[Fsf-friends] A project for Inclusive Education of the Disabled recommends proprietary software

[Vimal Joseph]

Dear All,

Here is a link to the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of ‘Inclusive
Education of the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS)’

http://education.nic.in/secedu/sec_iedc.asp

This scheme is approved by the cabinet committee on september 2008
http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=42926

The document says:
        The use of ICT: Access to technology is especially relevant for
        the disabled as it increases their access to a vast amount of
        information not otherwise available. Computers provided to
        students in secondary schools will also be made accessible to
        those with disabilities. The scheme will provide for the
        purchase of appropriate technology by way of special software
        such as Screen Reading software like JAWS, SAFA, etc. for the
        visually impaired and speech recognition software for the
        hearing impaired to develop computer vocabulary for the hearing
        impaired and modified hardware like adapted keyboards. (Sr. No.
        I.13 of Appendix-I).
        
The scheme will provide the money to purchase proprietary software like
JAWS. They have mentioned about SAFA also. It is a screen reading
software for windows available at safa.sf.net. But its licence is not
clear and seems to be a dead project. Last commit to the code repository
was on 2004. No school will bother about the "etc.." part. So the
obvious choice of software under this scheme will be JAWS. 

As part of the Insight project, we are using GNU/Linux with orca screen
reader for the last 2 years and it works very well. 

It is really a waste of money if the schools are going to purchase JAWS.
If they use Free Software, the money they have to purchase JAWS can be
used for the development of orca or even used for purchasing more
computers. 

This is definitely an project we should get involved. 

regards,

~vimal

http://insight.kerala.gov.in