Special Note: Dear friends, this is a short description of my struggles for the past 30 years. But when compared with other great Visually-challenged achievers, my struggles are nothing. I hope that it will be helpful to the persons who didn't realize their hidden skills and talents. If this document helps or motivates someone means, I will be glad for sharing ; otherwise excuse me for wasting your valuable time with this lengthy document. First I thank my parents, teachers, social workers and innumerable friends for helping me to reach this level. Please feel free to contact me with your comments, suggestions and new ideas through below mentioned mobile or Email address. I am very pleased to receive them and ready to learn new things and improve myself.
Brief description about myself: I am Saravanan Ramadoss. I was born on 11 May 1978 in a low-middle class family group. My father is a laberor, mother and a younger brother, all are sighted. Even I too had vision until nine years. Then due to (RD - retinal detachment), due to unsuccessful operation from government hospital I lost my eyesight slowly. My parents took me to various eye hospitals, but no use. At that time my parents didn't know about the special schools and other facilities for the visually impaired. So I spent some years at home, but I have strong faith in God. As a result of that faith, most of the time I got the maximum benefits beyond my level. Then my parents came to know about (LFC - Little Flower Conment, Chennai. They took me there, I got admission for fourth standard. I learned Braille, mobility and many things there. I finnishe my primary education. After that, they guided me to St. Louis Institute for the deaf and the blind, Chennai. I spent almost 7 years in St. Louis institute starting from sixth to twelfth standard. I got little progress in my education. I was very good in maths, remaining subjects Tamil, social science and science were also okay, but very weak in English. In both the schools my medium of education was Tamil. So I really had to work very hard to improve my English. I didn't realize the importance and show much interest in co-curricular activities like Music, sports etc. When I reached ninth, I got some confidence in my English proficiency. It was then, I started learning chess and type writing. I participated in Chess and GK quiz competitions in and around Chennai, and won some prizes. In both the schools, we got all the fecilities like Braille notes, Audiocassettes with tape recorders, and readers during week ends within the campus. In my SSLC (1995), I got 85% with 98 out of 100 marks in maths, also school first. But I didn't expect that at all; really it was a miracle of God. I thought that I have to do a different course considering my highest mark in maths. But my parents didn't allow me to take such risk. They were very protective. Our family income was meager and they didn't have proper education to gide or shape my future. I was the first person to reach SSLC level with the top class marks from my family. I had to take a good decision to shape my future. So I discussed with my school teachers, they advised me to take (HEAP - history, economics, Advanced English and political science). I took that course with their guidance and got 73% in HSLC (1997. During that summer vacation, for the first time I got a chance to play Chess in southern Zone level at Shimoha. I was the only junior candidate in below 20 level, all my fellow players were in their 30s and 40s, also regular attenders of various competitions. in that category, I got 7th place in that tornament without proper training. After that I struggled a lot to reach my current position as an English teacher in Government School, Chennai. I applied for B.a English lit in top 3 colleges in Chennai. I got seat in 2 colleges, but nnot in hostel. So my parents forced me to do some special technical courses ment for the visually challenged. So I joined for stenno training at NIVH in Chennai. I dropped my previous plan of regular degree, but I joined BA English Literature in correspondence in Madras university. When I was in NIVH, I got a chance to represent the institute in National Level Chess competition at Pune. There I got 6/9 points without proper coaching. One side I finished stenno course (1998) and searching a good job. On the other side I cleared first year papers of B.a degree. In distant mode of education, I had to manage everything (recording cassettes, arranging scribes and other things) on my own. As you are all aware, our life depends upon the scribes support. Sometimes a brilliant candidate scores less marks due to poor performance of the scribe, but on the other hand a weaker candidate gets top-class marks. All depends upon the candidate's luck. In second year exams, I failed in 1 paper because of my bad luck. I tried again and cleared that paper in October 1999. This bitter experience repeated even in my third year papers too, but I didn't loose heart, tried again and finally cleared in April 2001. It was at that point of time, NIVH launched new training project (MT - medical transcription for VH) for only 6 outstanding candidates. Luckily I got place in that training and I put 200% effort