Learning basic German gives 6 blind students sense of triumph

PUNE: For six visually impaired students at the foreign language department of Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Ranade Institute, learning German was more than just acquiring a new skill. It was a journey towards independence, confidence and a sense of self-belief.

They enrolled in the German language certificate course at the institute, marking the first time that such a large group of visually impaired learners learned a foreign language course here.


Shashikant Shinde, who appeared for the exam, said, “I wasn’t confident about writing the paper by typing because German is a new language and I did not know if the spellings would be accurate. But as we solved homework and assignments on Swalekhan Test, I felt more and more confident and breezed through the final exam.”

The Swalekhan Test platform, a free, accessible resource developed by Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalaya, allows them to take examinations without the need for a reader or writer.

There is a push from govt to extend this training to blind students from kindergarten through postgraduate levels. The education board has already approved the use of computers in exams by blind students.

Students used the platform to complete assignments, homework and class exercises and their German language teacher Aishwarya could evaluate their work. Such a collaboration was a first for the institute.

Behind the scenes, several initiatives were undertaken to ensure the classroom experience was truly inclusive. Uma Badve from Niwant conducted a mobility and accessibility workshop for Ranade Institute’s faculty. The session focused on practical ways teachers could make classrooms more accessible for the blind.

The organisation has been working to empower visually impaired individuals for 30 years. Ekaansh Foundation sponsored the course fees, ensuring that financial barriers did not block the students’ aspirations.

On the academic level, Kirti Vaidya worked closely with the Niwant team with support from the head of department of Ranade Institute Swati Acharya to make all course material fully accessible.

Geetanjali Dhobe, one of the six students, called Badve immediately after the exam. “For the first time in my life, I felt that the marks I get will be my own because I wrote the examination independently,” she told her, adding that she thoroughly enjoyed the course.

Badve, co-founder of Swalekhan and a trustee of Niwant, said the students have set a powerful example by choosing to learn a foreign language and appearing for their exams independently for other visually impaired students.

Vaidya said the initiative also supports academic research in inclusive language education. “In a recently submitted thesis on developing teaching methodology for visually impaired learners of German as a foreign language, the Swalekhan platform played a key role in making learning and assessment accessible,” she added.