Going to new or unfamiliar places can be challenging for everyone, but it might seem even more daunting for someone who is blind or visually impaired. People with sight can easily scope out their surroundings, but those of us who are blind or severely visually impaired have to do extra planning to get around safely and independently.Visually impaired people suffer from impairment that restricts their perception of their environment, to some extent, their acquisition of psychomotor skills and also their mental, social and physical health.
Seventy percent of the information our brain processes is related to vision, so visual receptors play a key role in information processing, planning and organisation and recognition of the environment. This is why some people with visual impairment are limited in their access to physical and social development from childhood onwards.Society has historically shown negative attitudes towards people with visual impairment; these attitudes, together with other factors, influence physical inactivity in this group. Because adults with blindness are four times more likely to be impaired in performing activities of daily living and five times more likely to have limited mobility than people with adequate visual acuity, regular physical activity has been found to improve functional independence, prevent the risk of falls and improve social relationships, resulting in a better quality of life.
Social stigma
Sri Lanka is a nation blessed with a rich heritage and the spiritual influences of major religions. However a large segment of
Srikanth-Bolla (CEO)
people remain enslaved to superstitions and ignorant belief systems and show a stigma towards people with disabilities- including blindness. In most rural areas children who are born blind are looked upon with indifference. Often people are quick to judge and assume that the condition is a result of some “sin” committed by the parents in the past or present life. This is wrong and unfair for the parents- and the innocent child. Any physical disability is a medical condition. There is no need to make such foolish judgments. All religions teach us to show love and compassion to children. Also parents with vision impaired children must be encouraged to seek medical intervention- rather than running to religious venues to make vows. Of course divine intervention is manifested in the form of miraculous blessings. Families can seek a cure where possible, alongside medical treatment.
A case in point- Louis Braille (January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852): Louis Braille became blind after he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father’s awl. He later became an inventor and the designer of braille writing, which enables people who are blind to read by feeling a series of organized bumps representing letters. His determination enables blind people to read. Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to graduate from college.
Moral disapproval, denigration, and avoidance are part of the stigma toward persons with blindness. This stigma can affect adjustment, leading to decreased social and self-acceptance.Considerable data indicate that rates of depression and anxiety are elevated among people with visual impairments. Children with vision impairment have less opportunity in Sri Lanka, although those in major cities with affluent parents stand a better chance of having a normal life. In remote villages a blind child is doomed and is considered to be “cursed”. This type of attitudes must change. Such children will be considered a burden, especially if the family is poor. These unfortunate kids will have to live with no hope.
Every child with any disability-including vision impairment has the right to education and the right to a safe caring home. Parents with blind children deserve support and guidance to assist their child to live a normal life- as much as possible.Born blind to a rice farmer family in Andhra Pradesh, SrikanthBolla’s parents were advised to get rid of him because some of his relatives felt he would be of ‘no use’ to them in their old age. Srikanth Bolla went on to study business management science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, as the first international blind student ever to be admitted with 100 per cent financial aid.The 32-year-old is now the CEO of Bollant Industries, an organisation that manufactures eco-friendly, disposable consumer packaging solutions. Vision impaired children can learn various creative arts- like music. We all know the successful lives of the blind musicians like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Andrea Bocelli is an Italian tenor and has recorded over 20 pop and classical albums, as well as seven complete operas. He has sold over 65 million albums worldwide. It was evident at birth that he had problems with his sight, and after visits to many doctors Bocelli was diagnosed with glaucoma. In 1970, at the age of 12, he completely lost his sight after an accident during a soccer game.They overcame their disability and dominated the world stage.
Mobility
First, some background on how people with vision loss get around. Traveling in different or unfamiliar places is done by using orientation and mobility (O&M) skills. Orientation is the actual planning of how to get to and from places. We use other senses – like sound, touch and smell – and our memories to orient ourselves to our surroundings. Those with low vision may also use their remaining vision. Mobility is the physical traveling done to get to and from places. This includes walking, taking public transportation or getting a ride from friends or family. Someone who is blind or visually impaired might use a white cane, dog guide or someone else’s assistance.
