Rajesh Rao

Developed affordable braille technology and job training programs that increased employment rates for visually impaired individuals in India by 40%.

Rajesh Rao is a visionary social entrepreneur from India who created life-changing opportunities for the visually impaired. Losing his eyesight at age 12 due to glaucoma, he transformed his personal challenges into societal impact. In 2013, he launched SightFirst Technologies, a nonprofit developing low-cost braille devices. Their flagship product, the 'EduBraille' tablet (2017), costs 70% less than international models and includes solar charging capabilities.

Rao's 2016 initiative JobPath created vocational training programs in coding, transcription, and audio content creation. By 2019, 1,200+ visually impaired individuals had completed training, with 85% securing employment. Collaborations with companies like Tata Consultancy Services established dedicated hiring tracks for program graduates.

His work influenced India's 2018 Right to Education Act amendments, mandating braille infrastructure in all public schools. Rao was honored as Ashoka Fellow in 2019 and featured in BBC's 'Disability Changemakers' series. His TEDx talk "Tech That Restores Sight" has become a cornerstone of accessibility advocacy materials globally.