News and issues on the disabled 15 Oct 2024
Azmi Anuar
Contents
1. The Straits Times Singapore - ‘I get rejected 70% of the time’: Visually impaired with guide dogs still face challenges
2. Premier Construction News UK - “Packaging Roulette”: visually impaired consumers at risk due to inconsistent access to accessible food packaging
3. The Gazette USA - This service for the visually impaired is setting its sight on new growth across Iowa
4. The Hindu India - Building solidarity among students with disabilities
5. Ghana Web - I will sue institutions that fail to do the right thing
6. Bridport & Lyme Regis News UK - East Street Band Bridport singer tells of confidence boost
7. Jamaica Gleaner - A struggle for dignity
8. Ahram Online Egypt - Egypt's Al Nour Wal Amal blind women orchestra to perform in Oman
9. The Times of India - IIT-B pupils get whiff of literature from prof having inner vision
10. South China Morning Post Hong Kong - Pilot audio description service gives Hong Kong’s blind a chance to enjoy sport
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1. The Straits Times Singapore - ‘I get rejected 70% of the time’: Visually impaired with guide dogs still face challenges14 Oct 2024
SINGAPORE – When he took his guide dog into a popular fast-food restaurant recently, former fintech professional Sebastian Quek was told by a customer that no pets were allowed.
When the 49-year-old with end-stage glaucoma explained that Vogue was a guide dog, the customer insisted that he leave the premises because “its fur will fly around”.
This was one of many instances of rejection that those with visual impairments face daily, and something that organisations working with the blind community here are hoping to change ahead of International White Cane Day.
The annual event, marked on Oct 15, seeks to raise awareness of aids that blind people use to travel independently, such as canes and guide dogs.
Mr Quek noted that private-hire drivers had driven away when they spotted Vogue, and his table reservations at restaurants often got turned down when he made it known that his guide dog would be with him.
“I get rejected up to 70 per cent of the time when visiting new places. I needed to explain that guide dogs are allowed by law, and they are well-trained and well-behaved, but I still got turned away often,” he said.
Guide dogs, which wear working harnesses indicating that they are working dogs, are allowed on public transport and at food establishments, including halal-certified restaurants and hawker centres.
There are also people who would try to lure Vogue away by whistling at her, even when Mr Quek is crossing the road. Such distractions can compromise her focus, putting both dog and handler at risk.
Using a white cane is no easy task either, especially when navigating crowded places.
“Nowadays, many people are glued to their phones, so they don’t really see me,” he said. “The few who offer me a seat in public transport would just walk away from their seat without informing me, when I cannot see.”
Guide Dogs Singapore (GDS), a social service agency formed in 2006, is celebrating White Cane Day on Oct 27 from 10am to 8pm at The Star Vista by showcasing the resilience of people with blindness and raising awareness of guide dogs and assistive technologies, as well as its rehabilitative training for the visually impaired. The free event is open to the public.
Rehabilitative training by GDS helps the visually impaired gain the skills and techniques needed to live independently, travel confidently, and stay connected with loved ones. This includes orientation and mobility training, which helps them navigate their environments safely, independent living skills training for daily tasks, an accessibility and technology programme that teaches the use of technological devices, and the guide dog programme.
GDS also conducts outreach talks and staff training in schools and companies to promote inclusivity for the visually impaired.
More than 40,000 people in Singapore are living with blindness or vision impairment, GDS estimates, and this number is expected to rise with an ageing population and longer lifespans. Eye conditions that lead to vision loss, such as diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, are becoming more common as people live longer and develop chronic health conditions.
Ms Eileen Koh, GDS’ head of community partnership, said Singapore has made great strides in improving accessibility for people with disabilities, including those with vision impairment, with features like tactile paving and audible signals to make commuting easier and safer.
“However, public understanding of vision impairment remains limited, and misconceptions about blindness are still widespread,” said Ms Koh. “By promoting more social interaction and integration between visually impaired individuals and the sighted community, we can break down barriers and move towards a truly inclusive and accessible society.”
GDS has successfully trained and paired 13 guide dogs with their handlers since its founding, with the dog provided free of charge. It is the only local organisation offering this service.
Its guide dog mobility instructor can train up to two dogs a year, and it can take up to two years for a dog to be fully trained to safely guide its handler. Training each dog costs $45,000 to $50,000, from its specialised training to veterinary care.
Interest in guide dogs is growing among the visually impaired, with six people currently on the waiting list.
However, others are discouraged from getting one as access challenges persist in Singapore and there is still hesitation at many public places over allowing in guide dogs despite the legal provisions.
Paralympic swimmer Sophie Soon, 27, often gets chased out by store staff and mall security when she is with her guide dog Orinda.
