explore the reason behind the declining numbers of blind and visually impaired students in his college, that resulted in the inception of the famous Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC),one of the country’s finest resource centres for the blind. Fast forward to today, as an Executive Director, he has been at the forefront of social advocacy, creating awareness and addressing key access challenges for persons with low vision and blindness.  His work so far has resulted in the amendment of the Copyright Act, India in 2012; the deployment of over 30,000 accessible ATMs in India; and the opening up of Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics(STEM) education for blind and low vision students.  Tune in to listen to Dr Sam's inspiring journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/FoqS7imJ0byrJQH0sRmHoh4ey3o This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kiran Kaja, who works as an Accessibility Program Lead with Instagram in Menlo Park, California, United States.  Born in India with a rare degenerative eye disease, Kiran sought out his passion for accessibility and working to make software and hardware useful and accessible for people with disabilities. He has over 16 years of experience in working with the leading tech companies across the globe that includes Google, where he worked as an Accessibility Program Lead for Search, Assistant and Devices in London, United Kingdom. Kiran credits technology for his success and believes that it has the power to change the lives of people with disabilities. Through his work he wants to provide others with the same opportunity. He also founded the Access India Email discussion group which has provided a platform for thousands of blind computer users in India to discuss technology developments and solutions.  Tune in to listen to Kiran, as he shares his enriching experiences of working and living overseas. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/6sYHN2POTIqNeRSPIDJaeiNGwD8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nagraj More, Chief Manager, Training and Development at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Nagraj was born blind and growing up had often heard people blaming his karma for his blindness. But his mother ensured that he grew up to be an independent man shunning all the negative comments people made about her blind son. After completing Masters in Human Resource, Nagraj joined BPCL, where he received immense support from his team and colleagues to carry out his duties. Now a full time coach, Nagraj has also received an outstanding disabled employee award in 1988 by the former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Tune in to listen to Nagraj’s success story that he has created with sheer determination and hard work. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/_yuwljajSaN7ANPwGZBlMNekWlE This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pranjal Patil, the first visually impaired woman IAS officer in India. Pranjal lost her eyesight at an early age of six due to Retinal Detachment. Following which she was shifted to a special residential School for Blind girls in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the decision she is grateful for and that changed the course of her life.  Pranjal’s interest in civil service examinations was a result of her keenness towards social issues and the enthusiasm to tackle them. In her first stint as an IAS officer, she was posted as an Assistant Collector in Ernakulam, Kerala, in 2018. Currently posted as District Magistrate for Shahdara district, Pranjal believes in fulfilling her roles and responsibilities with utmost sincerity. Tune in to listen to Pranjal’s exciting journey of achieving her dream and the contributing factors that led her to where she is today. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/kaXWxIgSMoIDfWReBo28l17x0z8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Preetham Gandhi Sunkavalli, who works with a leading automobile company in Mumbai, as part of their Business Transformation team.  Preetham experienced vision loss at an early age due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. But he was fortunate to pursue a good education from mainstream institutions. His initial dream was to become a physicist but given the limited awareness and opportunities, he chose Economics and Management instead. An MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, Preetham learnt a great deal from his peers, faculty and the supportive system at the premier institute.  In a largely traditional automotive industry, clear communication and hard work has helped make a place for himself. Tune in to listen to his journey and aspirations of building inclusive brands and products for exceptional customer experience. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/BcMZq1iQgV6a7r2jAMPRoOHFzS8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO of GoSports Foundation, a non-profit venture working towards developing some of India's top talent in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.  Growing up in Coorg, Deepthi was involved in sports, playing Tennis and Basketball for Karnataka University and the state. Although she started her career in banking, she switched to sports administration, after learning about the vision and mission of GoSports. Deepthi and her team use sports excellence as a vehicle for social change, and a tool to improve the lives of individuals as well as communities.  