Inclusiv'e Voices with Chandana C

Meet Chandana C, a resident of Bangalore living with significant visual and hearing impairments. Chanda’s story is a profound testament to perseverance, resilience, and advocacy for accessibility.

Chandana’s early life was marked by numerous challenges due to her visual and hearing impairments. Her visual impairment was identified during her pre-nursery years, when a concerned teacher noticed her reliance on touch rather than sight for visual tasks that her condition was formally recognized. Diagnosed with an advanced retinal condition that offered no medical remedy, Chandana's parents faced the daunting task of finding appropriate educational support for their daughter.

Determined to ensure a quality education for Chandana, her parents enrolled her in a regular school, where they initially faced significant challenges. Despite the school's awareness of her condition, the lack of specific accommodations meant that Chandana had to rely heavily on her mother for support. The darkened classrooms and frequent seating changes made it difficult for Chandana to see and take notes, leading to frustration and challenges in her early schooling.

Recognizing the need for a more supportive educational environment, Chandana’s parents sought assistance from the National Association for the Blind (NAB). This led them to enroll Chandana at Tunbridge High School, where she found a more accommodating and supportive environment. Here, Chandana joined a group of visually impaired students, which provided her with a sense of community and understanding.

At Tunbridge High School, she faced new set challenges as her visual impairment continued to progress. By the time she reached seventh grade, her deteriorating vision required additional accommodations, including the use of a scribe for exams. The school's resource room, staffed by special educators like Krishna, played a crucial role in helping Chandana with subjects like mathematics and preparing large-print materials for her exams.

Chandana says that a pivotal moment in her academic journey came when her piano teacher, who was also visually impaired, encouraged her to learn Braille. Within two days, Chandana mastered the basics of Braille, allowing her to take notes and study independently. This skill was transformative, enabling Chandana to manage her studies more effectively.

Chandana’s transition to Sophia High School for her 11th and 12th grades was marked by new challenges. As the only visually impaired student in a mainstream environment, she initially felt isolated and anxious. But the principal’s supportive approach, including introducing Chandana to the entire school and encouraging her classmates to assist, helped ease her transition.

Chandana did her graduation in Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) from Mount Carmel college, where she continued to rely on Braille and support from friends to manage her coursework. Her dedication and hard work were evident, and she excelled in her studies. During her final year of college, Chandana secured a position through campus recruitment with EY, where she began her career in audit management support. Initially, she used tools like JAWS (Job Access With Speech) on her company-provided laptop to manage her tasks. However, the onset of COVID-19 significantly disrupted her work, as many tools and systems became less accessible. This period of disruption resulted in a challenging phase where Chandana faced difficulties in finding new opportunities and was unable to work for a couple of years.

Undeterred, Chandana eventually transitioned to an operations role, a complete switch from her background in finance and accounts. Currently she works as a senior associate for operations and Mobility. 

This role required significant learning, but Chandana's team helped her adapt and excel. She continues to work from home with her manager’s understanding and the company's flexibility playing a crucial role in her ability to continue working effectively.

Chandana’s commitment to advocacy and inclusion is reflected in her active involvement with the Rotary Club of Bangalore Abilities. Serving as the president of the club in 2023-2024, Chandana has been instrumental in promoting accessibility and supporting persons with disabilities. Her leadership in the club underscores her dedication to creating a more inclusive community and addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.

Chandana’s personal experiences with accessibility challenges have shaped her understanding of what it means to be included and supported. She highlights the importance of creating environments where persons with disabilities can thrive independently. Her advocacy work aims to address these needs and promote equal opportunities for all.

Chandana's journey with music began with piano lessons from a teacher who was also visually impaired. Although she initially learned only the basics, the experience inspired her to continue with music. When her piano teacher was unable to continue, Chandana joined Sadhana Music School in seventh grade to learn keyboard. Despite learning only basic keyboard skills and participating in a few competitions, Chandana found music to be a source of peace and stress relief.

In May 2024, Chandana married Gokul Krishnan, a chartered accountant who also works at EY. Gokul, who is visually impaired and a pianist and keyboard player himself, has been a strong supporter of Chandana's musical pursuits. He encourages her to continue learning music, and Chandana writes music notes in Braille and practices playing with both hands. Though she does not play professionally, she deeply appreciates music for its soothing qualities and remains committed to pursuing it for personal enjoyment.

Chandana’s understanding of Reasonable Accommodation and Accessibility

Chandana views reasonable accommodation as the provision of essential support within the workplace, customized to suit the specific needs of the individual. This approach ensures that individuals receive the precise assistance they require, fostering an environment where they can perform their duties effectively and with dignity. The customization aspect is crucial, as it recognizes that each person's needs are unique, and the support provided should be adaptable to those specific requirements.

Chandana's understanding of accessibility is the ability to perform tasks independently without relying on assistance. For example, if she needs to download her account statement from a bank's net banking service and encounters a CAPTCHA that forces her to seek help, she considers the site inaccessible to her.

Chandana’s experiences with accessibility have been shaped by her visual and hearing impairments. Early on, she used a magnifying glass, but it was not particularly effective as her condition deteriorated.

Mobility was a significant challenge for Chandana, especially after her 12th grade. With the encouragement of her good friend Paul, who supported her with educational devices, Chandana underwent mobility training at NAB. This training helped her gain confidence in traveling alone. However, public transport remains challenging due to the noise and difficulty in following directions. She prefers using cabs or traveling with someone who can assist with communication, such as her husband.

Chandana's hearing impairment in both ears was diagnosed early in her life. Initially resistant to wearing hearing aids, she later recognized their importance and upgraded to more advanced models. These aids have improved her sound clarity in close environments, but she still faces difficulties in noisy public spaces.

Chandana shares that her mother played a pivotal role in her life. She transcribed notes into large print and managed the logistics of converting textbooks into Braille. Despite the financial strain, Chandana's family secured the necessary materials, often collaborating with NGOs to expedite the conversion process. The financial burden of converting textbooks into Braille was significant, but her family was committed to ensuring she had the resources needed to succeed. Her mother worked tirelessly, often late into the night, scanning and editing textbooks to make sure Chandana had everything she needed for her studies. Support from friends, including Paul, who provided a Braille embosser, was invaluable in easing the financial and logistical challenges her family faced.

Chandana recalls an instance from her schooling where, despite a supportive environment, academic challenges persisted. Her math teacher was initially reluctant to let her continue with the subject, leading her to switch to psychology alongside her other courses. Her mother fiercely advocated on her behalf, urging the teachers to give Chandana a chance to prove herself. This advocacy was crucial, allowing her to demonstrate her capabilities. The outcome was positive, as Chandana excelled in her studies and was recognized as an inspiration to her school. Her economics teacher also adapted teaching methods, using tactile materials like cardboard and jute wire to explain graphs, which made the subject accessible to Chandana. This tailored support was key to her success in the exams.

Chandana's experiences with mobility and daily living have led her to rely on technology and support systems to manage her tasks. Before her marriage, she depended on her mother for groceries and shopping. After getting married, she started using apps like Blinkit for her grocery needs and learned to manage daily tasks independently. Her husband’s support has been crucial in helping her adapt to new responsibilities, such as cooking.

 Looking ahead, Chandana aims to continue her advocacy work and contribute to creating a more inclusive society. She is focused on expanding her efforts to improve accessibility and provide support for persons with disabilities. Her vision is to contribute to a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their physical abilities.

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