Vision-Aid teams across 75 locations in India continued their dedicated efforts to support people with visual impairment, helping them lead lives of independence and dignity. Through more than 7000 sessions and interventions, we reached serving nearly 5400 beneficiaries with visual impairment and through project CHASHMA nearly 10,470 children got benefitted and weare pleased to share some of the inspiring stories and key milestones that made this quarter especially meaningful. Below is a snapshot of select initiatives that created lasting impact during this period.
Aravind Eye Hospital (Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupati, Pondicherry and Coimbatore):
Madurai: This quarter, nearly 570 beneficiaries received pediatric and low vision services. The Resource Center also strengthened its impact through professional conferences, specialized training in low vision and early intervention, faculty participation at national and international forums, group training in mobility and education, distribution of Smart Vision Glasses (SVG), and screening and outreach activities.
Tirunelveli: Nearly 620 beneficiaries received essential services, including low vision assessments and mobility training. With support from Vision-Aid, 59 Smart Vision Glasses and two smartphones were provided to visually impaired individuals to enhance daily functioning and independence. The quarter also included awareness sessions on low vision and assistive devices, continuous medical education on Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), and the distribution of assistive devices through Vision Centers. A key highlight was the inauguration of a Life Skills Development Room, enabling persons with visual impairment to learn essential daily living skills.
Tirupati: The Resource Center supported nearly 40 beneficiaries with low vision care, including management of congenital eye conditions and CVI, and conducted a multidisciplinary CME on CVI featuring expert sessions and hands-on workshops on assessment, early intervention, and low vision devices.
Pondicherry: Nearly 450 beneficiaries received low vision and early intervention services from the Resource Center. A vision screening camp with assistive device distribution was conducted at a special school during Low Vision Awareness Week. The team also contributed to the Aravind Intramural Conference through a presentation on clinical features and rehabilitation strategies.
Coimbatore: The Resource Center supported over 1,000 beneficiaries through low vision and early intervention services this quarter, including an AURA demo for beneficiaries.
The Head of the Vision Rehabilitation Center was invited to speak on Cerebral Visual Impairment at a Developmental Pediatrics Workshop organized by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Coimbatore, at Royal Care Hospital.
L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Bhubaneshwar):
Hyderabad: The LVPEI Hyderabad center sustained its impact through professional training programs for professionals from new partner hospitals. The center also hosted the Low Vision Awareness Program (LAP).
A smartphone distribution initiative was conducted across LVPEI centers, with 20 smartphones distributed.
Visakhapatnam: The CVI Center at Visakhapatnam provides intervention sessions for children with CVI, covering vision therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and special education. Children also received CVI training materials, spectacles, and nutritional supplements. In addition, 10 Smartphones were distributed to the visually impaired beneficiaries
Vijayawada: The resource center in LVPEI Vijayawada benefitted beneficiaries in terms of computer training, mobility training, vocational training, spoken English and personality developmental sessions. Smartphones were given to 5 beneficiaries.
Bhubaneshwar: The Early Intervention Unit at LVPEI Bhubaneswar began its services by delivering 1,862 sessions and interventions for 20 children with cortical visual impairment offering vision therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and special education. Tablets were also provided to support home-based training.
Project – CHASHMA, Sundargarh, Odisha: A comprehensive eye health initiative launched in July 2025 in Sundargarh district, Odisha, screened over 10,471 children from schools and Anganwadis, dispensed nearly 200 spectacles, and referred children needing further care to secondary centers.
Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, Delhi:
The Vision-Aid Resource Center has supported over 600 beneficiaries, including nearly 272 beneficiaries from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Services provided included low vision assessment, use of low vision devices, orientation and mobility, braille, spoken English, and the distribution of smartphones and Smart Vision Glasses (SVG) The residential training programs for computer skills continues to empower individuals with visual impairment.
Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital, Vrindavan:
Vision-Aid’s collaboration with Dr. Shroff’s Vrindavan Center focuses on early intervention for children with Cortical Visual Impairment, delivering 230+ sessions to nearly 40 children through assessment, therapy, counselling, spectacles, and nutritional kits.
Community Eye Care Foundation, Pune:
The Vision-Aid Resource Center at the Community Eye Care Foundation, Pune, supported nearly 120 beneficiaries through low vision assessments and counselling this quarter, alongside extensive screening and outreach activities for low vision, CVI, and special school children. The center also shared an inspiring success story of a renowned Marathi literary scholar with a macular disorder who was provided with a magnifier to support continued reading and writing.
Voluntary Health Service, Chennai:
The Resource Center at Voluntary Health Service, Chennai, supported beneficiaries through comprehensive low vision services and, in partnership with Vision-Aid, distributed 10 Smart Vision Glasses and 20 smartphones to underprivileged individuals.
Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai:
During this quarter, the resource center served over 700 beneficiaries, of which over 100 beneficiaries from underprivileged backgrounds. The center highlighted a success story of a Class 10 grade student from Bangladesh who received structured academic guidance for his Class 11 and Class 12 education in India with the support from the Vision-Aid Resource center. Alongside his schooling, he was trained in computer skills, orientation and mobility, and mobile usage. Through Vision-Aid’s support, he received a smartphone and Smart Vision Glasses. His journey stands as a powerful testament to resilience, the transformative power of opportunity, and the importance of inclusive education.
Sankara Nethralaya ,Kolkata :
Through comprehensive low vision services, the resource center reached around 340 beneficiaries, including 60 from underserved backgrounds, and conducted a Vision-Aid–referred screening camp at Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata, supporting 14 individuals from the Deoghar region.
Sitapur Eye Hospital, Sitapur, UP:
The resource center supported nearly 140 beneficiaries through low vision services and counselling. It also shared a success story of a 15-year-old girl who, with support from the Vision-Aid Resource Center, is progressing toward her dreams with greater confidence and independence. Additionally, the center organized a low vision follow-up camp for beneficiaries who received low vision devices to understand and receive feedback regarding the quality of life after using the devices.
Narayana Nethralaya , Bengaluru:
The Vision-Aid Resource Center at Narayana Nethralaya supported nearly 170 beneficiaries through low vision services and early intervention, including assisting a 28-year-old woman with Stargardt’s disease by providing a portable digital video magnifier to aid her exam preparation.
Sadguru Nethra Chikitsalaya, Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh:
The center supported nearly 100 beneficiaries through low vision evaluations, counselling, educational sessions, and assistive devices, and is currently establishing a dedicated low vision and rehabilitation center. It also shared an inspiring success story of an 11-year-old boy whose quality of life improved significantly with the support of low vision devices.
I Care Eye Hospital, Noida, Uttar Pradesh:
The resource center has supported nearly 80 beneficiaries through low vision evaluations, device distribution, and training. An early intervention unit has been established to support children with CVI. The center along with the support of Vision-Aid distributed Smart vision glasses and Smartphones for four beneficiaries.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal:
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) collaborated with Vision-Aid to enhance access to low vision rehabilitation services. The resource center now offers low vision assessments and assistive devices. Additionally, a screening-cum–community rehabilitation mobile van has been inaugurated to extend services to a wider population.
Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam:
Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya partnered with Vision-Aid to provide low vision assessment and assistive devices to beneficiaries. The Vision-Aid resource center primarily focuses on delivering comprehensive vision care and rehabilitation services.
Key highlights from other programs across Vision-Aid:
Vision-Aid Project Springboard for blind schools:
The program expanded from 50 to 62 blind schools. A total of 226 students were enrolled across various PSB schools under different training programs. Jyoti Strot School was onboarded under the Tier 1 category, and an MoU was signed. Testimonials of appreciation were received from several school heads. Additionally, 234 students across five schools benefited from the RLF tactile books project.
Vision-Aid Training programs:
NAB Delhi Café Training Program: Seven candidates successfully completed their Café training program at NAB Delhi, with Vision-Aid serving as the mobilization partner. All candidates secured placements at the TCS Chennai Cafeteria, marking another successful collaboration between Vision-Aid and NAB.
- NAB India Supported CCE Batch: we initiated the first batch for the year 2025–26 with 11 visually impaired girls under the NAB India Center at Gayathri College, Vizag.
- Agentic AI Webinar: Vision-Aid successfully organized a webinar on “Agentic AI”, which raised awareness and helped identify qualified candidates for the 2026 program, reflecting our focus on emerging technology skills.
- SQL Batch Graduation Day: The SQL Batch Graduation Day was another memorable achievement. Trainees showcased their project work with clarity, confidence, and technical competence. The Chief Guest, Mr. Piyush Singhania (KPMG), was deeply impressed by their performance and the overall quality of the training outcomes.
- Development of the Referral App: Following the concept and direction of Mr. Vijay Francis, Advisory Director, the training team coordinated with the tech team and low vision rehabilitation team to develop a Referral App to streamline the referral process, particularly for hospital partners, ensuring smoother, faster, and more transparent tracking and coordination.
- Alumni Engagement and Community Management: To strengthen alumni engagement and ensure better communication, Vision-Aid migrated from its Alumni WhatsApp group to a WhatsApp Community. This move enhances data privacy, control, and organized interaction, fostering a stronger sense of belonging among alumni.
Vision-Aid Placement Updates:
Added 14 new employer connections and achieved 16 placements (15 via Vision-Aid, 1 self-placement) in Q3.
- Students interviewed with companies including Accessible Minds, McKesson, Sarathee, Sutherland, Barrier Break, and RSR Catering.
- Conducted in-person interviews with Fenesta and ICCS.
- As a milestone, visually impaired students in the manufacturing industry.
- Students showcased their talents in Excel, coding, and AI projects at Worldline.
- Visited companies like Accessible Minds and Sarathee CRM to discuss current progress and future projects.