“Our main struggle is public acceptance, and true acceptance happens when we can just blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb,” she said.
The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) signed a memorandum of understanding with Gardens by the Bay on Oct 13 in conjunction with its White Cane Day celebrations. This will see specially curated tours organised for the visually impaired, and sensory gardens that allow them to explore the environment through touch and smell.
SAVH executive director Mohamad Faiz Selamat said: “This partnership is a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and accessibility in Singapore’s most iconic public spaces. By collaborating with Gardens by the Bay, we are ensuring that the visually impaired community can enjoy these beautiful spaces on equal terms.”
At the same event, SAVH gave out the Tan Chay Bing Bursary Awards to recognise 27 visually impaired students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, with $55,600 awarded in all.
Mr Dallon Au, one of the recipients, said having more public awareness will be good for both the visually impaired and the general public. This can be done through talks and events such as those organised by SAVH and GDS, he said.
The 24-year-old computing science undergraduate from the Singapore Institute of Technology uses a white cane as a mobility aid.
“Most Singaporeans are nicer compared with 10 years ago, but may lack the know-how to help,” he said. “For example, they will pull me by the back or arm when they think I am lost or in danger, and I would ask if I can hold their elbow instead.”
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2. Premier Construction News UK - “Packaging Roulette”: visually impaired consumers at risk due to inconsistent access to accessible food packaging13 Oct 2024
Launched on World Sight Day, research commissioned by Roland DG, the world’s leading provider of digital printing solutions, reveals that millions of visually impaired people face a daily challenge of navigating the supermarket aisles due to the inconsistent and sparse use of accessible packaging. 80% of food brands admit that they do not incorporate Braille or tactile symbols across all of their packaging, leaving visually impaired individuals unable to understand what they are purchasing and consuming.
The research – which surveyed 500 senior packaging decision makers across Europe – found 70% of brands also fail to use modern digital solutions, like NaviLens or QR codes, on all their products. This inconsistency creates a life-threatening challenge, especially for consumers with allergies or dietary restrictions who rely on accessible labelling to make safe choices.
Lucy Edwards, disability activist and social content creator said: “Accessible packaging is more than just a convenience—it’s a lifeline for people like me who are visually impaired. Having clear, tactile, or scannable information on packaging can mean the difference between safety and uncertainty. Brands that embrace this printing technology are not only leading the way in inclusivity but are also setting a standard for others to follow.”
Food brands want to be inclusive, but challenges remain
While the risk to visually impaired consumers is evident, the ambition for change within the food industry is clear. 93% of food packaging decision-makers surveyed expressed their willingness to invest in accessible packaging solutions, with almost half (49%) ready to allocate between £50,000 to £100,000 to make this transition.
However, 93% of food brands surveyed admit they face significant barriers in making these changes. The most cited challenge is the high cost, with 51% of decision-makers pointing to financial constraints as a major hurdle. The complexity of packaging regulation has deterred 38% of brands, while 16% admit they are unsure where to begin on their journey towards accessible packaging.
Julianne Ponan, Founder of Creative Nature, who suffers from anaphylaxis and created the company to cater for all top 14 allergens so more people can enjoy meals together, said: “At Creative Nature, we believe that everyone deserves to know exactly what they’re consuming, especially when it comes to allergens. Working with Roland DG has allowed us to learn how to make our packaging more accessible, which is a key part of our mission. It’s vital that packaging decision makers prioritise these solutions because inclusivity isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential for ensuring the future safety of all consumers.
A Call for Support
To overcome these barriers, food brands are increasingly looking for government intervention. Over a third (34%) believe that accessible packaging should become a legal requirement, urging policymakers to create clear, consistent regulations that would guide brands through the necessary changes.
Stephen Davis, EMEA Marketing Director & UK President at Roland DG, sees this as a pivotal moment: “The food industry is at a crossroads. We have the technology and the willingness to make packaging accessible, but brands need guidance. Accessible packaging is not just a moral imperative, it’s a critical business opportunity to reach more of your audience. Digital printing technologies offer a scalable solution that can help brands meet the needs of visually impaired consumers and ensure that everyone can understand what they are eating.”
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3. The Gazette USA - This service for the visually impaired is setting its sight on new growth across Iowa14 Oct 2024
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
When Intesar Duncan’s vision problems started to become apparent as a teenager, she couldn’t get a seat at the front of her classrooms.
The Coralville resident, who grew up in Iraq, remembers the struggle to do basic schoolwork as a teenager.
“I remember my father had to talk to the principal to get adaptations for me. I was very tall, so they wouldn’t let me sit in the front to read the blackboard,” she said. “The teacher would ask us to read aloud, and I would be struggling because of my vision.”
It was the beginning of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss.
“It was very difficult — I was humiliated,” said Duncan, now 66. “I didn’t want to go to school.”
