After all, I am compelled to step in this highly curious exchange of
ideas
despite my initial reluctance.
Well, first of all, employability of blind, and blindness being a
disability are two different issues, I think.
True, that with technology, blind can and do work, but does this mean
that
they have ceased to be disabled?
The attitude of Alberta government is curious, to say the least...
Now, I think a particular impairment, does limit the general
functionality
of a person, even under most utopian conditions, and the impairment is
transformed into an inability which we conveniently call a disability,
though personally I do not agree with the word and would like to call
it:
"inability."
This transformation of an impairment into inability happens as a result
of
a host of operating factors including but not limited to, structural
barriers, attitudinal dogmas, haphazard designs, and above all,
particular
context and situation.
So, even if in a given context, like employment, the inability resulting
from impaired/absent eyesight may be reduced to varying extent, we have
to
accept that:
1. this reduction of inability is not cent percent and as a general
rule,
a fully productive blind employee remains a myth barring some highly
adapted
job profiles,
and 2. whatever reverse transformation of inability into ability, is
limited to a given context, and if we see life as a whole, a person with
blindness surely is a person with disability, or rather with inability,
and
so should not be grudged some compensatory benefits even in areas where
that
inability is not hindering his participation to a considerable extent.
I don't know whether I have been able to make myself clear enough, but
am
open to further exchange of ideas on or off the list about this issue.
To sum up, I would term Alberta government's de-categorization of blind
as
non-disabled as tragic flaw and maybe, a trend setter for such callous
policies here in India as well, as we are masters in the art of copying
and
pasting whatever is adopted in west.
God forbid, such a thing happened in US, and next year you would not see
any reservations being made for persons with disabilities here as well.
And, yes, to carry forward Albertan logic to its logical conclusion, we
may characterize orthopedically handicapped as nondisabled once we
provide
them wheel chairs, and deaf as fully functioning as soon as they have
hearing aids free.......
Regards
Rajesh
'
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in [mailto:
accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Amarjit Powar
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 11:48 AM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI]
Two-dayNationalConferenceon'DisabilityandDisenchantment:NewChallenges
and
Evolvingdirections'
Hi Subramani,
Well, for the very reason these were employable people in the eyes of
the
government. Who wouldn't want to work if, other than your vision, your
other bodily parts are working well? We've to accept it as a fact that
blind are not disabled but have some limitations. We have the
handibuses
that come and pick you up and drop you in your doorway. So, what are
the
reasons that a blind person won't want to work? After all, all that
technology was totally paid for if not just subsidized. And, in the end
you
end up making more money than what the government was paying you.
Amarjit
----- Original Message -----
From: "Subramani L" <lsubram...@deccanherald.co.in>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [AI]
Two-dayNationalConferenceon'DisabilityandDisenchantment:NewChallenges
and
Evolvingdirections'
But usually lobbiests are very strong in your country isn't it? Then why
didn't they step in to protest against the Alberta government?
Subramani
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Amarjit
Powar
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 3:39 AM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-dayNational
Conferenceon'DisabilityandDisenchantment:NewChallenges and
Evolvingdirections'
Hi Harish bhai,
Technically speaking, we do not have the term as handicapped in Canada
anymore. It was long fazed-out because it had a negative conotation
and
was replaced by the more user-friendly term as disabled. It
encompasses
all
sorts of disabilities and physical disabilities but excludes visual
disability or blindness. We are disabled here if we have a physical
disability. and visually disabled or visually disadvantaged when we
define
ourselves as visually unfit. However, the blind are not considered
disabled
as the advancements in technology has made them more independent.
Consequently, the blind are not considered as disabled.
Amarjit
----- Original Message -----
From: "harish" <har...@accessindia.org.in>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-day National
Conferenceon'DisabilityandDisenchantment:New Challenges and
Evolvingdirections'
Hi Amarjit
I suppose you are refering to handicap and not disability. I do stand
by
my statement as disability refers to in this context non functionality
of
a sense organ. I am not refering to a dictionary definition.
Harish.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Amarjit Powar" <po...@shaw.ca>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-day National
Conferenceon'DisabilityandDisenchantment:New Challenges and
Evolvingdirections'
Hello Harish bhai,
Something related or perhaps unrelated to your statement of below.
Blindness in Alberta, Canada, is not, yes, not considered a
disability
anymore since the late mid 90's for applying for disability pensions.
The government says that blindness is just a nuisance and not a
disability as such. The blind, as we all know it today and even
considering
majority of AccessIndians , can very well function in office-related
jobs
using modern software e.g. TTS, OCRs etc. One can perform clerical,
accounting, programming, etc. etc. jobs using these technologies. I
recall that the Albertan Government had removed some 1200 or 1800
blind
people from its disability payroll and got them enrolled in call
centre
jobs in the late mid 90s when JAWS gained more popularity and the
government started subsidizing its purchase. So, we have to be
politically correct as to who is a disabled and what disability
means.
