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| Saturday, 16 October 2004 |
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Visually handicapped call for better educational facilities by Chandani Jayatilleke As the world marked the White Cane Safety Day on October 15, visually handicapped graduates and undergraduates in Sri Lanka called upon the Government to provide them better educational facilities and due social recognition to continue their higher studies. Owing to many obstacles they encounter in the education stream, many are deprived of achieving their best results in the university system. "Though we are visually handicapped in many ways, our capabilities are as high as normal human beings. We have shown the world that given the opportunity, our people can also perform quite well in their particular fields, President, Sri Lanka Council of Visually Handicapped Graduates, Sugath Vasantha de Silva told the Daily News. According to de Silva, educational facilities available for the visually handicapped in universities are minimum or nil. For instance, there are no Brail facilities to follow lectures in the universities. "Even if we take a normal typewriter to the lecture room, we cannot continue to be typing as it makes an unpleasant noise, so that other students get disturbed. Also, there aren't many books that we could read." Another chief obstacle that the blind students face in the university is that they are deprived of choosing subjects of their choice. Some universities do not take the visually handicapped at all. "When it comes to various examinations in the university, some universities take longer time to release the results of the blind students. As a result, they are forced to follow the subjects that are available at that particular time." De Silva also paid a glowing tribute to university students who would always be in support of blind students. "In universities we come across many a student who is willing to support and assist us to do our studies, read books for us and take us to various places." As far as the employment opportunities are considered, the visually handicapped graduates are in a better position now. "Although, the previous Governments neglected addressing the unemployment problem among our graduates, this Government has given an ear to our problem, he said. He added that their members made representations to Deputy Finance Minister, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, when this Government announced its unemployed graduates program. As a result many of the unemployed graduates in their association got the opportunity to follow the training programs offered by the Government. "We hope this unemployed graduates program would continue to be in the same sphere in the future," he said. One of the major objectives of the association is to support younger undergraduates by way of providing the basics, such as, books, pens, pencils and mathematical instruments. To mark this year's White Cane Safety Day, the association has organised a flag week from October 15 to 22 through which they plan to raise funds up to Rs. 10 lakhs. This money will be used to support the undergraduates and also to renovate the association's newly purchased office in Rawathawatte. The association does not intend to sell the flags on roads. "We have already sent flags to schools, government and private sector offices." White Cane The familiar White Cane with a red band at the bottom is used by blind and visually impaired persons in many countries. This simple device was invented in 1930 by Lion George A. Bonham of the Peoria, Illinois, USA, Lions Club. Today, blind and visually impaired people throughout the world use Bonham's invention. Instruction in the use of White Canes is given by schools for the blind. This includes explanations of "White Cane laws" which state that motorists must yield the right of way to the blind and visually impaired. The White Cane is the symbol to identify a blind person. It is also the blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration to the blind on our streets and roads. "However, our drivers and many others on roads do not adhere to these courtesies any longer. We would also like to seek their support and assistance all the time." Well... there is a need to make our people fully aware of the meaning of the White Cane and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for blind persons. |
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