CSE Dept Social Impact  Projects to I- YwD (Innovation By Youth With Disabilities) with NISH

Dr Ramani Bai V (Prof and HoD, CSE Dept) has initiated efforts to engage CSE students in social responsibility by collaborating with NISH for the welfare of underprivileged and disabled individuals. Serving as the Institution Authorized Signatory and Faculty Point of Contact, Dr. Ramani Bai V organized a Google Meet session on November 30, 2023, inviting the Project Coordinator, I-YwD Mr. Avaneesh (Innovation by Youth with Disabilities) from the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH). The session aimed to discuss innovative project ideas to benefit disabled students and explore potential collaborations between the Computer Science department and NISH. With the assistance of faculty coordinator Thulasi Rajan K, Mithu Varghese, project teams were arranged for interaction, and students were motivated to actively participate in the collaboration.

Following the productive online session on 30 November 2023, where stakeholders discussed project ideas for disabled students, a group of interested students took the initiative to deepen their involvement.Collaborating with I-YwD, they visited NISH on January 30, 2024, continuing their commitment to leveraging technology for disabled students’ benefit.

Welcomed by representatives from NISH, the student teams with members Appu K, Ignatius Nobel, Jibin C Baby, Joyal Jaison, Joel Sabu, Febin Rajan, Anurudh Deepan, Joseph Tony,Sreechandhana K H, Uthara Sunil Kumar, Sujishna V P and Vrindha K embarked on a transformative journey.”During the visit, NISH’s CATI/NHAT department showcased innovative assistive technologies, including prototypes like a specially designed chair for mobility-impaired individuals and a foldable bed for the paralyzed. In the communication department, the students delved into the nuanced needs of the hearing-impaired community, exploring communication strategies and mediums. They were intrigued by demonstrations of picture books, specially designed buzzers, and the AWAAS software developed by IIT Bombay.

Engaging meetings with NISH faculty, including Mr. Avaneesh and Ms. Bhavana, alongside hearing-impaired students, provided invaluable insights and feedback on their projects. Interactive sessions facilitated learning sign language gestures and understanding the challenges faced by the hearing-impaired.

The visit concluded with a sense of enlightenment and motivation, instilling a deeper commitment to inclusivity and innovation in their projects. The project teams extended their gratitude to NISH and I-YwD for the enriching opportunity, eagerly anticipating the positive impact of their endeavors in the future.