With Rahul Dravid, Pullela Gopichand, John Gloster and other prominent personalities on board, GoSports is constantly strategizing on how to bring global expertise into the Indian space.  Tune in to listen to Deepthi's journey, her ambitions and the changing state of Paralympics in the country.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/ek1OR5JWKJjgmluZebbW8flRW14 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ruchi Patil, mother of a visually impaired boy. Arijit Patil is a Class XII student in Mumbai who experienced vision problems from an early age. A premature baby born in the sixth month of Ruchi's pregnancy, his retina didn't quite develop as expected. After the initial reaction of shock and panic, his parents got into problem solving mode, visiting top eye hospitals. And finally they realised the need to salvage what they had instead of focusing on what wasn't.  Ruchi bombarded Arijit's world with sounds and music as opposed to visuals, something sighted children his age were experiencing. She didn't want him to feel left out on any front, and started off his journey with an early interventionist. A career woman, she made her son's progress the sole goal of her life, giving up her job.  Listen to this podcast where Ruchi shares practical tips, some frustrations, a culture of inclusion at school and dreams that she worked with.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/2z7wHqQIni8lF3etbCLT8ahs6qE This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Apoorv Kulkarni who is a qualified Chartered Accountant and an MBA from Stanford University. After his initial stint with KPMG India, Apoorv traveled to the US to try something new. While pursuing his MBA, he was exposed to a world where technology and innovation opened up a whole new world of opportunities which lessened the day to day barriers a great deal.  Having lost his vision to an eye condition called Macular Dystrophy, Apoorv realised how much more was possible. He now works as the Head of Accessibility and Inclusion with the Ola Mobility Institute. In this podcast, Apoorv shares his growing up years in Nagpur, the strategic move to Mumbai and life abroad. He also shares excerpts from his recent research on urban travel experiences of persons with disabilities and the quest to build more inclusive transport systems. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/qjmXfBKQby27Y4d4COv1-a2dT9Y This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Moses Chowdari who is a person with low vision, working with Enable India in Bangalore. Moses was born to a farmer family in a village in Andhra Pradesh and his vision impairment was detected when he was three months old. Growing up, his family wasn't sure what life had in store for him, assuming that blind people generally end up singers or musicians. But his hard work took him to a college in Hyderabad, where Moses relied on his friends to help him study.  Frustrated with such dependence, he turned up for computer training at Enable India. From this point on, his life took a completely new turn, one which he didn't imagine. Today, Moses is well versed with technology and wishes to see a world where the next generation of blind people can independently read and write. A staunch advocate of digital literacy, his work involves skilling and placing persons with disabilities in the corporate sector.  Tune in to find out how he turned his life around!  To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/QQ2lbRgnud_cK_-B_Bt8f2e5N2U  This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks to Dr. Meghna Varma who was a practicing ophthalmologist. Midway through her professional career and life, Dr. Meghna suffered sight loss due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. She was lucky to have encountered George and Eyeway at a point in life where she was grappling with how to overcome her new challenges. She took things in her stride and managed to transform her life in a way very few can. She worked hard to reinvent herself and today she is a qualified mental health specialist.  Listen to the podcast to know more about Dr. Meghna Varma and her journey of living life with blindness. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/5ajJZhA2XhdFs4v1hUaQN7uMQsg This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham and Shilpi kapoor speak with Neil Milliken, an English Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Advocate. He is one of the founding members of AXSChat, a leading online community that promotes accessibility and inclusion across social media. He is a W3C expert and contributor and Member of the Board of Directors for the World Institute on Disability. He is currently the Head of Accessibility and Digital Inclusion for Atos. Neil  who has been working in the field of Assistive technology since 2001 also has dyslexia and ADHD. He believes that accessibility is not just a technical issue, but a social justice, fairness and sustainability issue. Tune in to listen to his passionate story of promoting inclusive technology and workplaces through decades of work. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/KNqSEy-nDBcWkq_1sWSupHQOeBI This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Penny Melville-Brown, a British Royal Navy veteran, blind baker and winner of the Holman Prize. Penny served for 22 years in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and Royal Navy, reaching the rank of commander. She was the first woman to hold the position of naval barrister. She was medically discharged from the Royal Navy in 1999 after her eyesight deteriorated and she created Disability Dynamics to help other people with disabilities to start a business. In 2009, she was awarded an OBE for her service to the disabled. In 2017, she was one of the three winners of the 2017 Holman prize for Blind Ambition, an international award for blind people with ambition. In 2018 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by London Middlesex University. She has an online baking project called Baking Blind where she shows people how she cooks and encourages others to test their limits even if they have disabilities. Penny believes that disability should not be the reason to not try adventurous things, new things, or not do what everybody else does. She is in the process of publishing her book next year in which she shares her Holman Prize world tour, interleaved with her experience of blindness and her history. Tune in to listen to her inspiring and splendid journey! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/rZ5vpThGklggmzpbBDcXL0glza4 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Payal Kapoor from Hyderabad, India. Payal was working with the famous Oberoi group when she suffered from Meningitis at the age of 22. As a result she lost her eyesight, her hearing and her sense of smell and touch. She struggled for six years until she decided to turn things around for herself.  After rehabilitating herself and working with an NGO for a while, Payal went back to her first love, the hospitality industry. This time as a person with blindness. In her discovery of new things, talent and a new life, she explored several new areas of work. She experimented with writing, motivational speeches, counseling, training people in using first aid equipment and of course starting her own cooking channel on YouTube.  Listen in to find out how Payal completely turned her life around! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/k28ZJTVIqojAaKdyyEtuaTHOawU This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mahendra Galani who lost his eyesight at the age of 12. Mahendra was studying in a regular school at the time and he sat at home for a year and a half until his family learned about ways to educate blind children. He was then sent to Victoria Memorial School for the Blind in Mumbai, after which he pursued his degree in political science and psychology. He got his first job with Life Insurance Corporation of India, thanks to an advocacy campaign for recruitment of the disabled by National Federation for the Blind.  At 32, he relocated to Austria, marrying his first wife. In Vienna, Mahendra had to learn German to interact with the native population. He also learnt computers which opened up job avenues for him. He worked as a telephone counselor and also wrote for local news magazines, before he joined hands with 'Dialogue in the Dark', an experiential exhibit to sensitize the able-bodied people on various aspects of life with blindness.  Mahendra loves traveling, follows the game of cricket and plays chess for the blind. Tune in to listen to his exciting story, all the way from India to Europe. To access the podcast transcript, click on link:  https://otter.ai/u/RYaKwcw0oQn-j7RosRwXe8mmCDM This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham and Shilpi Kapoor speak with Lainey Feingold, an author and a disability rights lawyer from Berkeley, California. After being fired from her legal job of ten years, Lainey started her journey into accessibility for persons with disabilities. She works primarily with the blind community on technology, digital, and information access issues. She is nationally recognized for negotiating landmark accessibility agreements without lawsuits and for pioneering the collaborative dispute resolution method known as Structured Negotiation. The American Bar Association published Lainey's book, 'Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits' in 2016. She likes to use this strategy to bring stakeholders together on the negotiating table rather than aggressively blaming companies and filing lawsuits against the lack of access.  Listen to an award winning lawyer who likes to talk about accessibility in terms of motivation, innovation and inclusion! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/KctO5muW80jO2X2Aku89TXDnjVI This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Anand Kulkarni, the first and only visually impaired filmmaker in Asia. At the age of seven, Anand was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy which led to a gradual sight loss. But he managed to study with assistive technology and a great deal of support from his family. When Anand applied for a Bachelors in Mass Media, he was rejected by most top colleges in Mumbai.  But life had visual storytelling in store for him, and he began his journey at KC College. He calls his 36 projects in college as his 36 failures but the best lessons in life. He was enamored by the idea of creating something out of nothing and he relied on his ability to hear everything minutely, or as he calls it, 'shameless eavesdropping'!  With over 100 Digital works to his credit across Fashion, Luxury, Music, Liquor, Home Decor, Life Style, Healthcare and Sustainability, Anand is an award winning Director preferred by leading agencies and brands. Tune in to listen to how a blind man ended up in a visually driven industry of filmmaking. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/Rx8nYHboTFPJim5n53wVRy9hpN4 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Divyanshu Ganatra, India's first visually impaired solo paraglider. He was 19 years old when Divyanshu lost his eyesight to glaucoma. An adventurer at heart, someone who loved trekking, cycling and exploring the outdoors, he felt trapped by the sudden vision loss. But after the initial hiccups of acceptance and adjustment, he regained his mental and physical strength.  Apart from paragliding, he is India’s first solo blind trekker, mountaineer, scuba diver, marathoner, and the first blind pillion cyclist to ride from Manali to Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world. Divyanshu strongly believes that sport can unite the world by bringing people with and without disabilities together in a celebration of differences. To promote disability inclusion and create opportunities for persons with disabilities, he launched the Adventure Beyond Barriers Foundation (https://abbf.in/) An IT professional and a clinical psychologist, Divyanshu is involved in learning and development where he works with senior leadership on emotional intelligence, sensitivity training and inclusion.  Listen to the account of an explorer who enjoys challenging stereotypes around handicap and incubating new beliefs!  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/6O6w2wEXznmnkNiGpl2IKthX6iI This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sadaf Khan, a Human Resources professional working with a tech company. Sadaf lost her eyesight at the tender age of three but her parents were determined to give her the best education. She studied in reputed mainstream institutions, getting a masters in Industrial Psychology. A choice that is not considered natural or easy for persons with vision impairment.  Apart from blindness, Sadaf was also struck by rheumatoid arthritis when she was 9 , making her school years quite tough to endure. But medications helped improve the condition and she sprung back to action during her college days.  Sadaf calls herself a 'social animal', who loves to meet new people and explore new places. Her leadership and interpersonal skills have made her the youngest and first woman president of an NGO, Blind Graduates Forum of India.  Tune in to listen to the account of a woman who loves to accept new challenges everyday! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/VXTzuWRn2H24_qoU-zKPp8tMxAM This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ritika Sahni, a proclaimed Singer-Performer and a Disability Campaigner. Alongside pursuing her interest in music, Ritika was drawn towards Deaf Education. She is a trained special educator, a communication therapist and a consultant in Disability Inclusion.  She has a vast experience of 30 years in teaching, conducting sensitizing workshops, curating content in the form of music, literature, puppet shows, brochures, radio shows and so on. Ritika created a first of its kind disability awareness campaign across four Delhi Public Schools. She is committed to work with able bodied stakeholders like parents, teachers, youth, corporates and others, in helping them celebrate diversity and not see disability as a disadvantage. Under the banner, Trinayani, Ritika combines her love for art, music and inclusion. She also constituted a band called Pehli Baarish with all disabled participants, to promote a more tolerant society. And what she terms as one of her most exciting projects is an educational gaming kit comprising six card games, to familiarize non-disabled students and adults about various facets of disability. Tune in to listen to an expansive account of her novel journey! Read more about Ritika and her work here, https://www.ritikasahni.com/ To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/IpXpFv5XZenK_JDVuvhgQ_KTq6o This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Poonam Vaidya, a Bangalorean who loves to read, write, travel and explore. Poonam lost her eyesight when she was in college, but unlike most people who take a long time to accept the sudden shift in existence, she was back in a week! Acknowledging her blindness, she focused on the next steps instead.  She trained to use a white cane and computers with screen reading software but her perspective widened after a life-changing experience at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Here she learned to cook, clean, experience adventure sports, self-defense techniques, even carpentry. Skiing, rock climbing, bungee jumping, nothing was impossible for the blind residents at the Center.  She returned confident to India, to pursue her love for words, and work as a content writer. Tune in to listen to her journey of breaking stereotypes and challenging attitudes.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/GGwjDQlCpq1CA7y2tSDG2tnCtjU This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dean du Plessis, a Zimbabwean cricket commentator. He is the world's first visually impaired cricket commentator to participate in international matches. Born blind, Dean was sent off to a special school in South Africa where he discovered his love for cricket. He was fascinated by bowl by bowl commentary on the radio. An interview with the legendary Ravi Shastri, where Dean's knowledge of the game as well as his attention to details despite his blindness, were evident. This interview landed him his first on air assignment when his childhood friend Neil Manthorp, who was doing radio commentary for ESPNcricinfo allowed him a 15-minute stint. Dean's knowledge impressed the Cricinfo team, who hired him for the rest of