Hi, I am partially blind and could read/write for myself in bright light when I was a student. When in school, I used to copy from my bench-partner as I could not read the black-board. My teachers always ensured that I share my bench with a good, regular and attentive student. At the time of exams, they allowed me to swap seat with a window-seater on producing doctor's certificate. People looked at me with a positive approach as I was a topper too. Things were really difficult when I started applying for a decent job. Employers could not understand how I would work and manage a corporate life. Also, I was unaware of screen-readers at that time. I went ahead with whatever little opportunities came my way without giving up. Today, I am well-placed. My colleagues look at me as a normal employee. My family and friends have always been supportive and trust me. Sometimes, I feel uneasy with people who direct me while walking on the roads which I am used to. This becomes confusing when different people direct you in their own ways. In short, I have experienced a positive attitude most of the times.
This is not the case with my nephew, Hozefa, who is totally blind. He and his parents have faced a tonnes of difficulties admitting him to a normal school in Kurla. Finally, they had to admit him to a school in Mumbai, around 60 minutes travel by bus. Not only that, when they shifted to Kalyan, none of the schools were ready to admit him to standard nineth and he ended up doing his SSC privately. His college life is different and better. A little difficulty finding a scribe. His Commerce coaching class is really co-operative and positive towards him and he shall appear for his 12th board in March 2010. Looking at all this, I find it really difficult to generalize people's attitude towards visually challenged minorities. Though I believe that people are becoming more inclusive, thanks to our visually challenged achiever friends who have shown that vision cannot be an obstacle if one decides and is dedicated to lead life with dignity. On 11/12/09, Swati Sinha <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello List, Good morning! > > > > I am writing an article on "Attitude towards visually impaired", so please > feel free to share your opinion and experience. Your assistance will help me > to create a real piece. > > Thanks in advance > > With regards, > > Swati sinha > > > > 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 > -- Best Regards, Zujar Shabbir Kanchwala... Hello : 9769371152 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
