Vision Empower

Vision Empower Vision Empower is working on research and design of programs to make STEM education inclusive and accessible for students with visual impairments.

18/04/2026

Did you know that only a handful of students with visual impairments go on to pursue science, math, and technology-related subjects in higher education?

Let us hear from our co-founder Vidhya Y, who was always drawn to these subjects and excelled in them, yet was often discouraged from pursuing the subjects of her choice. Her struggles and challenges are not just her own. They reflect the reality faced by many students who are blind and visually impaired.

But did Vidhya give up? She pursued what she believed in. She was among the first blind students to pursue STEM beyond high school in Karnataka. Vidhya holds the distinction of being the first blind student to undertake Math at the higher secondary level in her home state. She went on to pursue Computer Science as a major in her undergraduate studies, emerging as a gold medalist, and the list of her achievements does not end here…

Through Vidhya’s journey, we are trying to bring you closer to the heart of what we do. Making science and math accessible to every student by creating enabling learning environments through assistive technology, tactile materials, trained teachers, and the right resources.

Thanks to Deccan Herald for this thoughtful video.

If this resonates with you, come forward and support our cause. Just 7 days to go for the TCS World 10K Run.Donation link: https://tcsw10kuwbe.org/ngos/909f4299-3a07-443c-a0bc-38dbf70a34a7

14/04/2026

We often talk about the work we do, but do you know where it all started from? And who is the power engine behind the work Vision Empower does? It is our very talented and young co-founder, Vidhya Y.

Vidhya, who has faced and struggled through challenges in her life, stood up for herself to ensure that science, mathematics, and technology are never denied to any student. Today, she is championing the cause of Vision Empower—making STEM learning accessible to children with visual impairments.

Her journey showcases the strength she carries, and it gives us hope that tomorrow, it will not be just one Vidhya, but many more children like her who will be able to rise, thrive, and make us proud.

Come forward and help us expand our work in creating accessible learning opportunities:
https://tcsw10kuwbe.org/fundraiser/01KN91HN4WRA2H82APRSPY9M70

Video Description:
This video is a visual journey through Vidhya’s life. It uses images, text, and key moments. It traces her path from early childhood and education. It also follows her discovery of learning through Braille and her academic achievements. Snapshots show her time at IIIT Bangalore and her professional growth at Microsoft. The video highlights her milestones in public speaking, recognitions, and a national award.

“Science is not for you.”“You cannot do math.”Have you ever been told this?For many children with visual impairment, thi...
07/04/2026

“Science is not for you.”
“You cannot do math.”
Have you ever been told this?
For many children with visual impairment, this is a harsh reality they grow up hearing.

But the truth is - classrooms are not ready. Learning is not made accessible. Schools often lack the right resources, and teachers are not always equipped to make classrooms inclusive.
At Vision Empower, we are working to change this narrative. With the right tools, inclusive technologies, and better-prepared teachers and schools, every child can learn the subjects they love.
It’s time to break the myth. Help make STEM education accessible for all.

Come forward and support the cause : TCSW10K - United Way Bengaluru https://tcsw10kuwbe.org/ngos/909f4299-3a07-443c-a0bc-38dbf70a34a7, or scan the QR code below (poster).

Have you ever thought about how Maths is taught to children—and whether it is truly inclusive and accessible?Math is usu...
02/04/2026

Have you ever thought about how Maths is taught to children—and whether it is truly inclusive and accessible?

Math is usually taught visually—on boards, through diagrams, and in written steps.

But for learners with visual impairment, this often becomes a barrier.

The challenge isn’t Math. It isn’t the ability of the students. It’s how we teach the subject.

At Vision Empower, we’re committed to changing this by working closely with teachers, special educators, and parents to reimagine how Math is taught and learned.

Through a recent two-day workshop, our team engaged in a hands-on, practical, and immersive experience to explore ways to support educators and parents in making Math truly accessible. From understanding options for accessible reading and writing in Math, to navigating choices between tools like Taylor Frame, Abacus, Nemeth Braille Code, and computers, the sessions focused on building clarity and confidence.

