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Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) is committed to empowering visually challenged people become self-reliant by providing them with comprehensive rehabilitation, education and employment opportunities. The organisation focuses on the socio-economically disadvantaged visually challenged children and adults living in rural areas.

Major activities are:

• Education programs: IAB runs a Residential Higher Secondary School where, since inception in 1997, 351 students have appeared for their 12th grade exams and 318 students have taken up their grade 10 exams. The school follows a state board syllabus and offers students Braille textbooks, CDs and audio cassettes and a CD player. IAB also runs a Hostel for integrated education. Gym and van facilities are provided for college and school going children along with mobility training and daily living skills training. In FY15, 43 boys and 7 girls enrolled for this opportunity.
• Braille/Audio Library: The Braille Library has a vast collection of Braille and Audio books in both Tamil and English for preparing for competitive exams, reference books, guides and also the choicest of novels and story books. The new library accommodates 30 students and during the year 350 students availed of the facilities. More than 1,000 audio CDs were distributed to both IAB students as well as visually challenged from other institutions. The Braille book production house makes all printed materials accessible in Braille format and has printed and distributed a total of 5,981 Braille books across Tamil Nadu.
• Computer and Vocational Training: IAB is the first institution to have a computer centre for the visually impaired in Tamil Nadu. In FY15, training was provided to 135 students. Each computer is installed with Speech Software. IAB’s Call Centre provides employment opportunities through a 6 month training course in coordination with Tata Tele Services and employment was offered to 45 students in FY15. Besides Tele calling,  training is also provided in Computer & Spoken English. Vocational training is given to students in industrial, light engineering and book binding through a 1 year course in collaboration with Hitech Arai Pvt Ltd.