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