The ReadWriteRise Project is driven by a simple belief: every student, regardless of ability, deserves to learn with dignity, independence, and joy. Our project began with the idea of creating tactile books for visually impaired early readers, books that allow children to feel stories, not just hear them. Using sustainable, child-safe materials, we are designing tactile storyboards with simplified text and carefully crafted touch-based elements. Students from literature, arts, and design backgrounds are collaborating to transform these storyboards into durable, sensory-rich books that will be donated to an NGO library supporting visually impaired children.
At the same time, we are actively speaking with students with diverse abilities on campus, listening to the barriers they face, and identifying what can be done to reduce inequalities in their everyday academic life. These insights will be compiled into a clear, actionable accessibility report that will be submitted to our college management.
Beyond structural change, we aim to shift mindsets. Our upcoming sensitisation workshops, led by Chennai’s leading disability advocates, will train students and faculty to recognise barriers, respond with empathy, and practice everyday inclusion. To sustain these efforts, we will run fundraisers with audiobook and tactile-book publishers, creating a transparent, impact-tracked channel to support accessible learning tools.