A two day training programme was held for the Akshaya Entrepreneurs at Alleppey on 19^th and 20^th January 2010, for training the Visually Challenged in using computers. 56 Akshaya Entrepreneurs participated in the training programme which was held at Cherthala and Purakkadu Akshaya centres. A technical quiz programme was conducted on the final day and prizes were distributed. Certificates were also issued for all the participants.

A 5 day ICT training programme was conducted from 12th January 2010 for the students of Louis Braille School for Blind, Idukki.The programme was inaugurated by Hon. M.P Shri P T Thomas. 23 students and 3 teachers were given training on the use of computers with the latest ICT tools.

An interactive programme with parents of autistic children and Dr Arun Mehta was organised at insight on 13th january . Dr Mehta enlightened them on Skid, a free software package similar to Gcompris which the children are already working with. Skid has many tiny modules that a child can select and combine, based on the specific task she wishes to perform. Parents were happy to note that ICT training through packages like Skid or Gcompris can really help an autistic child to communicate in real life situations.

The Kerala State IT Mission as part of their initiative to to bring the benefits of ICT to the differently abled through its INSIGHT project conducted a seminar on the topic “Empowering the Differently Abled” on 13th January 2010 at Malabar Hall, Technopark. Shri Mervin Alexander, CEO, Technopark delivered the welcome speech. Dr. Rathan Kelkar IAS, Director, KSITM, in his introductory remarks, enlightened the audience about the activities done by Kerala IT Mission to empower the differently abled. He also added that efforts would be made through INSIGHT to assist the companies in identifying the right candidates and giving them job-related training.

This was followed by a presentation by INSIGHT detailing the activities done for empowering and employing the differently abled. The highlight of the presentation was demonstrations by two visually challenged students. A talk by Dr. Arun Mehta, Chairman, Department  of CE, JMIT, on “Employing Differently abled” followed. He said he was amazed by the ideas that were being conceived and implemented in Kerala and insisted that it would be wonderful if Kerala could set a role model in the field of empowering the differently abled as well.

Mr Mathew Jacob of Nest Technologies suggested that the companies should change their mindset regarding employing a differently abled person. The experience that he has had from employing differently abled in company makes him a strong votary of this cause, he added. Shri. Satish Babu, CEO, Inapp Technologies proposed a vote of thanks.