The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan) took significant strides towards inclusivity through two groundbreaking Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed on November 20, 2023. MOU with National Book Trust, New DelhiUnder the mentorship of the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, NIEPVD and the National Book Trust, New Delhi, formalized their commitment to fostering collaboration. The MOU paves the way for the establishment of a Universal Design Center for Reading in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. This center will showcase the National Book Trust's extensive collection of publications and learning materials in various accessible formats, including physical books, Braille books, e-books, and audio books. The collaboration aims to make reading materials more accessible to individuals with visual disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities for learning and education.
The MOU was signed by Er. Manish Verma, Director (Offg), NIEPVD, and Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust India, marking a commitment to empower persons with visual disabilities and advance accessibility to reading materials. In another momentous development, NIEPVD joined hands with the Daisy Forum of India (DFI) to facilitate the provision of an online library containing accessible books and related resources tailored for persons with print disabilities. The collaboration seeks to create and disseminate accessible books through SugamyaPustakalaya, an online library designed for persons with print disabilities in India. Various accessible formats such as DAISY, E-Pub, BRF, and others will be employed to meet the diverse needs of the target audience.