Indian Association for the Blind

What Indian Association for the Blind does

Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) is a non-profit charitable trust founded on January 14, 1985 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, by visually challenged activist S.M.A. Jinnah. Registered under Section 12A and eligible for 80G tax exemptions, IAB operates from a 60,000 sq ft facility on a 3-acre campus in Sundarajanpatti and delivers a comprehensive suite of services for visually challenged individuals across Tamil Nadu, including free higher-secondary and college education, residential care, Braille book production, audio library services, computer and vocational training, assistive-device distribution, legal aid, grocery and pension support for the elderly, and an in-house BPO staffed by differently-abled persons.

IAB's service portfolio is anchored on three production capabilities: a Braille Books Production House (established 1999) operating Braillo Norway 200 and Braillo 650 presses that supplies Braille materials statewide; an Audio Library (1995) producing accessible audio content; and a Sadhana Finishing School (2013, with United Way of Chennai) that trains 180 students for employability. The organization also runs a livelihood sub-brand, ThankU Foods, which produces packaged snacks and operates cafe outlets, corporate cafeterias, and pop-up stalls staffed by differently-abled persons.

The business model is donation-driven: IAB generates no product/service pricing on its core programs and instead solicits contributions through its website, bank transfers, and a US affiliate (abilityint.org) that provides IRS tax exemption for American donors. Pricing tiers for donor programs range from Rs.1,000 (white cane sticks for four people) to Rs.33,000 (annual education, food, and living expenses for a child). Revenue is supplemented by ThankU Foods commercial activity and BPO service fees from a small client roster including Tata DoCoMo, SUN Direct, and Bharath Post Graduate College, Chennai. The organization is governed by a 9-member board (5 visually challenged persons, 6 women) with no venture capital, private equity, or parent-company backing.

Name

Indian Association for the Blind

Legal name

Indian Association for the Blind

Website

https://theiab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Indian Association for the Blind is a Madurai-based non-profit founded in 1985 that provides free education, residential care, vocational training, Braille/audio library services, and assistive devices to visually challenged individuals across Tamil Nadu, funded primarily through donations and supplemented by a food-catering sub-brand, ThankU Foods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rehabilitation and Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB)

Keywords

• Disability rehabilitation services
• Visually impaired education
• Braille book production
• Vocational skill training
• Assistive technology services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madurai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: IAB operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and international supporters. The organization offers 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act for Indian donors. US residents can donate through affiliate organization abilityint.org for IRS tax exemption.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) is a non-profit organization that provides free education, vocational training, residential care, employment placement, and support services to visually challenged individuals in Tamil Nadu, India. Core offerings include a Higher Secondary Special School, college education, Braille and audio library access, computer and skill training, residential services, government and private sector job placement, BPO services, assistive device distribution, legal aid, and elderly support programs.

Product overview

Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) is a non-profit organization operating as a multi-service NGO rather than a software product company. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of education, training, employment, and support services for visually challenged individuals. The main products include ThankU Foods (a food production and catering livelihood initiative), educational programs (Higher Secondary School, College Education, Braille & Audio Library, Scholarships), vocational training (Computer Training, Retail Skills, Printing/Binding, Finishing School, Technology Training), residential services (accommodation and medical care), employment services (BPO, Government/Private sector placement, self-employment), and support services (Braille production, audio books, assistive devices, legal aid, grocery kits, elderly support). The organization does not offer any software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ThankU Foods: A livelihood initiative by differently-abled persons providing delicious packed snacks including cookies, chocolates, cakes, sweets and savouries. Operates Thank U cafe outlets, corporate cafeterias, and food stalls at events and apartments.

