"Visually challenged people have been practicing physiotherapy using both manual techniques and electrotherapy equipments. In the absence of any accessibility features in the electrotherapy equipment, they have depended on ingenious adaptations to use these machines,” according to Dr Sam Taraporevala, director of the Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), which has developed a "speaking” machine for the purpose. A report in The Indian Express (IE) of March 15, 2011 reveals that the equipment which the XRCVC has catalyzed can "speak” every aspect of the display, making it the first of its kind in India, nay the world.
(Left) Dr A. P. Kulkarni (center) looks at the "speaking” machine created by Drs Homiyar Mobedji (l) and Sam Taraporevala; at the launch
Collaborating with Taraporevala is consultant physiotherapist Dr Homiyar Mobedji of Ahmedabad, as per information received from his uncle Navroze Kanga who adds that the duo’s breakthrough is even more remarkable because they are both visually impaired. With the release of their products on March 17, 2011 by Dr A. P. Kulkarni, pro vice chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, new frontiers have been reached in the study and practice of physiotherapy for the visually challenged.
The interferential therapy machine-cum-muscle simulator-cum-TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), a multi-functional electrotherapy machine which can be used "with eyes shut” speaks out all the actions. The XRCVC is also planning to launch short wave diathermy equipment which will have a special cue, bright neon signs for those with poor vision and beeps for the blind, reported IE.
For the interferential therapy equipment, visually challenged physiotherapists earlier had to memorize various options on the units and be very precise in their use. They were also dependent on beeps and clicks to set the various parameters of the treatment, explained Taraporevala. "This kind of innovation has never been done before. The use of audio and visual inputs in mainstream electrotherapy equipment will convert the seemingly inaccessible machine into a user-friendly unit, which would transform the way in which the visually challenged physiotherapists treat their patients,” he said.