At 17, she moved to the Iowa City area with the help of her sister and brother-in-law. From Iraq, doctors told her there might be hope for treatment in Iowa. After she was seen by doctors at the University of Iowa, she learned there was no cure.
Given the way she saw the blind treated as a child, she couldn’t envision a life without her sight.
“Every time I imagined being blind, I imagined the beggars at home, standing at the mosque with a cane and a cup,” she said. “That’s the only thing I knew.”
Over the last five decades, her limited sight continued to fade until all the details were lost. Today, her vision is the worst it’s ever been.
But despite being totally blind for years, she’s been able to see more than ever. With audio description services from the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service (IRIS), she always has a front-row seat to shows, performances and community events — even if she’s not sitting in the first row.
From radio to live, in person
Intesar Duncan of Coralville smiles as she listens to a description of activity of an Americans with Disabilities Act celebration rally provided to her by Iowa Radio Reading Information Service (IRIS) executive director Maryfrances Evans (not shown) as Duncan attends the event with her husband Michael Baxter at the Ped Mall, in Iowa City on Sept. 27. In addition to reading articles from newspapers from around the state, IRIS offers audio descriptions of public events and arts and cultural performances to visually-impaired attendees. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Since the 1980s, Duncan has stayed connected to the news through IRIS thanks to hundreds of volunteers who read newspapers over the radio. Today, the service reaches more than 11,000 Iowans with comprehensive content from 10 daily newspapers around the state.
Early on, the organization was built on a foundation of technology’s cutting edge. Nonprofits like IRIS popped up around the country starting in the 1970s, when it was discovered that specially made radios could access side channels not available to the general public on FM waves.
Subcarrier audio channels, as they were called, were initially used to play things like music at grocery stores or in elevators.
“Someone in Minnesota had a loved one who was blind. They decided that they should try reading print material aloud for the blind on these subchannels,” said Maryfrances Evans, executive director of IRIS. “That’s how radio reading was born.”
Iowa was the fourth state to offer the service, which initially started under Iowa’s Department for the Blind. In addition to content played around the clock over the air, IRIS has expounded on its early adoption of other technologies.
In the last 5 years, their podcast network has garnered 278,000 downloads. Each year, they also gain roughly 230 new radio listeners.
In addition to specialized radios, they now send clients Amazon Echo Dots, voice-controlled virtual assistants that are easy to set up and offer more features.
“We have livestreaming, we have been putting our MP3s on the internet since 1989. We've been podcasting before podcasting was even a thing,” Evans said. “We simply have to be wherever technology is.”
If you can’t see, read, or understand news and in-person happenings, IRIS has a way to help.
IRIS is now 12 years into offering a new way to connect with the community in person. Audio description, one of their fastest growing services, is transmitted through receiver earpieces, where a volunteer describes what’s happening around them.
Audio description services, which started in 2012 with about five shows per year in Des Moines, has quickly blossomed. To date this year, IRIS has 38 shows scheduled at the Des Moines Civic Center, the Des Moines Playhouse, Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls and Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
The experience can be unscripted, too. IRIS takes groups to see the Iowa State Fair, describing the scenes around them as they move about the fairgrounds. Every year, they visit a haunted house with the lights on.
Other small ad hoc events are added to broaden community access, when possible. In September, Evans described speakers and performers at a celebration rally of the Americans with Disabilities Act on the Ped Mall for Duncan.
“Some things you can pick up by words, but a lot is left out (without audio description,)” Duncan said. “I enjoy events about 70 percent more with it.”
Delivering the experience
About 400 volunteers make the services at IRIS possible across Iowa, and there’s a steady need for more.
Iowa Radio Reading Information Service (IRIS) executive director Maryfrances Evans (left) helps Intesar Duncan of Coralville works the controls of an audio receiver as she attends an Americans with Disabilities Act celebration rally with her husband Michael Baxter at the Ped Mall in Iowa City on Sept. 27. In addition to reading articles from newspapers from around the state, IRIS offers audio descriptions of public events and arts and cultural performances to visually-impaired attendees. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Mary Neff, a Coralville resident who first began volunteering in 2016, is passionate about ensuring accessibility to all. For eight years, she has been reading over the radio to help people like the friends she grew up with.
“It just has always been something that was important to me, partly because I’ve been such a reader. The idea someone would not be able to have access to the universe and the beauty of reading just has always spoken to me,” Neff said. “I wanted them to experience the world.”
Sharon Falduto, who has been reading The Gazette every Sunday to Iowans since the 1990s, has moved into helping with audio descriptions, too.
Conveying the experience of everything from “Hairspray” to a wedding takes more than real-time talking. From funny moments to serious ones, setting the scene before the action happens is important. Through lighting and sound booth windows, Falduto keeps an eye out for the crescendo of each joke or gag.