the series. Today, Dean works for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, with specific shows on cricket as well as music. He also has his own podcast, Dean at Stumps, which is available online. Tune in to listen to Dean's entertaining journey in the broadcasting world and of course his sheer love of cricket! To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/sl5Kyof-qKJEZ3zunQPhNZLaHW0 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr Priti Sharma, an Ayurveda medical practitioner and a trained Yoga therapist. Priti's interests in Ayurveda and Yoga started very early in life, as she was fascinated by the healing benefits of this ancient science. When she suddenly started losing her vision at the age of 30, due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, it came as a rude shock, but even that didn't stop her from practicing medicine. With support from her brother and husband, she slowly learned to accept her new way of life and started turning her energy towards helping those who were in pain.  She focused more on yoga as it helped people improve their health and maintain a sense of overall well-being. Today she runs Prana Yoga Therapy Center (PYTC) which offers services including Yoga for Health and Healing, Yoga Teachers Training, Therapy Yoga Workshops for Diabetes, PCOD, Ante-natal care, Back pain, Hypertension, other life style disorders etc.  As a visually impaired person, she developed her own specific ways of verbal and physical instructions. Priti also started sensitizing teachers on how to teach yoga blindfolded, so that blind people can easily practice asanas like their sighted counterparts. With around 50 visually impaired people signed up for their programs, PYTC has opened up a new professional opportunity in Yoga therapy. Tune in to listen to this inspirational and novel account of blind yoga!  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/KaBpAV5ysGnaLys8xPVdcQTEoeY This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Jonathan Mosen, a popular broadcaster, advocate and a teacher. With a passion for politics, Jonathan is also the first congenital blind person to stand for parliament in New Zealand in 1993. Jonathan takes pride in his blindness, almost crediting his disability with a lot of fortune that came his way in around five decades of existence. He started his stint in the radio at an early age of four and since then has worked and set up popular mainstream radio stations. He has been instrumental in bringing about legislative changes that have impacted blind people across the world. He currently works as the Chief Executive of Workbridge, the largest employment agency for disabled people in New Zealand. Tune in to know more about his popular show, Mosen Explosion, Mushroom FM, an internet based radio run by all blind people, and of course his personal journey. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/VZAvgkCZc6omDsdF5_MAXucb1e8 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr Homiyar Mobedji who heads Bookshare in Asia and Africa. Bookshare is owned by a US based company, Benetech, which is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers communities with software for social good. Bookshare is an online library of accessible ebooks for people with print disabilities, such as visual impairment, severe dyslexia, cerebral palsy, and so on.  Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, Dr Homiyar went about his life in all ways mainstream. He trained to become a clinical physiotherapist and went on to head the first ever Physiotherapy College for the Blind. An astute supporter of digital literacy for the blind, Dr Homiyar was one of the early users and promoters of assistive technology.  Tune in to listen to his transition from therapy to NGO management and finally a digital literacy activist.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/VFoXTQH-qx7SpMMJZoSlwjNHyYY This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Simon Mahoney, a former Royal Marines officer, social work team leader, freelance artist and author. Diagnosed with a condition called Uveitis, Simon lost his eye sight at the age of 64. But in the next ten years, he not only learnt to accept and live a life with blindness but accomplished a great deal.  He has written three books, the fourth one is on its way, he learned to cook and then wrote a book about it! He also re-learned to sail a dinghy using all his other senses mindfully, and now he is trying his hands at mountaineering and skiing.  What's kept him going is not just his love for adventure but a simple philosophy, one of challenging possibilities. Tune in to listen to this magnificent account of a 74-year-old who doesn't consider himself to be disabled at all. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/XqcOyOI2WHqRC0IFVJunHK0noS4 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham and Shilpi Kapoor speak with the founders of the famous GAAD movement. Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion teamed up in 2012 to initiate what's well known as the Global Accessibility Awareness Day. It was a blogpost written by Joe Devon that started it all. In it, Joe highlighted the need for accessibility know-how to become mainstream among developers. Jennison spotted the post on Twitter and the duo ended up pioneering a global campaign! Tune in to listen to their initial brush with accessibility, individual stories and how they reached out to their respective networks to create an impact in the tech community in the US and abroad. Almost ten years later, they are delighted to see the accessibility conversations go mainstream thanks to big tech companies embracing inclusion. Joe and Jennison have also started the GAAD Foundation with the mission to disrupt the culture of technology and digital product development to include accessibility as a core requirement. