In a novel initiative that will help the blind students, the Hyderabad-based 'Devnar Foundation for the Blind' is planning to start an exclusive engineering college for the visually-challenged.

Despite being visually-impaired, many students are highly motivated to pursue engineering courses and there are several success stories, A Saibaba Goud, Devnar Foundation's managing trustee, told PTI in Hyderabad On Wednesday.

"Some of our children are highly motivated to follow engineering courses. One of our students is employed in a multi-national company and four others are studying B Tech in different colleges recognised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU)," Goud, a recipient of Padma Shri and several other awards, said.

"One of our students is studying engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston. All of them have motivated more children, who are asking for engineering courses," he added.

The visually-challenged children are often denied admission in Polytechnic and engineering colleges, but many of them have managed to get admissions after taking legal recourse, he said.

Though the courts have given permission for the entrance test and subsequent admission, the competent university authorities were not convinced in the beginning and the problem continues every year, he said.

"This has made us think of starting a separate engineering college for the visually challenged," he said.

Replying to a query, Goud said it is possible to get necessary permissions from the concerned authorities to start the college.

He said the students will be taught engineering with the help of modern technology and software.

"The students will be taught like any other engineering colleges. They will record the lessons with MP3/Daisy players. As they have got different types of software available now, it is not difficult to understand and record," he said.

Devnar School has a well-equipped computer lab, with the latest computer systems and screen reading software JAWS (job access with speech), which gives a sound output. The students are trained on different softwares like Kurzwell, which enables them to read any printed matter without external help.

Screen magnification software like Magic, Zoom text enables the students to use computer systems with a mouse, like others, and the Internet has opened a floodgate of knowledge for them.

"The Mountbatten Electronic Braillers give them a step towards independence, because the Braille and normal key-boards give out sighted as well as Braille printout simultaneously. The DBT software converts any text into Braille format within seconds which can then be printed in Braille," Goud said.

He added that the school has got TGT pro-software, which can print graphics or maps for the benefit of the visually challenged. The ability to use the systems effectively raises the confidence level of the students to a great extent.

Computer science and information technology courses are planned to be offered in the proposed special engineering college.

Children from all over the country can apply for the engineering course and they are also selected by being in direct contact with some schools, Goud said.

"All the admitted children will be provided with free food, education and accommodation without any discrimination of caste or religion. Both, boys and girls, will be provided separate hostel facility for school, polytechnic and physiotherapy," he said.

"In addition to education, we also encourage them for sports and games. Devnar Foundation for the Blind also tries for establishment of contact with other countries for development of education and employment," Goud addded.

In order to start this venture, the Foundation requires two acres of land on long lease within Hyderabad city, which is why, a request has been made to the state government.

"Two acres of land on long lease within city (is our requirement) because it will be convenient for the students and staff. As this is a voluntary organisation, we get a number of voluntary teachers and other volunteers from the city. This is our main requirement," he said.

The Foundation plans to start the college in 2012-13, provided the land becomes available and the donors are ready to make the contribution for the construction.

The Devnar Foundation was started in 1991 with just four students. The school now has over 350 students.