“I need to get on top of it so that the listener can laugh with everyone else,” she said. “You also have to try to not step on what’s happening, like a song where you want the person to know there’s dancing happening.”
The enhancement also extends to partners of visually impaired clients, who are free to enjoy a show for themselves without explaining each scene.
“A volunteer did an audio description over a cellphone call and told (the client) when to stand up as her daughter walked down the aisle,” Evans gave as another example. “She didn’t have to be the last one standing up.”
A catalyst for more
“Audio description has exploded,” Evans said. “Because of audio description, it’s broadened our view on where we can be useful.”
Iowa Radio Reading Information Service (IRIS) executive director Maryfrances Evans provides audio descriptions of a dance troupe performing to Intesar Duncan (not shown) of Coralville as she attends an Americans with Disabilities Act celebration rally with her husband Michael Baxter at the Ped Mall in Iowa City on Sept. 27. In addition to reading articles from newspapers from around the state, IRIS offers audio descriptions of public events and arts and cultural performances to visually-impaired attendees. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
For visually impaired jurors, IRIS can attend court to help them fulfill their civic duty. At the Harkin Institute in Des Moines, visitors can scan a QR code to listen to volunteers describing each exhibit — a service expanding to other museums soon.
Soon, IRIS will offer braille printing for small businesses and restaurants. With clear braille overlays, visually impaired diners can read the same menus as everyone else.
With election season well underway, the nonprofit is preparing to host a fully-accessible satellite voting site in Des Moines. With a small keyboard and a pair of headphones, voters are guided through the ballot by using buttons to navigate and make their selections.
Two years ago, the voting site served 187 voters, many of whom had never voted independently before. Evans watched her friend, at age 50, vote that way for the first time.
“I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but start to finish, nobody had to fill out her ballot,” she said. “She got to vote in person — she didn’t have to vote absentee.”
In big ways and small, IRIS hasn’t just conveyed the world to those with limited vision — it has made them a part of the world.
“Isolation is one of the biggest side effects of vision loss,” Evans said. “Our folks understood isolation before the pandemic highlighted it for everyone else.”
The future of IRIS
In some ways, its growth beyond the original mission could foreshadow IRIS’ future.
With newspapers “evaporating,” Evans said securing content to read over the air is a significant challenge to contend with. As The Des Moines Register has shrunk, for example, IRIS has added content from smaller papers not covered in years past.
Volunteers Mary McCarthy of Coralville and Gale Kolbet of Iowa City take turns reading articles in The Gazette for the Iowa Radio Information Service in a studio on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City on Dec. 17, 2019. (The Gazette)
But some days, even those papers — strapped for resources in an industry contending with daunting trends — have little to no local news stories.
Though IRIS serves all ages, many of its radio listeners are older adults. As younger generations start to comprise a larger share of the nonprofit’s overall listeners, its executive director sees a day when most clients will prefer to listen to news and content on their own schedule. These trends would mirror those in mainstream media and entertainment, where on-demand streaming has dominated consumption across the board.
In 15 to 20 years, she predicts the vast majority of clients will be comfortable enough with technology to access the news without radio readers.
Until then, human voices will be there to deliver the personal and the impersonal: gripping headlines, heartwarming features and coupons to clip for the grocery store.
They’ll also be there to call out each client’s birthday, reminding listeners with no other links to the world that they are still part of it — and they are not forgotten.
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4. The Hindu India - Building solidarity among students with disabilities13 Oct 2024
When we think of school, most of us remember carrying heavy bags, finishing homework, and eagerly waiting for the tiffin break to run off and play with friends. But not all schools follow this rhythm. In some, the students’ experiences are shaped by different challenges.
One such place is Nethrodaya, a Blind Residential School and social service institution where students unite despite their physical disabilities.
Along the corridors here, one will find students actively engaged in learning, their dedication undeterred by their physical or visual disabilities. An atmosphere with curious kids fills the classrooms as students collaborate, supporting each other and leveraging their unique strengths. Blind and physically challenged students come together, they tackle activities as a team, blending their strengths to overcome challenges and fostering a sense of solidarity that transcends their individual limitation.
A vision of inclusivity
Nethrodaya was founded by Govinda Krishnan, a visually impaired individual, with the goal of serving the physically and visually disabled community. Govinda Krishnan’s own life as a student was far from typical, marked by resilience in the face of adversity. From misdiagnoses to inadequate medical treatment, he navigated an education system that was ill-equipped for students like him. Mainstream schools lacked specialised resources, teachers were untrained, and discriminatory attitudes prevailed. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive education where true support for disabled students goes beyond integration, offering tailored learning environments.
The founder of Nethrodaya C. Govindakrishnan in Chennai. | Photo Credit: VEDHAN M
“I owe my deepest gratitude to my class teacher, the first person to identify my visual impairment. My parents were completely unaware of my condition, even as I struggled to see the blackboard clearly by moving closer. It was only when my class teacher noticed this and informed my parents that the search for medical solutions began.”Govinda Krishnan
He switched six schools, none of which were equipped to handle his needs. He was often sidelined, left to sit idly in class without large-print materials or assistive devices. His love for sports was also ignored, as he was deemed a “risk” during sports events. By the time he reached the 10th grade, the challenges became insurmountable, particularly in subjects like maths, where visual precision is essential. After repeated failures and struggles, he certified himself as visually impaired, and used a scribe to clear his exams.
Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. It consists of raised dots arranged in patterns that represent letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. These patterns can be read by touching them with the fingertips.
A classroom at Nethrodaya
Despite these struggles, Govinda Krishnan didn’t lose hope. The adversity he faced became his strength, motivating him to organise reading groups and build support networks for blind students in college. His journey laid the foundation for Nethrodaya, where students today find a learning environment that is both supportive and empowering.
Maths book for students there.
Medical Intervention and its impact on his education
My parents’ relentless pursuit to restore my vision led us on a frustrating journey through the healthcare system. Numerous hospitals and clinics, driven by commercial interests, offered false promises and inadequate care. The lack of specialised eye care, coupled with invasive and dehumanising procedures, took a toll on my education.
“Despite their best intentions, my “golden years” of education were slipping away as we spent more time in hospitals than in school.”Govinda Krishnan
Coming together
At Nethrodaya, students with different disabilities come together in ways that redefine the concept of unity. Salomine, a teacher at the school, explains, “The students mutually complement each other. Irrespective of their disabilities, they help each other in understanding concepts and encourage learning.”
Govind Krishnan explained, “If a visually impaired student wants to know if they’re dressed properly, the physically challenged student becomes their ‘audio mirror,’ describing how they look. In turn, the visually impaired students assist those who need help manoeuvring their wheelchairs.”
Salomine teaching children.
Learning equipment for children at Nethrodaya.
These students may use different notebooks, geometry boxes, and learning tools, but their student life is rich and dynamic. In a world where schools focus on helping young minds learn new things, schools like this take it a step further proving that disabilities don’t prevent students from making a difference. United by their challenges, these students support each other in ways that ensure no one is left behind in their pursuit of knowledge.
Finding rhythm in routine: A day in the Life of Kanivamuthan, an autistic student
Kanivamuthan, an autistic student, faces unique challenges and triumphs in his school life. His mother, Lakshmi Balakrishnan, a writer and special educator, provides insights into his daily experiences and the support he receives from his peers and teachers.
“Kani’s school day begins with assembly, where he joins his classmates. His friends assist him in gathering his books and notes, and he enjoys participating in repetition drills. A motivating factor for Kani is the snack he brings from home, which he enjoys during breaks.”
Overcoming sensory challenges with support
Now in 10th standard, Kanivamuthan faces new challenges. His transition from a small middle school class to a bustling higher secondary school has been difficult, particularly due to his heightened auditory sensitivity. The noisy environment initially caused discomfort, triggering headaches and watery eyes. His mother recalls, “The noise was unbearable at first. We used noise-cancelling headphones to help him adjust, and now his friends offer him ear mufflers when the noise becomes overwhelming.”
Kanivamuthan’s resilience, coupled with the support from his classmates and teachers, has allowed him to slowly adapt.
Kavinamuthan with his parents.
A circle of friendship and inclusion
Friendship plays a crucial role in Kanivamuthan’s daily life. Many of his classmates have known him since the third grade, and the bond they share is one of inclusivity and care. “His friends guide him to different classes and labs, and they’re always eager to involve him in conversations, whether he responds or not,” says his mother.
Music is another thread that weaves his school experience together. “Kani has a talent for singing, and his friends often ask him to sing during free periods,” Lakshmi shares. This simple act of engaging with his friends through music creates a sense of belonging and community, one that Kanivamuthan cherishes. In 2021, Kanivamuthan even won a prestigious award in the keyboard category at The Hindu Magazine’s Margazhi Music Competition.
Unlocking surprises every day
Autism often reveals unexpected strengths, and Kanivamuthan’s exceptional auditory memory is one such surprise. Lakshmi recalls a recent incident when his Tamil teacher introduced a new poem in class. “After hearing the poem only a few times, Kani quickly picked up his notebook and wrote it down from memory,” she says. His rapid memorization left the entire class, including the teacher, in awe. In 2021, Kanivamuthan even won a prestigious award in the keyboard category at The Hindu Magazine’s Margazhi Music Competition.
