Undeterred by obstacles, heralding change

Conference for visually impaired sheds light on important aspects.

ISLAMABAD:

“Don’t think of us as different; we too have the ability to herald change and make our nation proud.” This was the message conveyed by participants in a seminar marking International White Cane Safety Day, “The rights of the visually impaired,” held on Tuesday. The event was organised by SightSavers in collaboration with Social Welfare and Special Education. Meanwhile, health experts noted that 80 per cent of visual impairment is avoidable.

Maria, a student of Al-Maktoom Centre (for the visually impaired), performed two national songs and captivated the audience, as did a group performance by the students. Meanwhile, Subhan another student, performed on conga drums to much acclaim.

Rubina Shad, an MA Urdu student read a poem emphasising that people with disabilities play an important role in the country’s development and are a part of Pakistan’s future. Sultan Shah, former captain of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Team, shared his journey from childhood to loss of sight and on to becoming the president of the cricket association. He spoke about the achievements the cricket team attained despite being deprived of facilities like a cricket ground to practice, and other resources. Shah added that many of its players are world record holders, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Professor Dr Kamaluddin, who is the first visually-impaired Pakistani Fulbright scholar to complete a PhD (from the University of Pennsylvania), shared his story. “To me, it seemed like my life has come to an end but my doctor gave me hope and gave me the courage to become who I am today,” he said. He added that people in his village would pity him and considered him helpless, but he overcame the odds to follow his dreams. ‘Disability is not inability’ was the motto he stuck to achieve his goals, he stated and urged all disabled people to first control the message and then work on bringing a positive change in society. “Even If we have lost one sense, God has blessed us with four others and skills to prove ourselves,” he stated.

Speaking on the occasion Capital Administration and Development Division (CA&DD) Additional Secretary Khalid Hanif said that “so-called normal people” could take a page from the visually impaired in working to alter the status quo, adding that governments make policies but do not follow through.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.