Sorry as this does not matter much to AccessIndians, but just
wanted to add my two cents worth.
Amarjit
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: "harish" <har...@accessindia.org.in>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-day National Conference
on'DisabilityandDisenchantment:New Challenges and Evolving
directions'
Hello Vidya
Isn't blindness a disablility? I guess, this is a first conference
in a
series of it. Maybe in the future, they shall have greater
representation from other disabilities. In any case they too should
be
getting a right place in terms of accomodation at the univercities.
Finally, they too should take a lead to seek appropriate
accomodation.
Harish
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vidya" <joshvi...@gmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 3:09 AM
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-day National Conference on
'DisabilityandDisenchantment:New Challenges and Evolving directions'
I think you guys should have used the term "blindness" rather than
"disability". I fail to see other disabilities being represented
here.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mahesh Panicker" <maheshspanic...@gmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:59 AM
Subject: Re: [AI] Two-day National Conference on 'Disability
andDisenchantment:New Challenges and Evolving directions'
Hi list.
we, JNU visually challenged forum did indeed wanted to give out
the
invite
earlier, but since it is a national seminar organized at the level
of
an
institution like JNU, it took us lot more time to put things in
place.
hope you understand and appriciate thesituation. we at least those
people
who are based in Delhi can make it to the seminar.
your participation is most valued.
with best regards.
On 2/28/09, Amit Bhatt <misterbh...@gmail.com> wrote:
Sounds good, it seems to be a great conference in order to focus
on
the new
challenges and explore some innovative ideas and directions in
our
education
in the Country.
Thank you for showing the huge guts of keeping open invitation
for
the
members to join the event. Only the thing is that it should have
been
informed little earlier since many people would always like to be
benefited
by such valuable workshops to be organized. Anyway its a good
opportunity
and I shall endeavor to attend the program either of the days.
Warm regards,
Amit Bhatt
MIS Analyst come Reservation Incharge - Far Horizon Tours Pvt.
Ltd.
India
www.farhorizonindia.com
Ph-Off: +91-129-409-8022 { Fax: +91-129-409-8098
List Manager - SayEverything mailing group, an open discussion
forum
dedicated to persons with disabilities
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/sayeverything/
Direct Cell: +91-986-820-1812
Skype: amitbhattindia
IM: champion_bh...@yahoo.co.in
"A player that makes a team great is more valuable than a great
player"
----- Original Message ----- From: "Annavaram"
<annavara...@hotmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 11:21 AM
Subject: [AI] Two-day National Conference on 'Disability and
Disenchantment:New Challenges and Evolving directions'
Hi Access-Indians,
I am happy to inform you all that equal opportunities office at
JNU,
and
JNU-Visually challenged forum are jointly organising a two-day
National
Conference on 'disability and Disenchantment: New challenges and
Evolving
directions' on 2nd&3rd march 2009 at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Campus.
I wish to make a special request to all our friends at Delhi to
participate in our Conference on both the days and contribute to
this
academic event which is going to be unique in Indian higher
educational
circles. working visually-challenged friends at Delhi can write
to
our
organising team at jnuvis...@gmail.com to obtain a special
delegation
invitation which they can use either to avail a special Casual
leave
or to
attend the conference on-duty-leave.
since the sessions in the conference run throughout the day from
9:30 AM
to 5:00 PM, Lunch and the High-Tea will be taken-care by the
University.
for the root map of our University, you can visit
http://www.jnu.ac.in or
write to us at jnuvis...@gmail.com for any query.
I feel more than happy to further inform you that some of our
high-profiled Access-Indians, Including our Moderator, are going
to
make
focused presentations in our Conference.
you may therefore please go through the complete schedule pasted
below and
find out for yourself!
The National Conference on Disability and Disenchantment: New
challenges
and Evolving directions
Schedule
An event first of its kind in Indian academic circles, the
conference will
have a multifaceted participation of Renowned Academicians,
Young
scholars,
Administrators and Activists working in the field of disability.
Spread
across two-days (2nd&3rd March), it is divided into five
thematic
sessions
besides a brief formal inaugural ceremony and the concluding
panel
discussion, the details of which are given below:
INAUGURAL SESSION
2nd March (9:30 AM to 11:15 AM) at SSS1 Auditorium JNU Campus.
Chief Guest: Sri; Mani Shankar Aiyyar (Hon.ble Union minister of
Panchayat
raj and youth affairs, Government of India.)
Key note Speaker: Prof. Sukh Dev-Singh Torat (chairperson,
University
Grants Commission.)
Officiating Chair: Prof. B.B. Bhattacharya (Vice-chancellor,
JNU.)
DISABILITY, PUBLIC POLICY AND LAW
2nd March (11:30 AM to 1:00 PM) at SSS1 Committee Room JNU
Campus.
