To aid visually challenged physiotherapists,the Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) at St Xaviers College has catalysed the development of an electrotherapy equipment,which can voice every aspect of the display,making it Indias first and one-of-its-kind globally. XRCVC is all set to launch an interferential therapy machine-cum-muscle stimulator-cum-TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation),a multi-functional electrotherapy machine,which one can use with eyes shut as it speaks out all the actions. The centre will also launch a short wave diathermy,which will have a special cue,bright neon signs for those with poor vision and beeps for the blind. Visually challenged people have been practising 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, said Sam Taraporevala,XRCVC director. Visually challenged physiotherapists have to memorise various options on the electrotherapy units and have to be very precise in their use. They are also dependent on beeps and clicks in order to set the various parameters of treatment,he said. 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. The new machines will be launched on March 17 at XRCVC. Last year,the XRCVC admitted visually impaired students in mainstream physiotherapy courses in Mumbai and is also working towards getting such students admitted into other mainstream universities and colleges across the country. Kritika Purohit is the states first visually challenged student of physiotherapy who had to approach the courts before being admitted. After Purohit was enrolled in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course at Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital,new challenges in accessibility were thrown open before us. We started creating accessible study material and tactile diagrams to help her understand better, said Taraporevala. However,as the course requires practitioners to work with electrotherapy equipment,which were found to be inaccessible and are used by visually challenged students/practitioners by making modifications themselves,XRCVC took up this challenge,he said. The centre collaborated with two manufacturers of electrotherapy equipment in Mumbai and Ahmedabad and helped in the research and development of the two machines. Homiyar Mobedji,consultant physiotherapist,said that while electrotherapy equipment has become more complex and adopted newer technologies,the visually challenged have had to depend on older versions as it is impossible to memorise everything. Hence,its of paramount importance that we have these innovations and new generation systems so that the visually challenged can compete with modern-day physiotherapists, he said.