Through all the routines, challenges, and unexpected moments, Kanivamuthan’s school life is a testament to how every student, regardless of their challenges, brings something unique to the learning environment. His story is one of perseverance, support, and finding joy in both routine and surprise, one day at a time.
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5. Ghana Web - I will sue institutions that fail to do the right thing13 Oct 2024
Newly enrolled visually impaired lawyer, Mattah Tobias Dennis Xorse Esq., has pledged to legally challenge institutions that fail to provide disability-friendly structures and facilitate access for persons with disabilities.
The Ghana Bar Association inducted seven hundred and seventy-seven lawyers as Barristers and Solicitors at a Call to the Ghana Bar ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Among these 777 lawyers were two persons with disabilities: Mattah Tobias Dennis Xorse, a visually impaired lawyer, and a hearing-impaired lawyer, Mr. Juventus Duorinaah.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkunoo, graced the occasion and counseled the newly enrolled lawyers to use their expertise to make a meaningful impact.
Speaking exclusively to EIB Network’s court correspondent, Murtala Inusah, after being called to the bar, Dennis Xorse Esq. highlighted the need for institutions to provide resources and infrastructure that would aid persons with disabilities in enjoying equal access and opportunities.
He also added that when he duly obtains his license, he will take on state institutions that fail to address the needs of persons with disabilities.
He stated, “If we are paying the same school fees as our colleagues who have access to libraries and books, then we should be given the same services because, at the end of the day, we write the same exams, and I don’t think anybody considers us because we lack facilities.
"If I had failed any of my papers today, I would not have been here, but I managed to do it by the grace of God. No special provision was made to make things easier for me.
“Elsewhere, the field is made even for everybody, provided the person qualifies. So, what the white man in his land will do is engage you and ensure that all the equipment or logistics you need to make your studies easy and possible are made available even before you are admitted. But in our case, even as I was leaving school, there was nothing like that in any of the institutions I went through."
He continued, “So, as someone who has been through this, it is my interest to ensure that the world, and everything happening around us, especially here in Ghana, is all-inclusive.
"Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable classes of individuals should be given their share of the cake. When I duly obtain my license, I will take on state institutions that fail to do the right thing. I will do it. Yes, if need be, we will do it. Yes, we will take them on.”
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6. Bridport & Lyme Regis News UK - East Street Band Bridport singer tells of confidence boost13 Oct 2024
Steve Evans, 61, joined Bridport blues and Americana group the East Street Band as their lead vocalist earlier this year.
The former Met Police detective, who lives near Eype, has just 4.5 to 5 per cent vision peripherally and needs some help getting to and from the floor area at the band’s gigs.
However, he hasn’t let his visual impairment hold him back and is now hoping the band’s reach can extend even further than Bridport with more regional gigs.
He said: “The members of the band have been so patient and understanding. They’ve been brilliant.
“With my sight I need to know where the microphone is all the time and that makes me feel safe - I have a new mic stand and that has been great.
“My only regret is that I wish I was 40 years younger doing this. Performing gives you so much confidence.
“I knew I could sing but at first performance-wise I didn’t have that confidence, even though we have a really good set-list but I’m building that confidence all the time.”
With his sight loss Steve isn’t able to read and has to learn lyrics verbatim.
“I now manage around 30 songs verbatim and we can easily fill an evening of eclectic mixture of styles and sounds, and if our audience feedback is to be believed we ain’t half bad!” he said.
Steve surrounded by his East Street bandmates (Image: Supplied) “I think people like the fact that we play a lot of quirky stuff like Walk on the Wildside by Lou Reed - people seem to enjoy it.”
Although Steve is currently recovering from a knee operation, he is hoping to be back in action in six weeks – and is so determined to get back to performing that a band rehearsal has been arranged in his bedroom!
He and his fellow band members’ spirits have been buoyed by hearing that legendary guitarist Steven Van Zandt from the E Street band is following the East Street Band on Facebook.
Welshman Steve, who also sings with local shanty band the Bridport Broadsides, developed Stargardt disease – an eye disease that causes vision loss - when he was in his late 20s.
The band performing at another gig (Image: Supplied) He said: “If you know what to do that’s the key and sometimes you’ve got to wait until the time is right.
“I was messing around being in a band when I was at school but I got onto my career and was playing a bit of rugby and I remember singing after the matches and realised I could hold a tune.
“Now that I’m out there performing it’s created an environment I have never experienced and I suspect if I had this level of support and encouragement I would have done it before.”
The band's David Greenshields said Steve joining the band has helped to take the group to the next level.
He said: "East Street Band members have always looked to mix less obvious music in with the more well-known songs in our sets, and since the two Steves (one on drums, one on vocals) have joined us, our musical options have increased just that bit more.