Blind children
Vision is the primary learning modality and source of information for most children. No other sense can stimulate curiosity, integrate information or invite exploration in the same way, or as efficiently and fully, as vision does. The child who comes into the world without a dependable visual system, or without vision at all, has to navigate through the incomplete messages received through the other sensory modalities in order to put a whole picture of the world together. The visually impaired child needs to determine how to organize this incomplete information and then respond to what may remain a confusing view of the world.
Children who are visually impaired may use touch to “see” the world around them, to “hear” or read communications through gestures, objects, or braille, to “speak” or write through sign language, braille and tactile symbols.Touch is both receptive and expressive.
Public space
Infrastructure plays a crucial role in making public spaces accessible. This includes transportation systems, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and public buildings. Accessible infrastructure ensures that people with disabilities can move around the city independently.Like any visitor, blind or visually impaired people go to public venues to benefit from the services offered there.
- Transportation: Accessible transportation systems, including buses, trains, and taxis, allow people with disabilities to travel freely. This includes providing audio and visual announcements on buses and trains, and accessible taxi services.
- Sidewalks and Crossings: Sidewalks should be wide enough for wheelchair users, and curb cuts should be provided at crossings. Tactile paving can help visually impaired individuals navigate safely.
- Public Buildings: Public buildings, such as libraries, museums, and government offices, should be accessible. This includes providing ramps, accessible restrooms, and elevators.
Once again Sri Lanka has failed its vision impaired citizens in the above three areas. When we talk about public transport very few train and bus terminus stations have facilities for the blind, or other citizens with mobility restrictions. Majority of our pedestrian crossings are unsafe for people with clear visions, as drivers don’t adhere to basic traffic laws! The toilet facilities for vision impaired people are almost zero at main railway stations like Colombo Fort or Maradana.
All buses have yellow stickers pasted above a seat saying reserved for pregnant women or disabled people. But do the drivers and conductors have the professional attitude to assist a blind passenger? Most of our buildings in the major cities are from the vintage colonial era. They have no access paths for people with disabilities- let alone any emergency response features. Only a few modern buildings built over the last decade have wheel chair access ramps. Most buildings in Colombo are not access friendly for the blind, and yet people boast of acts of” religious merit” when they haven’t cared for their fellow citizens who use a white cane.
I point out another grave injustice to the blind people in Sri Lanka. When a blind persons goes to a police station, after recording a complaint how can they know what is recorded? Is it recorded accurately? Of course I am not saying the police must write the complaint in braille- but does the blind person get a copy of the complaint in braille (after a few days) for future reference? Will any of you sign a document that you can’t read?? Its unfortunate that some of our police stations are not people friendly and the blind person will find his/her visit a greater challenge. I have seen traffic cops helping blind people to cross the road, and that is commendable. Sri Lanka Police and other child protection agencies must swiftly act to enforce the law when blind children are used for begging in public places. This is a clear violation of human rights. Cases of bullying or neglect of blind children (at home or school) must also be taken seriously and the offenders punished to the maximum, within the law.
But during in person visits to police stations do the police expect blind people to be always accompanied by a “normal” person? The same can be said of all government departments. How user friendly are government departments that deal with the public? Do they have trained and kind staff to assist blind Sri Lankans. Can a blind person travel alone from one province to another at night? If this can happen safely in Europe and USA, why not here in Sri Lanka?Will authorities continue to make excuses and play the blame game.
What about the blind person’s right to be self-confident and independent and take pride in being a Sri Lankan. Can a blind person ever enter the Parliament of Sri Lanka and champion the cause of all people with disabilities? Sadhan Chandra Gupta was an Indian lawyer and politician. Gupta became the first blind parliamentarian in independent India in 1953, and later served as Advocate General of West Bengal.Franklin Delano Roosevelt sometimes better known as FDR; was the 32nd President of the United States of America and played a big role during World War II.It has been said that Roosevelt had several disabilities including vision impairment.
I challenge the people of Sri Lanka to show respect and kindness to people with disability- especially the vision impaired. That is the true manifestation of any moral and religious faith. It is said that kindness is a light that the blind can see.
Dishan Joseph
