PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind (NAB) Delhi, inaugurated Antar Drishti—a unique sensory dark room—on Monday. The facility was formally opened by the department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) secretary Rajesh Aggarwal.
According to officials, Antar Drishti is a specially designed sensory experience space aimed at raising awareness and sensitising society to the challenges faced by individuals with visual impairments. In this dark room, participants experience complete darkness and engage in activities that simulate the everyday experiences of individuals who are blind or have low vision. This initiative seeks to foster empathy, understanding and inclusion by bridging the gap between perception and lived reality.
Additionally, during the inauguration, NIEPVD signed a memorandum of understanding with Amar Seva Sangam, a leading organisation in the field of disability rehabilitation and inclusive development. Through this collaboration, NIEPVD will implement the Enable Inclusion App—a digital platform developed by Amar Seva Sangam for the early identification, intervention and tracking of children with developmental disabilities. The app has been successfully used in various communities to support intellectual and developmental needs.
Under the agreement, NIEPVD will integrate its expertise in visual disabilities to help expand the app’s scope, making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of individuals with visual impairments. This initiative will facilitate personalised support and services through digital means, thereby enhancing the reach and effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions.