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/EfhoRv0CL7oTSu1iv1LZQbjiHZ4 This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Professor M Balakrishnan who is a scientist working with IIT Delhi. Founder of ASSISTECH, a laboratory and a research group, Prof Bala is involved in developing a number of assistive devices targeted towards mobility and education of the visually impaired. One such popular device is the famous SmartCane which was developed by his group and is used by more than 80000 people in India and abroad.  Professor Bala shares his experience of working on three pet projects including products like the SmartCane, OnBoard and DotBook. He has been well recognized for his humanitarian contributions within Computer Science and Informatics. Tune in to know more about these innovations and his contributions to the empowerment of persons with disabilities. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/SlwEkKKH5QcvI34uAk_dZImYGVA This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Manushree Singh who works as Lead- Diversity and Inclusion in India for Capgemini. A multinational information technology services and consulting company, Capgemini is extremely inclusive in terms of offering persons with disabilities an equal opportunity of employment. In this interaction, Manushree shares the company's inclusive policies, their work culture that promotes and motivates PwDs to grow at the same pace like other employees. She also shares some of the challenges encountered over the years, and how the company and its leadership has devised programs to address the same.  Capgemini not only actively hires PwDs but also invests a fair bit in upskilling and their overall career development. Listen to this enriching story of a company that is out to embrace diversity and make it their biggest advantage.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/mSz--SUBtNpWdNq_Vej0bJd0Vis This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Rahul Gupta, a wholesale banker working with a leading private bank. Rahul is a transformational leader, with over 15 years of experience across segments, in India and the UK. His extreme low vision didn't come in the way of securing his BA and Master's degree from prestigious schools in the country, St. Stephen's and Delhi School of Economics.  Rahul wants to lead by example, and leave behind a legacy of courage and optimism. He believes one can achieve anything, once determined towards it. Apart from his interest in Economics, he enjoys writing blogs, sharing his stories and experiences with individuals and organizations. Rahul is also conscious of his health and follows a strict workout regime daily. Tune in to listen to his inspiring journey. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/yv_ePwf3xkWxDuf0q233kSB6i1c This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with L. Subramani, a journalist and author of the memoir “Lights Out: The True Story Of A Man’s Descent Into Blindness”. After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 15, Subramani, two years later lost his vision completely, a difficult phase as he recalls in his memoir.  Subramani is a postgraduate who currently works with The Deccan Herald, a renowned English daily. He considers his disability as a strong identity and not a limitation. Tune in to know how he embraced his new life with a strong resolve. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/dEGBY6S9O3FyDDosH8mPIdQ46Vo This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ketan Kothari who works as Technical Specialist- Disability at Sightsavers India. Ketan has had an impressive career spanning over thirty years. A post-graduate in Political Science, he started off as a part-time lecturer and then joined National Association for the Blind, Mumbai. In his short stint with BarrierBreak, he learnt a great deal about advocacy and was instrumental in two very important campaigns, Banking rights and Copyright law amendments, ensuring access to the larger visually impaired population of the country. Apart from his work as a disability activist, Ketan loves reading, especially biographies and autobiographies. He enjoys sports like cricket and tennis, in fact, he confesses to have brushed up his spoken English, following sports commentary on the radio.  To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/-R7u4c2xzrc72pfNIeZPlulfKVg This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siddharth Sharma, Asia's first visually impaired Public Relations professional. Siddharth lost his eye sight in a motorbike accident in his early twenties but he didn't give up on life. Once he rediscovered himself and his interest in communications and public relations, he set up his own boutique firm, Foundations PR in 2002. He first started off with a job at the PR agency, Connections. Once he gained adequate experience and confidence, he decided to become an entrepreneur. Through the years, Siddharth has managed to create a niche for his agency in the lifestyle and luxury domain, working with both iconic national and international brands.  