Shahin Alam, a 28-year-old educator from Bangladesh, teaches computer skills to visually impaired students through online classes. From his modest home office, filled with books and powered by a laptop, Alam guides individuals who, like him, face the daily challenges of limited or no vision. His mission is simple yet transformative: to equip the blind and partially sighted with digital literacy, giving them a fighting chance in a job market that often overlooks people with disabilities.
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Alam knows firsthand the struggles of navigating education without sight. He didn’t lose his vision at birth but gradually became blind after contracting typhoid at age 11. Despite this life-altering setback, he refused to let blindness define his future. Growing up in a remote village in Jhenaidah, where clean water and medical care are scarce, Alam had to leave his family at a young age to attend a government-run school for visually impaired children nearly 40 miles away. There, he mastered Braille and excelled academically, eventually earning a degree in political science from the University of Dhaka.
Yet even as he succeeded, Alam saw how few opportunities existed for others like him. According to the Bangladeshi government’s 2021 National Survey on Persons with Disabilities, more than half of children with disabilities are not enrolled in any formal education. Only 41% of those aged five to 17 attend primary school, and just 24% reach secondary education. The employment picture is equally grim—only 27% of working-age people with disabilities are employed.
A Digital Divide
The rapid digitization of Bangladesh’s economy has left many behind, especially those in rural areas and people with disabilities. While the country has made impressive strides in technology, its education system struggles to keep pace, and infrastructure for the visually impaired remains inadequate.
Alam recognized this growing gap when he returned to Jhenaidah after university. Digital literacy had become essential for most jobs, yet training programs for the visually impaired were virtually nonexistent outside major cities like Dhaka.
The turning point came during the Covid-19 pandemic, when everything—from work to education—shifted online. Those without computer skills found themselves further marginalized. Alam knew he had to act.
Bridging the Gap
He launched a free computer training program tailored specifically for the blind and visually impaired. Using screen readers, voice-over software, and tactile techniques, Alam teaches students how to navigate computers, use the internet, and create documents—skills that open doors to better employment opportunities.
To date, he has trained over 400 individuals from across Bangladesh and India. One of his success stories is Mohtasim Billah, a 40-year-old English teacher diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes progressive vision loss. Billah runs a small language center but faced increasing competition from nearby tuition and IT centers. After completing Alam’s course, he was able to integrate digital tools into his teaching, using PowerPoint presentations to enhance lessons and engage students.
For Alam, Billah’s transformation is proof that his work matters. “Many still believe blind people can’t work and are a burden,” Alam said. “I started this project to prove them wrong.”
Empowerment Through Education
Alam’s efforts go beyond technical instruction. He instills confidence in his students, showing them that they can thrive in a world often designed without their needs in mind. He also highlights the importance of self-reliance, having funded much of his own education through private tutoring.
His story underscores the broader need for inclusive education and accessible technology in Bangladesh. As the nation continues to modernize, ensuring that no one is left behind—especially those with disabilities—will be crucial to building a fairer, more equitable society.
Through dedication, resilience, and innovation, Shahin Alam is not only changing lives one lesson at a time—he’s challenging outdated perceptions and paving the way for a more inclusive digital future.
