National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
This Institute is an apex body which has been established for human resource development, research and development, and designing delivery of model rehabilitation services, extension and out reach services. It is also engaged in production of Braille / Audio books and assistive devices for the visully impaired.
The Institute originated as St. Dustan's hostel for the war blinded in 1943. The Government of India took over St. Dustan's hostel for the war blinded on January 1, 1950 and renamed it as 'Training Centre for the Adult Blind' (Men). In due course the activities of the Centre were further expanded in the field of Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and all the activities were brought under one umbrella as National Centre for the Blind in 1967.
The year 1979 was a historic achievement in the growth and development of the services for the blind welfare when National Centre for the Blind was elevated to the status of 'National Institute for the Visually Handicapped. On October 21, 1982 the institute was granted full autonomy by the Ministry of Welfare.
The Institute is an apex body in the field of Education and Rehabilitation of the Visually Handicapped in India under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and is considered to be the largest of its kind in Asia.