"We’ve had very positive responses to our playing in Bucky Doo Square, along with gigs in neighbouring Burton Bradstock, The Crown in Puncknowle and The Spyway in Askerswell.
"We’re building a strong following on social media, which is feeding the increasing confidence felt by the band."
The East Street Band would love to hear from venues that would be interested in hearing them perform – they can be contacted on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/Eaststbandbridport
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7. Jamaica Gleaner - A struggle for dignity13 Oct 2024
Coswell Barnett is a decorated Spanish teacher, with more than a decade of experience. But now, unable to find permanent employment, he has had to settle with teaching two classes per week, for a paltry sum of $4,000. Blind since birth, Barnett believes his situation is a glaring example of discrimination.
Despite the passage of the Disabilities Act in 2014 and its enactment in February 2022, Barnett feels disillusioned with the lack of progress.
In a desperate open letter to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Barnett outlined his struggles yet again last week.
“I am blind. I am not stupid. I am not asking for a handout. I am asking, begging for an opportunity. An opportunity for someone to see that I am capable,” he wrote, echoing sentiments first shared with The Sunday Gleaner in August ahead of the start of the new academic year.
“Yes, I am blind, but as the leader of this country, I am begging you to open your eyes to the high levels of marginalisation and discrimination against persons with disabilities,” Barnett’s letter read. “I had hopes for the Disabilities Act, and I had hopes when we adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ... that urge member countries to reduce inequality in their jurisdictions, thinking it meant better for all. I have not seen that,” he said despondently.
“I believe it is the responsibility of the State to protect the rights of people like me, and definitely, in my context, that is not being done,” he told The Sunday Gleaner afterward, saying that he is only striving for a dignified means of supporting himself and his mother.
He explained that while his official pay for two classes amounts to $16,000 a month, the institution often adds something extra, bringing his total to approximately $25,000 monthly.
However, with rent in St Andrew at $19,000, he must also cover utilities, transportation, and medication. His mother, Hazelyn Small, an ailing market vendor, contributes to food expenses, along with support from other relatives.
This is not the life he envisioned, he said.
Barnett’s struggles began years ago when he resigned from a full-time teaching position at Clan Carthy High School to complete his degree at The University of the West Indies. The position he had left was made redundant, and since graduating, he has struggled to find full-time employment despite holding multiple certificates and awards in teaching.
He is not limiting himself to teaching roles; with 25 years until retirement, Barnett is willing to work anywhere that values his fluency in Spanish. For now, he is grateful for the small amount he earns.
“I know my value, but that is what I have right now. Since September, I have gone on several interviews. Nobody has said yes to me yet,” said the 40-year-old, whose story was carried in The Sunday Gleaner the same day more than two dozen teaching jobs – at least 10 of them for Spanish teachers – were advertised.
“I feel deflated, having completed my degree for close to four years now, and not being able to get a full-time job. And it is not because there is an unavailability of jobs; it is squarely because of the level of discrimination that is being meted out to people like me as a disabled and, in particular, a blind person,” charged Barnett.
With a worldwide teacher shortage, Jamaica has in recent decades been one of the countries from which there has been heavy attrition, to the point where the Government announced plans to seek educators from Ghana and India this past summer. The announcement sparked concern among stakeholders such as the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, who have urged the Government to try other options, like re-evaluating the working conditions of teachers in the island, making them more favourable.
Meanwhile, disabled educators continue to excel, leaving legacies behind when given an opportunity.
Two weeks ago, the western end of the island said farewell to Esmine Richards-Peterkin, a celebrated disabled educator.
Richards-Peterkin was the principal of Farm Heights Basic School in Montego Bay, before being diagnosed with tropicalspastic paraparesis – a condition that caused weakness, muscle spasms, and sensory disturbance resulting in the inability to move her legs.
The wheelchair-mobile Richards Peterkin did not let her disability stop her from continuing her passion as a teacher, and also as principal of the Central Basic School in Hendon, Norwood, where she served for months until her passing.
At her funeral two weeks ago, she was eulogised as a disciplinarian and an advocate for learning, who accepted every child, regardless of their parents’ social status.
“She was everything. I am biased, but she is an extraordinary woman,” said her daughter, Sunita Peterkin. “And it’s not only because she is my mother, but because she was doing all of this while in a wheelchair.”
Peterkin described her mother as the glue to their family and said she was never away from her children, even in adulthood.
“She was just passionate about teaching. We would push her to school in the mornings because the school is not very far from the house, and it was flat. So she could navigate her way around, and the staff was always there to help her. Parents also loved her,” she noted.
Stewart Jacobs, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, told The Sunday Gleaner earlier this year that students may benefit from having a disabled teacher in their classrooms.
