Mangalore : A new beginning has been made at ‘Roman and Catherine School for the Blind’ with the setting up of a full-fledged School for the Blind Children of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and surrounding Districts on was inaugurated at Kapikad, Bejai on July 12, Monday.

The school has been a dream of Dr. U. V. Shenoy and “Seva Bharathi” Trust for the last two decades to establish a School for the Blind. The relentless efforts of Ms. Carmine Lobo and Seva Bharathi must be appreciated.

The organization like Seva Bharathi under the guidance of Dr. U. V. Shenoy has already been engaged itself in a School for the mentally challenged by name “Chetana Child Development Centre” at V. T. Road, Mangalore.
In the past, these visually impaired Children used to go and study in Blind Schools that are quite far from their homes, thus going away from their parents and other loved ones. Now it has become possible for these children to study in a residential school for the blind.

In a Residential School other than informal and formal education, free boarding and lodgings are provided. Food, uniform, toilet items like soap, toothpaste, etc are provided totally free of cost. Every child’s needs are met.
The school teaches formal education as per The Karnataka Education Board syllabus. Along with this, Computer Education and Computer skills will be taught using the most popular screen reading / talking software known as JAWS.

For the partial visually impaired, Computer applications will be taught using the screen magnification software. The other informal methods of Education will include orientation and mobility, independent living, Handicrafts, special games like Cricket, Chess, etc. The medical facilities of the student, if necessary will be taken care by the School with the total consent of parents or guardian of the Student. The parent or guardian will be contacted by the School Authorities in person or by Telephone.
Our aim is to impart First to Seventh Standard Education in Braille (a script used for reading and writing by visually impaired.) which will include subjects like English, Kannada, Hindi, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Physical Education, Moral Education, etc. When a student completes Seventh Standard, he or she will be admitted to a High School (Eighth Standard of a normal School under the New Integrated Education Policy formulated by the Sarva Shikshan Abiyan, Government of India. Even in this case, the student will lodge within the premises of the Blind School and the student will be given proper counseling and career guidance by specially trained personnel.