Shalini Khanna, a luminary in the field of social entrepreneurship and disability studies, stands as a beacon of inspiration and innovation. Her remarkable journey has been punctuated with accolades and achievements that reflect her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of marginalized communities, particularly blind women. Recognized by the Government of India and the United Nations, Shalini has been honored with the prestigious ‘Top 75 Women Transforming India’ award, a testament to her exceptional contributions to society.
As the Founder Director of the NAB India Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies,Shalini has spearheaded pioneering initiatives that empower visually impaired women to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Her visionary leadership extends to groundbreaking ventures such as the Blind Bake Cafe and Ujjwala, which have not only provided economic opportunities but also raised awareness about the potential of individuals with disabilities.
Furthermore, as the Director of Discovering Hands India, Shalini Khanna has championed early breast cancer detection through tactile diagnostics, underscoring her dedication to promoting healthcare inclusivity. Driven by an unwavering passion for equity and inclusion, Shalini continues to be an exemplary figure in the realm of social impact, touching countless lives and inspiring positive change.
Rajni Vohra: What inspired you to work in the field of blindness and visual impairment?
Shalini Khanna: Well, actually, I had some free time when I was very young. I was already a freelancer at 24, and I just went to volunteer at the NAB Delhi school branch. What I saw there was brilliance in students who were very, very bright and well-mannered. They were keen to gain more, and I was looking for a life of purpose, not just to fit into a company somewhere. So, I guess the students were my inspiration.
Rajni Vohra: What are the most significant challenges faced by individuals with visual impairments in your region, and how does the NAB center address them?
Shalini Khanna: The challenges faced by visually impaired women… I would say that because the center for blind women focuses more on women, the challenges are many, and they are different from what they were earlier. There are more opportunities for education and higher education for the visually impaired now. The main challenges that visually impaired women face right now are:
- Employment – There are a lot of fears in the minds of employers regarding how visually impaired women will take care of their safety and how they will travel.
- Another significant challenge we face these days is finding a place for them to stay. When we secure a job for them, we require accommodation for them somewhere nearby, as they are mostly from out of Delhi. Most people we approach hesitate a lot when they hear ‘blind.’ We assure them that she is trained to live independently and even cook, but most refuse. So, accommodations become a major challenge for them.
The challenge of accessibility is also significant because not everything is accessible for visually impaired people, such as entertainment, e.g., films. Not all films are blind-friendly, and much entertainment is only visual. So, visually impaired individuals can’t enjoy them fully. In fact, whenever we have taken them for adventure sports outside Delhi, we have had to fight with agencies to let blind people enjoy and experience these activities. Their range of life experiences is very limited, so accessibility remains a significant ongoing challenge. Many technology devices are also not accessible; even home appliances need to be made blind-friendly.
Rajni Vohra: How has technology evolved to assist individuals with visual impairments, and how does the NAB center incorporate these advancements into its programs?
Shalini Khanna: Technology has made their lives much better. We are thankful to technology makers and developers who continuously strive to develop blind-friendly devices these days. There are many devices that we also teach to make their lives easier, like smartphones, which these days provide significant support for everyone in terms of mobility, ordering food or groceries, banking, and travel. We also teach them to use speaking machines like weighing scales or thermometers. Many of them use speaking microwaves if they have acquired them from other countries, as well as speaking alarms and speaking watches.
Rajni Vohra: In what ways does the NAB center provide educational and vocational support to individuals with visual impairments?
Shalini Khanna: NAB India Centre for Blind Women mainly focuses on upgrading their skills or skilling completely unskilled and raw blind women so that they can become financially and socially independent. We provide training in computer skills, reception handling, customer care support, bakery and cafe management, pain-relieving therapies for work in a spa, and breast cancer detection training for work in hospitals and community healthcare. Our vision is to make every blind woman independent and visible through skill development and empowerment. Along with vocational training, we also train them in independent mobility, enabling them to use public transport, travel by Metro trains, and even fly by flight. We also teach them basic cooking skills so that they can be useful partners at home and lead a quality domestic life.
Rajni Vohra: Keep inspiring with your work, Shalini Khanna. We wish you all the best and thank you for talking to us.