One of the largest schools in India for the differently-abled, Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan, launched a picture-based mobile application along with an e-commerce website to commemorate its 18th annual day.
The mobile app, named VAAKYA, will be available for free at Google Play Store starting 16th February and caters to the speech impaired population of the country. It aims to serve as an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tool, which can also be used for rehabilitation.
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The app creates a combination of custom images and phrases, thereby enabling effective communication. Also, it does not make use of an Internet connection but on the contrary, only utilizes the phone’s memory.
Further, VAAKYA facilitates multiple user accounts, meaning that many users/patients can be added simultaneously with unique actions and speech related to each individual user.
The speech can then be recorded and played back in any language as desired by the user.
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Along with the app, the school has also integrated an E-commerce portal to its official website that would allow users to buy hand-made products made by the children at the school (under the vocational training program Swayam) using a simple user interface.
The said hand-made products range from paper bags and wedding accessories to office stationary and packaging items and can be bought by logging on to the school’s website.
“MBCN has been working towards empowering children with special needs for 18 years now. With Vaakya, our mission is to give the specially-abled a tool to communicate efficiently and make them independent and self-reliant.The vocational training programme ‘Swayam’ provides a sense of self-worth and economic independence. The students get stipend for the hours they spend on their skill as an encouragement for their hard work and give them a sense of economic independence. These initiatives would give an impetus to our on-going efforts in bringing vital changes to the lives of hundreds of children,”
Vandana Sharma, Director, Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan
