The situation here in England is very different. The government pays for
support workers and assisted travel, and the employer does not have to
bear
the support worker's travel costs. But asking for an assistant in India
whom
one can take along to the US at the cost of the employer sounds a little
far-fetched. And excessive dependence on colleagues is not desirable.
It is true that Mahesh deserves to go since he is the most qualified and
the
most senior person. It is also true that employers should not discriminate
based on blindness. We can have laws passed against it and have the media
write all it can in our favour. Still, for attitudes to change, we have to
be more independent and forthcoming. Building awareness is a difficult and
long-winded process; we have to do our bit by trying to lead more
independent lives as far as possible.
Geetha
----- Original Message -----
From: "Viraj Kafle" <vka...@gmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: [AI] behaviour of my superior
I second this. While it is always desirable that the VI people be as
independent as possible, dependance itself should not be viewed as if it
is
a sin or a crime. One may depend on someone for mobility. But it by no
means
implies that one cannot do one's work properly or would inevitably fail to
represent one's institution. I understand that people generally believe in
the contrary, but that is precisely where the struggle is needed. As for
the
awareness versus intervention debate, I feel that the later is more
desirable, because the fact that the employee is the most senior and the
most qualified amply speaks of his qualities and capabilities and is
sufficient to make people aware of the same. Of course, one has to be
cautious and strategic in determining the course of action to be taken.
Best.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mann, Madleen" <madleen.m...@rnib.org.uk>
To: "Geetha Shamanna" <gee...@millernorbert.de>;
<accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [AI] behaviour of my superior
Dear Mahesh,
I would be shocked about this too.
I think it is perfectly normal to be guided by someone. Indeed here in
England people would probably try to ask for a support worker to fly
over to the states for a conference with them, just to avoid hassle and
to get the most out of the conference and the trip.
I think it was fair enough that he asked you for a one to one
communication but as you state you are the person who really should be
going there so please if at all possible don't withdraw your nomination
but show them how capable you are.
Maybe it's the opinion some people have but it is by all means not the
opinion they should have.
And as for the comments about accidents, they can happen to everyone not
just to you because you have no sight.
Please update us on this
Best wishes,
Madleen Mann
RNIB Customer Sales and Support/Technology
105, Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
t: 0207 391 23 08
E: madleen.m...@rnib.org.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Geetha
Shamanna
Sent: 24 September 2010 16:05
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] behaviour of my superior
Hi Mahesh,
Please do not get me wrong for asking you these questions, but how
independent are you? Do you travel to work and move around within the
office
on your own? Do you use a white cane? Do you travel independently
outside
Pune on your own, be it for official or private purposes?
The impression colleagues at work have of us blind people is to a large
extent dependent on the way we conduct ourselves. If a blind person
requires
assistance to move around within the office or to commute to work,
colleagues will always assume that blind people are dependent. It is not
their fault entirely; that blind person in their office might be the
only
blind person they have come across in their whole existence.
Instead of going to the press and publicising this issue, what is
probably
required here is for you to have a long and candid talk with your
superior
and try and convince him that you are capable of looking after yourself
during the US trip, and that you will not be excessively dependent on
the
colleagues traveling with you. You can also ask him to specifically list
out
his reservations; you can then address them individually. If you have
traveled alone previously, tell him how you did so and how independently
you
dealt with the situation. It won't be easy, but each of us will have to
fight this battle on our own.
Finally, if he is not sufficiently convinced and does not agree to send
you
to the conference, do not give up. Whenever opportunities to travel to
local
conferences or other events within Pune or other parts of India arise,
be
the first one to apply. He may not be averse to sending you to local
events;
so make full use of it and try to be as independent as possible during
these
events. You will then notice how your superior's impression of you
changes.
Geetha
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mahesh Shah" <mss...@gmail.com>
To: "accessindia" <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 5:45 AM
Subject: [AI] behaviour of my superior
Dear Friends--
I am writing to this list after a long time. I wish to tell you an
incident happened in my office , which shocked me.
Every year, a delegation goes from my office, C-DAC, to participate in
SuperComputing conference in USA. This year I put my self-nomination
for this. I am the most qualified and most senior person for the job.
But my boss called me for a one-to-one discussion and informed me that
it will be 'embarrasing' to send a person (VI) like me in . the
delegation. Because I will require someone's support and will hold
someone's hand. Also if some accident happens to me because of my
disability, he and office will be hold responsible for why they sent
such a person.
I was really shocked and upset with the behaviour. Then I withdrew my
nomination for participation in the conference.
Friends, I want to show you that how these learned so-called superiors
fail to understand the VI peoples aspirations and behave in such a
nonsense way.
Thanks for sharing my concerns.
Mahesh Shah
Pune
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