Apart from work, Siddharth enjoys his daily fitness regime and jazz music. Tune in to listen to a rather inspiring journey and how Siddharth plans to pull through this pandemic which has hit his business hard. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/GyYnll1r0rQb8aORsisI5ytnhEk This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, hear George Abraham and Shilpi Kapoor speak with Debra Ruh, an entrepreneur and a Global Inclusion Strategist. A valued leader and a best-selling author, Debra is the Founder of Ruh Global IMPACT, Human Potential at Work (HPAW), AXSChat and Billion Strong.  She is North America Consultant for UN ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) and Global Speaker for the US State Dept. Legislative and Technical Experience. She has expertise with Standards and Legislation including the United Nations Convention of Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ADA, W3C, WCAG and ISO (Accessibility). She has provided global leadership to governments, corporations, NGOs and DPOs (Disability Persons Organizations) all over the world supporting research, outreach, marketing strategies, policy and standards initiatives with public and private sector. Debra is passionate about Social Media and a Thought Leader and Blogger on ICT Accessibility and Disability Inclusion on various channels with over 130,000 followers. Tune in to hear her journey as a mother, a caretaker and a dynamic businesswoman. She strongly believes in the need for people and organizations across the globe to work towards supporting each other in advocating the rights of persons with disabilities. Her initiative Billion Strong is designed to bring the billions of voices of persons with disabilities together and celebrate allies and accomplices. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/gVt-7JdFc6i0WA-oxygvqh3GeyM This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Madhubala Sharma, who works as a Deputy General Manager, Learning and Development with Concentrix, a technology-enabled global business services company. Madhubala was born with vision impairment but that did not deter her from living an independent life. She went to a mainstream school and college and then went on to achieve great success in her professional career. With over 17 years of work experience, she has spent 15 years in training, learning and development. Besides being a working professional, Madhu loves to spend time with her family, travelling within and outside the country and taking on challenges in her day to day life. She believes that putting yourself first over the disability is the key to the holistic development of an individual. Tune in to learn more about Madhu'slife and gain insight into her mantras of living a happy life. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/zNyU2njTpkl0K4Ts4ad0pZrWdTY This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Ajay Minocha,  a Credit Officer with a reputed Deutsche Bank. Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, Ajay was rejected by many mainstream schools before being accepted by a Hindi medium school. With sheer grit and determination, Ajay went on to be selected by IIM Indore, where he completed his MBA. He is also one of the four visually impaired persons to have successfully completed the Chartered Financial Analyst exam in India. Tune in to hear his interesting story and how he beat the odds to emerge successful in his field. To access the podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/CXWYQ4bOywfhVHXCkzVY8DdWaHk This podcast is supported by BarrierBreak Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, hear George Abraham and Shilpi Kapoor speak with Sheri Byrne-Haber, a global Accessibility Leader and W3C volunteer, a prominent voice in the field of disability and accessibility programmes. Sheri believes in integrating accessibility into systems of organizations such that equality is achieved at a holistic level for customers and employees with disability. She has designed and led accessibility programmes for various well-known companies, propagating cross-disability inclusion. Listen to the podcast to learn about digital accessibility, effective strategies that should be undertaken to facilitate inclusion and more. Hear Sheri talk about the need to generate sensitivity at all levels in an organization to be able to create disabled-friendly resources, technology, processes and an accessible environment. To access podcast transcript, click on link: https://otter.ai/u/hYzy5QRA1i3FkmzaOP3jdZq22hY

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Anuj Dayal, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.  Anuj Dayal has been associated with the Delhi Metro since its inception and has won many awards and accolades as a leader and corporate communicator. The conversation touches upon the expansion of the metro, accessibility features, services for People with Disabilities (PwDs) and more. Listen to the podcast to learn about facilities a blind, hearing impaired or physically disabled traveller can expect while using the metro. The mother of metro expansion in India, DMRC strives to explore newer ideas and feedback from PwD users for building more disabled-friendly systems. For podcast transcript, please click the link- https://otter.ai/u/2ao2Lasx-Bhs_lAskbf7uVD24FM