These workshops are part of our ongoing effort to build an ecosystem where every learner can access, engage with, and excel in Mathematics—if they love the subject.

If you’d like to make your classrooms more inclusive and accessible, we’d love to support you. Write to us [email protected]


27/03/2026

As part of our Inclusion Dialogue Series, we explored a simple but powerful question - What does inclusion in a classroom really look like?

It’s not just about having a child in the room.

It’s about making sure they belong there.

As Sylvia Veeraraghavan, our Executive Director, shares, true inclusion means creating spaces where every child can participate, learn, and express themselves in ways that work for them. It’s about teachers adapting, classrooms evolving, and peers learning with each other -not separately.

Inclusion isn’t a one-size-fits-all model.

It’s intentional, flexible, and deeply human.

When done right, it doesn’t just support one child - it transforms the learning experience for everyone.











Sylvia Veeraraghavan
Supriya Dey
Vidhya Y

Inclusive classrooms begin with how prepared our teachers are.At Vision Empower, we are working to strengthen teacher pr...
24/03/2026

Inclusive classrooms begin with how prepared our teachers are.

At Vision Empower, we are working to strengthen teacher preparedness by building capacity, enabling teachers to create inclusive classrooms, especially when it comes to teaching STEM subjects to visually impaired students.

In partnership with the Department of Special Education and the Rehabilitation Centre at Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Vision Empower introduced the Pragya programme for B.Ed students specialising in special education. The course followed a 16-week semester format and reached 45 future special educators, marking the completion of its second batch.

Through hands-on sessions, students learned to design accessible STEM activities, use assistive devices and digital tools, and explore play-based and experiential methods of teaching.

For many, this was a significant shift in perspective, realising that subjects like mathematics and science can be taught in more inclusive and engaging ways beyond traditional approaches. The course helped build confidence, clarity, and a stronger sense of purpose among future teachers.

We thank Cognizant Foundation for their support as a CSR partner in enabling this initiative. We also extend our sincere thanks to Dr. J. Sujathamalini, Dean, Faculty of Education, Alagappa University, for her guidance and support.



Cognizant
Sylvia Veeraraghavan
Supriya Dey

We’re excited to launch The Inclusion Dialogue, a new series by Vision Empower that brings together individuals and orga...
21/03/2026

We’re excited to launch The Inclusion Dialogue, a new series by Vision Empower that brings together individuals and organisations working across different areas of inclusion.

Our first conversation, “From Classrooms to Campuses to Communities,” explores inclusion as a continuum - from foundational learning to higher education and beyond.

For this session, we’re bringing together three incredible women who are shaping this journey in distinct ways:

• Sylvia Veeraraghavan, Vision Empower – strengthening accessible STEM education in schools
• Sonia Garcha, CSpathshala, ACM India – building teacher ecosystems and communities of practice
• Neha Trivedi, Spandan – enabling inclusive higher education and institutional change

If you’re interested in education, accessibility, or building more inclusive systems, we’d love you to join the conversation.

Date: Monday, 23 March 2026
Time: 5:00 – 5:45 PM (IST)

Join here:

Microsoft Teams meeting
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/47661100664871?p=GNpKkdaostb3osZTLc
Meeting ID: 476 611 006 648 71
Passcode: fT7Py7ka

In many schools, especially special schools, science activities are limited, with little to no exposure to practical lea...
19/03/2026

In many schools, especially special schools, science activities are limited, with little to no exposure to practical learning due to the absence of functional and accessible laboratories.

This month marked a meaningful shift for three special schools in Kolkata (West Bengal), Papum Pare (Arunachal Pradesh), and Shillong (Meghalaya), where Accessible Science Labs have been set up for students with visual impairment.

