“Just because we have a disability, people often think that our lives are very different. But that’s not really the case. We just live our life in a different way,” says Gauri Sen, as she casually writes along a Braille stencil with a stylus. Employed with a central defence agency, Gauri is a writer, contributing to multiple magazines. Her husband Mohd. Parvesh, is a banker, whose favourite post-work activity is listening to ghazals with a cup of tea.
When Cupid struck
While Gauri has been blind since birth, Parvesh lost his vision around the age of 21 due to a degenerative condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (his vision). The two met in Delhi when Parvesh was adjusting to this new way of life, and he says Gauri’s experience and support helped him navigate some of the challenges that came with it. Over time, they realised they loved each other’s company, and decided to get married.
A family companion
Now based in Lucknow, where they live with their eight-year-old son, Arsh, and Gauri’s mother, the couple discovered Alexa during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The voice AI soon became a part of their daily life. From reading their favourite books and listening to Jagjit Singh ghazals to creating shopping lists and playing interactive games, Gauri and Parvesh found many things they could do as a family with Alexa.
Alexa the quizmaster
To keep Arsh engaged and entertained, the doting parents convert his books to Braille, so they can read to him, and also have an array of tactile games. Now, Alexa chips in too. “Sometimes, Alexa takes on the role of a quizmaster, and sometimes, Alexa is a teacher,” says Gauri. “And when it comes to spelling or math, Arsh believes us only when Alexa confirms the answer,” laughs Parvesh.
If you have a story of your own about how you use Alexa, email us at alexastories-india@amazon.com. You can also use #AlexaStories when you share your experiences on social media. Learn more about how Alexa is helping people in different ways here. To find out about accessibility features available on Alexa, click here.
