As part of an ongoing series of Zoom meetings, the second session brought together around 15 Orbit device beneficiaries from across India for a heartfelt conversation with VOSAP Founder Shri Pranav Desai and the Founder of Orbit Research, both joining in from the United States. The session was deeply inspiring, offering a firsthand look at how the Orbit device has meaningfully transformed the lives of individuals with visual and hearing impairments.
Through VOSAP’s support and the use of Orbit devices, our beneficiaries are not only achieving academic and economic success, but also reclaiming their independence, dignity, and self-worth, empowered by the ability to communicate freely through tools like email. WhatsApp and more.
Orbit Reader is a high-tech 20- and 40-cell Braille display device, made in India by a Boston-based company. It has already helped over 500,000 blind individuals globally. VOSAP provides heavy subsidies to make these otherwise costly devices affordable, enabling blind and deafblind individuals to lead more independent and empowered lives.
For some, this device has become a means of livelihood. For others, it is a constant companion, a tool that enables transformation in both their personal and professional lives.
We are especially thankful to Sanjay Shah (based in Los Angeles), an Orbit Research beneficiary himself, and to Dr. Jayshree and Dr. Mahesh Shah, whose generous donations have helped bring these transformative devices to many more individuals. Their support has been instrumental in helping others like Sanjay unlock their full potential and thrive!
Satyarth Singh
Satyarth, a deafblind individual, is currently in his second year of a BA program at Shakuntala Devi University in Lucknow (The only University in India for Specially Abled People having 5000+ students). The Orbit Reader has become a crucial part of his life. Before receiving the device, he often felt frustrated and uncertain about how he would navigate his future. Communication, learning, and daily activities were incredibly challenging. Now, the device helps him understand communication, access the internet for studies, stays in touch with parents using what’s app 
and engages with university life. He is living independently in Lucknow, away from his parents, something he once thought impossible is now possible due to transformative technology solutions!
Megha Thakur
Megha is pursuing her Master’s degree in History and works in the Archaeology department, where she is assigned to site duty and must document complaints. She previously used traditional Braille but now uses the Orbit Reader for studying and working far more efficiently with speed and without carrying bulky Braille books. She is planning to switch jobs and says the device is immensely helpful. In addition to her job, she also teaches online Braille classes for free, a true hero who is giving back to society!!!
Nipun Vargi
Seemavijay’s 16-year-old son, Nipun, who is deafblind and lives in Indore, uses the Orbit Reader extensively. He spends the entire day with the device, using it to read books and enhance his learning. Before receiving the device, he would often feel restless and disengaged due to the lack of structured activities. But ever since he received Orbit, it has become an inseparable part of his life, bringing purpose and turning idle time into meaningful learning and growth.
Prakash Ganpat Lakde
Prakash is an Indian Classical Music teacher working in the education department. He also teaches music part-time from home in the evening, earning Rs.5000 per month. The Orbit Reader is instrumental in his work — allowing him to write bandishes, document musical thoughts, compose taranas, and prepare other teaching materials that enrich his lessons, which is far easier and more accurate than traditional options of computer typing.
Chandrakant Kahalekar
Chandrakant holds an LLB degree from Ambedkar College and currently works in the social service department as a counselor. He handles sensitive cases involving divorce, suicide prevention, family issues, and more. With the Orbit Reader, he types case notes that are submitted to judges and used during court proceedings. It also helps him track his daily tasks, making him more effective and organized in his role. Since he received Orbit, he has written 11,500 pages of dictionaries till date.
Harshal Mahajan
A 22-year-old with a Bachelor of Vocational Studies degree specializing in Banking and Financial Services, Harshal uses his Orbit Reader for 7–8 hours daily. He plans to attend business school and Orbit has significantly enhanced his ability to study and stay engaged with academic content.
Bhargav Ravindra Patil
Bhargav is a 12-year-old student in the 6th grade. With the Orbit Reader, he can now carry all his textbooks in Braille which was not possible before and is also able to study every subject independently. He makes his own notes and is preparing to take his next exams without the need for a writer, a major step toward self-reliance.
Ankit Kumar Jha
Ankit, currently studying in Delhi, previously couldn’t afford an Orbit Reader. With VOSAP’s support, he now owns one and uses it actively in college. It enables him to follow lectures and take notes, including Sanskrit shloks, which were once difficult to record and review.
Nandan Gupta
Nandan studied at Shakuntala University and now teaches at tribal community schools. Ever since receiving the Orbit Reader, he has found it to be a game-changer as it allows him to access Braille materials, make notes from the books he reads, and improve his teaching methods.
