In India there has been no systematic effort to conduct scientific research on various aspects of blindness. This void was filled by the National Association for the Blind when it set up. The NAB Louis Braille Memorial Research Centre (NAB-LBMRC) in 1975. This centre was named after Louis Braille, the inventor of 6 dot Braille script used by the blind for reading & writing purposes.

HISTORY:

This centre conducted several research projects in the past 33 years and has brought out quite a few publications. These research projects have enabled the policy framers to gaze into the issues of blindness and resulted in substantial difference at the policy level. The Chief amongst these research projects were; Survey of Awareness and utilization of the facilities available to the blind and orthopaedically handicapped students studying in colleges of Bombay City (1976), Enumeration of the Blind in Bombay (1990), Study of NAB Community Based Rehabilitation Programme for the Rural Blind (1999), Study of NAB’s Institution based Urban Rehabilitation Programme (2003) etc.

ACTIVITIES:

Presently the sector is engaged in 2 major actitivities namely a professional library and publication of NAB periodical – Blind Welfare (thrice a year) and the NAB Newsletter.

NAB LBMRC LIBRARY:

The NAB LBMRC houses a specialized Library having a rich collection of books, periodicals, reports and articles pertaining to various aspects in the field of blindness and blind welfare.

The Library was started in 1979 with a modest collection of books received by way of gifts and donations. It also incorporates all the books from the former NAB Lions Blind Welfare Library. At present it has a collection of over five thousand titles on varied topics pertaining blindness. It also regularly receives several professional journals and magazines from within India and overseas, including the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, the British Journal of Visual Impairment, the World Blind, to name a few.

The Library has both lending and reference services. Its clientele mostly comprise of professionals and research scholars. Membership of the library is open to individuals/institutions who are enrolled as life/ordinary members. Individuals/Institutions from outside Mumbai can also join. This is a very unique service provided by the library, not easily available elsewhere in the country. Computerization of the library is currently underway.

The centre is responsible for bringing out the professional journal named “Blind Welfare” in April, July & December each year. This journal contains articles pertaining blindness and related to issue.

FUTURE PLAN:

The centre plans to conduct a barnstorming session for identifying research area which can have long term impact of the lives of the blind and follow it up with research projects to yield the desire results.