Dot， Making Braille Accessible Through Cheap Smart Device

Six－dot Braille is a system of raised dots allows people with blindness and severe sight loss to read. Refreshable braille displays helps the blind also use computer screens and other electronic supports. But the problem is that the devices are expensive. Young students have launched a startup venture to help these people. They developed affordable wrist－wearable smart device that can help the visually impaired as well as illiterate people to read e－books and access information on the Internet. We introduce a remarkable story about young entrepreneurs and their “Dot” venture， using their bright minds to help the needy people around the world.

HETAUDA, Nepal — WATCHING the doctor perform is like observing miracles. He has restored eyesight to more than 100,000 people, perhaps more than any doctor in history, and still his patients come. They stagger and grope their way to him along mountain trails from remote villages, hoping to go under his scalpel and see loved ones again. A day after he operates to remove cataracts, he pulls off the bandages — and, lo! They can see clearly. At first tentatively, then jubilantly, they gaze about.

A few hours later, they walk home, radiating an ineffable bliss. Dr. Sanduk Ruit, a Nepali ophthalmologist, may be the world champion in the war on blindness. Some 39 million people worldwide are blind — about half because of cataracts — and another 246 million have impaired vision, according to the World Health Organization. If you’re a blind person in a poor country, then traditionally you have no hope. But Dr. Ruit has pioneered a simple cataract microsurgery technique that costs only $25 per patient and is virtually always successful.

This is a real photo that was captured in Damascus, Syria in the year 1889. The one being carried is a Christian dwarf named Sameer. The one carrying him is a blind Muslim named Mohammed. Sameer would depend on Mohammed for transportation in the busy streets of Damascus. Mohammed also depended on Sameer to help navigate him passed obstacles. Only one of them was able to walk and only one of them was able to see. They were both orphans and lived together in the same room. They were forever together. Then Sameer died, Mohammed stayed in his room crying for a week. He lost his other half and as a result he died after that week from sadness. This once used to be Syria.

We are planning to bring 4 teachers from Boarding Collage Al-Basiir to Malaysia in January 2016 inshaa Allah to train them in the use, repair and maintenance of braille embossers so that they can print their own school books in braille. In fact the braille embossers had been donated by the Malaysian government some time back, but they have been unable to use it due to lack of training.

They have also requested to visit schools for the blind in Malaysia to learn our teaching methods. They would like to bring back braillers, white canes and braille Math and Science books when they return to Somalia.

Al-Fitrah Foundation is planning to bring 4 teachers from Boarding Collage Al-Basiir to our office in Kuala Lumpur in January to train them in using and maintaining braille embossers and braillers. We would also like to bring them to observe schools for the blind here , so they can pick up teaching methods inshaa Allah. When they return to Somalia, we would like to gift the school with braille books and equipment . Please consider making a donation to Al-Fitrah Foundation ( details given in the About section of theis page) to help us with this project.