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Hear2Read is a non-profit initiative that works to make the path easier for visually impaired (VI) people. Hear2Read uses Text to Speech (TTS) software that converts visual content into audio and “reads” website content from browsers on smartphones, tablets and computers. The organization was established in 2013 by Suresh Bazaj, a silicon valley entrepreneur.

Inception
Back in Varanasi, where Suresh Bazaj grew up, his family had supported a blind school, where he came to know about the inferior quality of education received by blind students. Most of them come from poor backgrounds where parent did not know how to raise a blind child. In the US, he met visually-impaired people whose quality of life was way better than their Indian counterparts.

Suresh realized that visually impaired people in India lacked a full education and, therefore, lacked the opportunities to do well in life. “Most parents in India, put visually impaired child in a back room. They are ashamed as they do not know how to raise a blind child.” This lesson hung on to Suresh, and when he had the chance to do something about it, he put together his skills and knowledge to develop a technology-based solution that will help millions of visually impaired children get same education and employment as people with normal sight.

Suresh partnered with Prof. Alan Black and Dr. Alok Parlikar at Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) Language Technologies Institute (LTI) to give life to the idea. He recruited a world class team of researchers, developers, linguists and volunteers to provide user feedback.

Accomplishments

 * 2017 NCPEDP Mphasis Universal Design Award Winner