Products and services

• Higher Secondary Special School Free higher secondary education for visually challenged students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, established in June 1992.
• Integrated Education Program (College Education) Free college education including undergraduate and postgraduate programs for visually challenged students, initiated in 1985.
• Braille Books Production House Produces Braille-format materials for children and adults with visual challenges; Braille books are available to all visually challenged people in Tamil Nadu.
• Audio Books Service Audio book service launched in 1995 to make books accessible for people with visual challenges; available throughout Tamil Nadu.
• Braille & Audio Library Well-equipped library established in 1995 providing Braille books and audio content for visually challenged individuals.
• Scholarship Program Scholarships and financial support for visually challenged children, including 10,000+ children impacted through Project School and scholarships.
• Computer Training Program IT program started in 2005 with specially qualified teachers to make visually challenged individuals computer literate.
• Sadhana Finishing School Finishing school established in 2013 with help of United Way of Chennai to make visually challenged employable and self-reliant, with 180 students.
• Printing and Book Binding Training Training program initiated in 2013 to impart printing and packaging skills to visually challenged individuals.
• Retail Skill Training Training program helping differently abled and rural women develop competencies for careers in the retail food industry.
• Residential Services Free meals, accommodation, and medical care for 300+ students on a 60,000 sq ft campus on a 3-acre facility.
• In-House BPO Services Business Process Outsourcing service providing support to clients including Tata DoCoMo, SUN Direct, and Bharath Post Graduate College, Chennai.
• Government Sector Employment Placement Placement services for visually challenged individuals in government sectors including teaching, railways, and banking under Persons with Disability Act 1995.
• Private Sector Placement Identification of employer needs and placement of students with matching skills in private sector positions.
• Assistive Device Distribution Distribution of Braille kits, laptops, audiobooks, and assistive devices. Over 7,000 lives transformed with assistive technology.
• Free Legal Aid Service Free legal aid services for persons with visual challenges, initiated in 2013. First of its kind in Tamil Nadu.
• Grocery Kit Support Distribution of grocery kits to underprivileged individuals with disabilities. Over 48,000 grocery kits distributed.
• Old Age Pension Support Financial support to visually challenged elderly families, with over 2,000 families supported.
• ThankU Foods A livelihood initiative by differently-abled persons providing packed snacks including Cookies, Chocolates, Cakes, Sweets, and Savouries. Operates Thank U Cafe outlets, corporate cafeterias, pop-up stalls, and provides food services for school/college events and apartment communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ visually challenged people impacted since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of ChennaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Sadhana Finishing School established with the help of United Way of Chennai to make the visually challenged employable and self-reliant with 180 students.
• Hi-Tech Arai Private LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Tie-up with Hi-Tech Arai Private Limited for working with metallic oil seal for two wheelers and four wheelers - vocational training partnership.
• Amway Opportunity FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized All India Dance Competition for the Blind with Amway Opportunity Foundation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Helen Keller International: Global NGO preventing blindness and supporting rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities across low- and middle-income countries including India. Comparable in disability-welfare donor-funded model and India presence.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB) USA: Largest US organization of and for the blind, combining advocacy, education, and service delivery. Comparable in scale, organizational complexity, and breadth of programs, though more advocacy-driven than IAB's residential service focus.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic US-based institution — where IAB founder S.M.A. Jinnah trained in the 1980s — offering comprehensive education, residential services, and assistive-tech for blind and deaf-blind. Highly comparable end-to-end service model anchored at a single campus.

Emerging players

• Enable India: Bangalore-based NGO focused on economic independence, livelihood, and employment for persons with disabilities including visual impairment. Overlaps with IAB on BPO service lines and corporate placement track, with a more digital/programmatic delivery model.
• Sense International India: India arm of global Sense organization supporting people with deafblindness and sensory disabilities via education, rehabilitation, and advocacy. Partial overlap with IAB on assistive-tech delivery and special-education service lines.

Direct peers

• National Association for the Blind (NAB) India: Pan-India non-profit providing rehabilitation, education, and employment services for the visually impaired. Comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and service portfolio, though operating at multi-state scale versus IAB's Tamil Nadu focus.
• All India Confederation for the Blind (AICB): National apex body for blind welfare in India that has directly recognized IAB (Millennium Award). Comparable as a coordinating national body aggregating state-level associations, with overlapping mission of welfare and empowerment of visually challenged persons.

Regional players

• Blind People's Association (BPA), Ahmedabad: Gujarat-based NGO serving visually impaired persons with comprehensive rehabilitation, education, and livelihood programs. Same multi-service portfolio as IAB, but operating in a different Indian state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indian-association-for-the-blind-madurai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Indian Association for the Blind