More than 330 students across these schools are beginning to experience science in a whole new way. From tactile models to hands-on tools, STEM concepts that were once theoretical are now becoming real, engaging, and meaningful.

This journey would not have been possible without the support of our partners, the Cognizant Foundation, GE and Caring Friends, Mumbai, as well as the dedication of teachers and volunteers who helped establish these spaces from the ground up.

At Vision Empower, this is part of a larger journey to ensure that every child can experience and explore science. A total of 23 labs have been set up and inaugurated across India so far, with many more on the way as we move closer to this goal.

Accessible description:

* Slide 1: Science lab inauguration at Calcutta Blind School, Kolkata, with students and visitors in an inclusive STEM learning space.
* Slide 2: Science lab inauguration at Jyoti Sroat School, Shillong, with students demonstrating experiments in an accessible lab setting.
* Slide 3: Accessible science lab inauguration at Donyi Polo Mission School, Arunachal Pradesh, for students with hearing and visual impairments.



Devidatta Ghosh
Swagata Sen
Foundation India

Exploring AI for accessibility and impactAt the Microsoft Asia CELA Embassy AI for Good Retreat in Bangkok, the Vision E...
13/03/2026

Exploring AI for accessibility and impact

At the Microsoft Asia CELA Embassy AI for Good Retreat in Bangkok, the Vision Empower team had the opportunity to share how we are exploring the use of AI to strengthen accessibility, learning tools, and internal workflows.
We demonstrated some of our Agentic AI integrations that are helping us build assistive technologies and more inclusive learning experiences, especially for children with visual impairment.

Vidhya Y, our co-founder, also participated in the AI Diffusion panel, where she shared Vision Empower’s journey of using AI to build solutions that can scale responsibly while ensuring trust in AI systems. One key point she highlighted was that Universal Design must be part of the thinking from the very beginning and not added later. When accessibility is built in from day one, solutions naturally become more inclusive for everyone.

For us at Vision Empower, AI is not just a tool. It is becoming a powerful way to strengthen accessible learning, support educators, and create more meaningful opportunities for children with visual impairment.

It was inspiring to be part of conversations focused on how AI can truly serve people and create positive social impact.
Microsoft
Vidhya Y
Supriya Dey
Sylvia Veeraraghavan

08/03/2026

At Vision Empower, accessibility and inclusion are values we work towards every day. But behind this work are people, experiences, and beliefs that shape what these ideas truly mean to us.

For women, accessibility and inclusion are not just concepts; these are commitments shaped by their own journeys.
This Women’s Day, women from our team, along with one male colleague who joined in solidarity, shared what accessibility and inclusion mean to them in their personal lives.

Today, we celebrate these voices and reflections that remind us why this work matters- building a world where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.










04/03/2026

This Holi, Let Every Child Come Out with Flying Colours.

For children with visual impairments, learning isn’t about limitations; it’s about access. Our assistive learning tools, Hexis and Iris are designed to ensure:

1. Children read independently
2. Science diagrams become touchable
3. Mathematical and scientific concepts become real

This Holi, let’s celebrate colour by ensuring no learner is left in the dark. You can help place these tools in the hands of students who are ready to shine in every shade of possibility.

Show your support today.
Donate Now on https://visionempowertrust.org/donate/
or scan the QR code in the video


Supriya Dey
Vidhya Y
Sylvia Veeraraghavan

02/03/2026

Science Day celebrations across different schools in different states.

These pictures speak louder than words, and if this resonates with you,
let us join hands to make STEM accessible and inclusive for students with visual impairment.

We would love to connect. Drop a comment or send us a message at [email protected]

Let us make inclusion the standard, not the exception.

Vidhya Y
Supriya Dey
Sylvia Veeraraghavan
Devidatta Ghosh

Address

IIIT Bangalore Innovation Centre, 26/C Hosur Road, Electronic City Phase 1
Bangalore
560100

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vision Empower posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Vision Empower:

Shortcuts

Share

Category