Creating a new space for visually impaired in the corporate world in 2020

According to National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), 12 million people in India are suffering from visual impairment, and out of these only 29.16% are part of the education system.

Gathering social parity with an aim to involve the physically challenged individuals is the first step for growth in the economy that offers more sustainability for an environment that is more inclusive. With social inclusiveness and awareness amongst the masses, with no biases for people belonging to different backgrounds or inabilities, there has been more acceptance in the society towards the visually impaired. Given more opportunities that have been created by making corporates more aware, the visually impaired now have many opportunities that they can garner for their growth and benefit. 

According to the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), 12 million people in India are suffering from visual impairment, and out of this only 29.16 % are part of the education system. A mere 6.86% of schools in India have access to Braille books and audio content. The education system is not embracing the differently-abled people, especially visually impaired individuals, that make it difficult for them to apply and get jobs. The employment rate of visually impaired people in rural areas is just 29%.

But things are starting to change now, employers are now open to appoint or give a job to the people with visual inabilities as they have acquired skill sets like none other. This way, visually impaired are paving a path of their own and making a footprint in the professional world to rise high.

There are numerous job roles that are offered to the visually impaired by both the government and the private sector. Various programs and courses such as the basic level of IT/Computer programing collated with JAWS (A Screen Reader Software) and NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) are also created for visually impaired. There are programs that equip these visually impaired candidates through CRM Voice and QP Training. By taking up these different courses, visually impaired people can enter into different fields. Some sectors that can be suggested to make career opportunities are:

1. Customer Care- Trained to deal with conversations and customer queries that only require listening proficiency, the Customer Care career option is very suitable for the visually challenged. 
2. Civil Services- Civil Services including IAS and state services are great options for visually impaired individuals. Like any other aspirant, one must prepare for taking the examinations, Civil Services is the most esteemed professions in the country and over the past few years, a number of differently-abled people have managed to crack it.
3. Engineering- Engineering programs are also suitable options to make a career in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or in any other type of course. Engineering students also have high placement rates and have great job opportunities.
4. Teaching- Teaching allows people to have comfortable work timing and lets them impart knowledge to children. A number of schools are open to let visually impaired people teach there. Visually impaired people can also help out by teaching other visually impaired children through braille and other techniques.

(Disclaimer: Prashant Agarwal is the President of Narayan Seva Sansthan. The opinions expressed are the personal views of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)