Samarthanam launches platform to find scribes for disabled exam takers

Bengaluru: Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled on Thursday launched the ‘Samarthanam Scribe Connect’ platform to help visually challenged students find volunteer scribes who could lend their hand for writing exams.The platform has built a database of verified volunteers, allowing students with vision challenge who might require assistance in writing exams.Defying disability, Nanded teen writes class 12 board exam with his feetWhen students submit details about their exams, the platform searches and notifies Aadhaar-verified scribes within the two- or three-kilometre radius. It keeps expanding the search until it finds the right match. The free-to-use online platform is completely accessible with screen readers used by the visually challenged such as Job Access With Speech (JAWS) for Windows, TalkBack on Android phones, and Voiceover on iPhones.Finding volunteers to write answers as they dictate during exams has been a persisting issue for students with vision challenge.The new platform addresses the issue by putting a reliable, verified support system in the students’ hands, said Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Founder and Managing Trustee, Samarthanam.”We are trying to make education truly accessible for every student, regardless of their ability,” Mahantesh said.

Source: Deccan Herald