For the first time, Akash Patel, a visually impaired resident of Kota, experienced the joy of ordering food independently, thanks to the Braille Menu Initiative. This pioneering effort, a collaboration between the Mangaluru chapter of Young Indians (Yi) and Nosh Restaurant, is empowering visually impaired individuals to dine with autonomy.
Akash, along with nine others from the Roman and Catherine Lobo Institute for the Visually Impaired, explored the tactile menu to select their favorite dishes. Accompanied by their teachers, they expressed their delight at this newfound independence. “Usually, parents or caretakers read the menu for us. Today, we made our own choices, and it feels amazing,” they shared.
The initiative owes much to the leadership of Y Athmika Amin, Yi Mangaluru Chair, who coordinated with stakeholders to bring the project to life. Co-chair Salome Lobo Pereira also played a vital role in executing this effort under Yi’s accessibility vertical, which focuses on fostering inclusivity.
Encouraged by the success at Nosh, Yi plans to expand the initiative. “Another restaurant in Bejai will soon launch a Braille menu,” Amin revealed, adding that outreach to other hoteliers is already underway.
This milestone not only enhances dining experiences for the visually impaired but also underscores the importance of accessible spaces in building an inclusive society.
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