Helping hand: A volunteer demonstrates an ATM that is visually impaired-friendly. The ATM poses a challenge to the blind as most of the instructions are written on the screen. By plugging in a headphone, the user gets the option to use the keypad instead of the side buttons for his transaction and, in case there’s a nosy parker around him, to make the screen blank. The new RBI directive has made it compulsory for all banks to make 1/3rd of their ATMs accessible to the visually impaired. Union Bank of India has already begun the process while other banks will soon follow suit.

Just for kicks: A blindfolded participant tries to kick a football with ball bearings into the goal post. The ball bearings create a noise that makes it easier for the blindfolded participant to know the location of the ball. Football games in the Paralympics too have balls with noise-making devices in them so that the visually challenged players can locate the ball. Text/Asha Mahadevan; Pics/Bipin Kokate