Officiating Chair: Justice Rajendra Babu (National Human Rights
Commission
India)
Titles and Presenters
1) Global Trends and transformation: International Laws on
Disability with
special reference to UN-Convention on Persons with disabilities
Neredimalli
Annavaram, Center for the Study of Social systems, School of
Social
Sciences, JNU;
2) The Enactment and Implementation of Persons with Disabilities
(Equal
Opportunities, Protection of rights and Full-participation) Act
1995
and a
way forward Santosh Kumar Rungta, Advocate at Delhi High-court
and
the long
serving General secretary of National Federation of the Blind;
3) WORLD PSYCHE AND THE DISABILITY POLICY Dr. Ramesh Kumar
Sarene,
Teaching faculty at the Department of political science,
Satyavathi
college,
University of Delhi; and
4) To see the invisible: reflections on disability and public
policy
Dr.
Vinod, Teaching Faculty at the Department of Psychology, Lady
Sriram
College, University of Delhi.
DISABILITY, EDUCATION AND CAREER
2nd March (1:45 PM to 3:30 PM) at SSS1 Committee Room JNU
Campus.
Officiating Chair: Prof. Abijit Patak, Center for the study of
Social
systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU.
Titles and Presenters
1) Curriculum Development for Higher Education in
Disability
Studies
and Action Co-authored by: Dr. Srilata Juvva Head of The
Department,
Disability Studies and Dr. Kalyani Talvelkar, Tata Institute of
Social
Sciences, Mumbai;
2) Career and Capability: Opportunities for Persons with
disabilities Shanti raghavan, Managing Director and Trustee,
Enable
India
foundation, Bangalore; and
3) Disability and higher education Dr. Gangatharan,
Teaching
faculty
at the History Department, Banaras Hindu University, banaras.
THEORISING DISABILITY
3rd March (9:30 AM to 11:15 AM) at SSS1 Committee Room.)
Officiating Chair: Prof. Gautam, Vice-chancellor, Bhareli
University;
Titles and Presenters
1) Beyond Medical Dogmatism and ConstructivistOrthodoxy:
Capability
Framework for Understanding Disability S. Mahesh Panicker,
Young
Scholar
and Teaching Faculty, Lady Sriram College, University of delhi;
2) Stigma and Social Disability Dr. Krishna Svami Dara, Teaching
Faculty,
Jamia Milya University, Delhi;
3) DISABILITY, STIGMATISATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION: INSIGHTS
FROM
INDIA
Dr. Rambabu, Teaching Faculty, Tata Institute of Social
Sciences,
Mumbai;
and
4) The Metaphysics of Body: implications for Discourse on
Disability
Prof.
Gopal Guru, Teaching faculty, Center for Political studies,
School
of Social
sciences, JNU.
DISABILITY, GENDER AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Officiating Chair: Prof. Janiki Abraham, Chairperson, Center for
women
studies, School of Social sciences, JNU.
Titles and Presenters
1) DUAL BURDEN OF GENDER AND ABLEISM IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN WITH
(VISUAL)
DISABILITIES IN INDIA Dr. Renu Addlakha, Senior Fellow, Center
for
women's
Development studies, Delhi;
2) Disability and Gender: a Constructive Approach Dr. Anita
Ghai,
teaching
faculty, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi;
Women and Disability Preeti Monga, Director, Silver linings;
4) Dissident bodies, demystified nations: a post-colonial
reading of
disability in the novels of Tony Morrison Dr. Navnit Shethi,
Associate
Professor, Center for English Studies, School of Language,
Literature&Culture studies, JNU;
EQUALITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND TECHNOLOGY
3rd March (2:00 PM to 3:45 PM) at SSS1 Committee Room.
Officiating Chair: Prof. Anand kumar, Center for The study of
Social
Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU;
Titles and Presenters
1) Copyright & Print Access - Response & Challenge: A Higher
Education
Case Study Dr. Sam Taraporevala, Head of the Department of
Sociology, St.
Xaviers College, University of Mumbai and The Director, Xaviers
Resource
Center for Visually-challenged;
2) Times They are Changing George Abraham, Chief Executive
Officer,
Score
foundation and founding patron of the Indian Cricket Board for
Visually-challenged; 3) Continued relevance of Braille in India
and
other
developing countries Prof. A.K. Mittal, President, All India
Confederation
of The Blind, and Treasurer, World Blind Union; and
4) Equality through e-Quality: Importance of Technology and
Accessibility
for the Creation of an Equalizing Environment Harish Kotian,
Assistant
General manager, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.
PANEL DISCUSSION
3rd March (4:00 PM to 5:00 PM) at SSS1 Committee Room.
Moderator: Sri; Vivek Sahai, General manager, Northern Railways.
Discussants include: Chief Commissionor, Office of Persons with
disabilities, Chairperson, National Trust for the Welfare of
Persons
with
Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple
Disabilities, and
representatives from the office of Union public service
Commission,
Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Human resource
development
and Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Looking forward for your estemed presence!
Mr. Annavaram Along with the Organising Team!
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--
Mahesh S. Panicker
C123;
Dayanand Colony;
Lajpat Nagar4;
New delhi india.
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