Saish Gauthankar
Saish Gauthankar from Santa Cruz High School stole the credit of being the first 100 per cent visually impaired student in the State to answer Goa Board’s SSC exam utilising screen reader software to write his answers on a computer, without taking assistance of a writer (scribe). The credit goes to his dedicated teachers at National Association for Blind (NAB) Goa, who were determined to make him achieve this feat in the SSC board exam in 2024. And putting his own efforts, Saish achieved this feat.
NAB is consistently trying to make visually impaired students self-sufficient by offering extensive computer training so that they get confidence to answer their exams on their own. This would reduce their dependence on writers, when they pursue higher studies or do jobs. NAB has succeeded, as Saish not only achieved this challenging feat but also scored 80% in SSC and is now studying in XI class at Santa Cruz Higher Secondary School and continues to stay at NAB hostel at Santa Cruz.
Partnering with Bookshare, the largest online library, NAB equipped Saish with the tools and resources necessary to pursue his academic aspirations, independently. NAB’s partnership with Bookshare would further facilitate digital literacy and an inclusive education system in Goa. It was Mahadev Sawant, former computer teacher at NAB who took the initiative and put the proposal before the Goa Board to introduce an inclusive and computerised exam, which was accepted.
“We were so stunned after people poured into our home to congratulate Saish. We never thought that he would be showered with so much praise,” shared Sanchita Gauthankar, mother of Saish who has a twin sister Srushti. Both are PwDs – Saish is visually impaired while Srushti is hearing impaired. But she can speak. For the Gauthankar couple, raising two kids having different disabilities was a challenge. But accepting the difficult task, they left no stone unturned to find ways to educate their children. From Lokvishwas Pratisthan’s school, to Sanjay School, and Sunandabai High School to Chubby Cheeks and National Association for Blind... the journey continued, recalls Sanchita who travelled by local buses on a daily basis to drop her kids to two different schools. Even today, the homemaker mom travels with the kids to their music and dance classes, taking Saish to Margao on Saturdays for his vocal music class and daughter to Caritas Saligao for attending her sign language sessions daily.
“We come from the lower middle class. My husband Sanjay is the only breadwinner. He has been working at the forest department on daily wages for the past 16 years. I am 45 and he is 50, but before we die, we wish to see both our children becoming financially self-dependent,” says the concerned mother of the now 16-year-old twins.
Saish recalls the day of exam, “A laptop, speaker, printer and a reader were my tools while answering the exam. The reader would read the question paper to me. I would type out my answers. The screen reader software on the computer would read out the answers I typed. If I did not follow any question, I would ask the supervisor. I was glad that I could answer the SSC exam all by myself,” says a happy Saish.
Sanchita lauds the NAB, “Parents with visibly impaired children should opt for NAB which is blessed with devoted teachers. NAB has hired a music teacher especially for Saish. Saish is learning music, has mastered tabla and harmonium. He is learning guitar now. He also attends vocal music classes. Staying at NAB hostel is free-of-charge. And the food is just like home. Saish is looked after well and is progressing fast.”
Saish assures his mother, saying he is enthusiastic like any other normal child. “Don’t be sad thinking I am disabled. I will keep learning new skills with the help of technology, and also focus on my music. My teachers at NAB, Mahadev Sawant, Rama Parsekar and others have instilled confidence in me, and I am not going to let them down.”
But there was a time when Sanchita felt frustrated. “ I was frustrated that the society would not accept my children, saying they are not normal, one can’t see and the other can’t hear. But as they grew up and blossomed, and we became aware of their abilities, I realised that they are gifted children. They are extraordinary and equally capable of learning and grasping the things that other kids of their age do. Saish scored 80% in SSC and is pursuing his higher studies. He is also answering exams in vocal music, plays tabla, harmonium and guitar. Srusti is also active in her school, participates in school gatherings, contests. So far, we have left no stone unturned to cater to their needs. I feel blessed to have them.”