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with UK Chevening scholar Ekinath Khedekar, who is an adventurer at heart. A nature lover and a sports enthusiast involved with lawn tennis for the blind, Ekinath finds happiness in outdoor activities like tandem cycling,  half marathons and swimming. Despite making a start several yards behind the starting line, due to his vision impairment, weak economic background and lack of support in many ways, Ekinath is a corporate professional with successful stints at companies like Reliance and Wipro. He made the most of his education at a special school as well as mainstream premier institutions in Mumbai. His passion for learning took him to London where he pursued his interests in Law and Sustainability. Listen to this account of a visually impaired person who isn't shy of accepting his disability, working hard and setting higher goals at every juncture in his life.  For podcast transcript, please click on the link- https://otter.ai/u/E-FHC_9eymj1SkZwPHPhH_CFZQc

Short trailer of our sixth episode of Eyeway Conversations, where George Abraham speaks with Pranavl Lal who is a technology enthusiast, avid photographer and a traveler. All this despite his visio impairment since birth!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pranav Lal, a specialist in cyber security. Pranav lost his eyesight due to Retinopathy of Prematurity, a condition that inflicts infants born prematurely. He started off his education in the Gulf using braille, and gradually moved on to digital mediums. With an academic background in Commerce and Business Administration, he shifted gears to IT when he discovered he could solve problems by writing programs. Pranav taught himself to write code when he was in Class 9. He is also an avid traveler and a photographer, things one doesn't normally associate with a visually impaired person. Listen to the podcast to learn all about this technology enthusiast!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Moses Chowdhari who is a person with low vision, working with Enable India in Bangalore. Moses was born to a farmer family in a village in Andhra Pradesh and his visual impairment was detected when he was three months old. Growing up, his family wasn't sure what life had in store for him, assuming that blind people generally end up singers or musicians. But his hard work, took him to a college in Hyderabad, where Moses relied on his friends to help him study. Frustrated with such dependence, he turned up for a computer training at Enable India. From this point on, his life took a completely new turn, one which he didn't imagine. Moses is well verse with technology and wishes to see a world where the next generation of blind people can independently read and write. A staunch advocate of digital literacy, his work involves skilling and placing persons with disabilities in the corporate sector. Listen to the podcast for how he turned his life around!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Guneet Sethi who acquired blindness much later in life. But she never gave up on life. In a career of 30 years, Guneet has worked different jobs like teacher, communications specialist, creative writer and trainer. A motivational speaker, she is known for her recipe of a perfect cup of coffee! Do listen in to this delightful account of perseverance.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Payal Jethra who was born with a vision impairment. Payal, a single mother living in Mumbai, works for a nationalised bank where she handles mostly NRI clients as part of her job. Payal also enjoys writing about her experiences of parenting, spirituality and of course life with blindness. Listen to this podcast to know more about her life as a professional, a parent and most importantly, as a social being, always ready to engage with people. 

In this two-part conversation between George Abraham and Payal Kapoor, she shares her rather interesting life journey after losing eyesight at the age of 22. After rehabilitating herself and working with an NGO for a while, Payal went back to her first love, the hospitality industry. This time as a person with blindness. In her discovery of new things, talent and a new life, she has explored several new areas of work as well. She experimented with writing, motivational speeches, counseling, training people in using first aid equipment and of course starting her own cooking channel on YouTube. Listen to the episode to find out how she completely turned her life around!

In this second episode of Eyeway Encounters podcast, George Abraham speaks to Payal Kapoor from Hyderabad, India. Payal was working with the famous Oberoi group when she suffered from Meningitis at the age of 22. As a result she lost her eyesight, her hearing and her sense of smell and touch. She struggled for six years until she decided to turn things around for herself. Today she is a successful blind woman doing multiple gigs. This podcast covers her life story in two parts. In the first part she cites her frustration, challenges and how she overcame them. Second part will follow next week!

In this first episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks to Dr. Meghna Verma who was a practicing ophthalmologist. Midway through her professional career and life, Dr Meghna suffered sight loss due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. She was lucky to have encountered George and Eyeway at a point in her life where she was grappling with how to overcome the new challenges. She took things in her stride and managed to transform her life in a way very few can. She worked hard to reinvent herself and today she is a qualified mental health specialist. Listen to the podcast to know more about Dr Meghna Verma and her journey of living life with blindness.