to get better placement after training. There I learned medical terms, drugs and basic computer skills. NIVH tried their best to get placement in Chennai, they got only one. So they arranged placement for the rest in Coimbatore of our interest. There we received excellent support from the training staffs and colleagues. I really improved my listening comprehension, good typing speed and proficiency in English. In that place for 2 years, my learning was excellent, but the earning was less. When I was in Coimbatore, we all five VH met our ex-president Mr. Abdhul Kalam and had a group photograph. This was the only memorable event in Coimbatore. After spending valuable 2 years, we didn't feel any growth in our project from the management side. Especially no increament in our salary. So I left the job, and told them about my future plan of doing B.ed. They agreed and releaved me whole-heartedly. When I came out of job, here B.ed admission was over. So I had to postpone my wish for (B.ed) for 1 more year and tried to finish (M.a Lit through correspondence, which I started in 2001. Due to MT-job's pressure and strain, I couldn't complete it. After returning from Coimbatore, I came to know about Karnavidhya ( a special library and reders forum) functioning in Adayar, Chennai. I spoke to Shyla madam and through her I got full support for my recording of cassettes and arrangement of good scribes. In October 2003, I wrote 5 papers of M.a and cleared 4. In December 2003, I came to know about Ability-foundation and its new (I-T) related project with the guaranty of job placement in I-T field. Then I spoke to Jayashri Madam (the founder of Ability-Foundation) joined there and updated my computer skills. During the same time, I also prepared for 6 papers of M.a lit and wrote in April 2004. With the blessings of god, I completed both (training and M.a). simultaniously In that same year. I got B.ed with the help of entrance test marks. In the same year through Ability-Foundation, I met Actress Revathi Madam and spoke about Mt and its future for VH in their weekly radio program (Thiramain Thisaiyl). In September, I also met Ex-governer Mr Ram mohan Rao at Raj Bhavan to receive certificate for computer training and briefly described about our computer Project in the auditorium. When my name was selected for B.ed admission in Teacher's college, I got an offer of MT placement in Bangalore through Enable-India. So again I was in confusion, whether to choose B.ed or job? I consulted Mr A.K. Mithel Sir (RD of NIVH) He advised me to choose B.ed. So I postponed that MT job and joined B.ed. In that Bed college, I was the only person to join English regular Bed from correspondence background. I completed (Bed) easily with the full support from lecturers and friends. After Bed, I spoke over phone to Shanthi Madam (Founder of Enable-India), she promised me for a sure placement of an MT in Bangalore if I am interested. After my Bed, I decided to go for an MT job, till I get teacher post from the government. But things were not going smoothly in Bangalore, I had to spend more than 10-11 hours in the office to compete with my other sighted colleagues. After reaching room, I had to prepare for my (TRB exam for teacher post in Tamil nadu. No doubt, the MT career is really challenging job for visually-impaired. If our talents and potentialities are properly recognized by our companies, we can shine in this field. Otherwise it's a vain effort. Unluckily I got placement in those companies where I had struggled for my basic needs. With the blessings of god, I scored good marks in TRB exam and within a year got placement as a teacher for High-school also near Chennai. Finally, I left my MT job in May 2006 and started this new teaching career. To improve and widen my English knowledge, I joined M.phil in English through correspondence in Annamalai University 2006. Though the teaching job does not require my technical and other skills, I am doing this job as a true service with full satisfaction. I thank god for giving me an opportunity to help the economically weaker sections to improve their confidence level, English knowledge and other skills. With his blessings I have just now finished M.phil in May 2008. When I was in school, I was very reserve and shy by nature. But when I came out I slowly transformed myself and communicating even with strange people. I am always ready to learn new things from all and share my knowledge with friends, colleagues, students and new persons. At the same time, I am more time conscious; sometimes because of this I am forced to face some tough situations from all sides. My hobby is to play chess, rread books, listen music and to make new friends. Please feel ffree to call me or email with suggestions, new ideas and feedbacks; surely through your comments I will be more helpful and useful for the society. If you have any interesting/informative tips or articles, please send/forward to: Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone no 044-26254318 MOBILE : 09840228250. Skipe: speak-sarav Waiting for your replies and comments. Thanks with regards Bye Saravanan.R English teacher. ************* To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