“I think it will also help to assist the development of our children in that they learn to accept humans in all forms ... . It is for those who are sound and have all the faculties to use that as a motivator, so it is encouraged.”
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8. Ahram Online Egypt - Egypt's Al Nour Wal Amal blind women orchestra to perform in Oman14 Oct 2024
The concert, scheduled for Thursday, 17 October, is part of the Royal Opera House's celebration of Omani Women's Day.
The evening will open with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) Ladies Chamber Ensemble, followed by Al Nour Wal Amal's performance in the second half, where they will be also joined by the ROSO Ensemble, alongside the Moroccan pianist Nour Ayadi.
Conducted by Tamer Fahmy, Al Nour Wal Amal, an Egyptian orchestra made up of blind and visually impaired musicians, will perform works by Josef Strauss, Dmitri Shostakovich, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Jacques Offenbach. The program also includes Mohamed Abdel-Wahab's Doaa El Sharq.
Accompanied by the orchestra, Ayadi will perform the Allegro movement from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12, K. 414 in A major,
This marks Al Nour Wal Amal's debut performance in Oman. The same concert was initially scheduled for 19 October 2023 but was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza (7 October 2023). In response to the war, many Arab cultural institutions and artists postponed or cancelled events in solidarity with Palestine.
The evening's original lineup also included a performance by Lebanese star Majida El Roumi, who withdrew due to the attack on her home country (1 October 2024).
For the orchestra, this concert will be their first international appearance without Amal Fikry (1929-2024), the long-serving president of Al Nour Wal Amal Institute, who passed away in March 2024. Fikry, who had supported the orchestra since the late 1960s, played a key role in organizing their performances in Egypt and abroad.
The orchestra is part of Al-Nour Wal Amal Association, an NGO for Egyptian blind girls founded in 1954 by a group of volunteers led by the late Istiklal Radi, with the aim of educating visually impaired girls and helping them integrate into society.
In 1961, seven years after the establishment of the association, Al-Nour Wal Amal Music Institute was founded by the late Samha El-Kholy, former dean of the Cairo Conservatory. The girls started being trained by musicians from the Cairo Conservatory and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. The girls study all aspects of music: theory, harmony, solfege, ear-training and learn to read music in Braille.
With the dawn of the 1970s, the few musicians strong orchestra started performing across a variety of venues in Cairo and made its first appearance at the stage of the Old (Khedivial) Opera House in early 1971. International tours kicked off in 1988, when the orchestra performed in the famous Town Hall of Vienna.
In the following decades, the orchestra performed extensively in more than 30 countries on five continents.
Today, the orchestra's repertoire consists of many well-known Western classical music compositions, topped with a few works from the Arab/Oriental repertoire. Often they also add a work of the country they are visiting to their performance.
Throughout the years, the orchestra was led by maestri Ahmed Abul Eid, Ali Osman, and Mohamed Saad Basha.
The current conductor of the orchestra is Tamer Fahmy, a musicians who also teaches the girls and is the ensemble's music director.
The orchestra's first visit to Oman will be at the Royal Opera House Muscat, which describes itself as "a place of learning, entertainment, and inspiration." The Royal Opera House is a leading cultural institution in Oman, hosting top performers and ensembles from the Arab world and the international stage.
The 2024-25 season has already featured Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, performed by the National Centre of Performing Arts Beijing (NCPA). Upcoming performances include India's sitar virtuoso Nishat Khan accompanied by the European Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Walter Proost. They also include a concert featuring Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El Khouri, pianist Serouj Kradjian, and a Lebanese ensemble performing Scheherazade, among other events.
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9. The Times of India - IIT-B pupils get whiff of literature from prof having inner vision14 Oct 2024
Mumbai: Recently, a group of students at IIT Powai attended an intellectually stimulating lecture. No, Vinod Asudani did not enhance the students' knowledge of gravitational force or magnetic fields. Visually challenged since birth, poet, polyglot, and Sahitya Akademi Awardee in Sindhi (2023), Asudani, who teaches Humanities at Shri Ramdeobaba Baba College of Engineering and Management in Nagpur, took the future technocrats on a delightful journey into the joy of reading and writing, both prose and poetry. Organised by GLF Alphabets, a wing of Gateway LitFest, the lecture ‘General Z, Writing In the Age of AI' left the youngsters spellbound.
"It is a myth that engineers do not need to read literature. Reading or listening to a good poem, a short story, or a novel can be a great stress buster," explains Asudani, 55, seated in his hotel lobby the day after his lecture at IIT. He is a multilingual writer with 19 books to his credit, including six in Sindhi, two in Hindi, and 11 in English. For a scholar who reads in Braille, uses screen reading, and listens to audiobooks and journals, Asudani wrote 30 research papers and participated in over 100 conferences in India and abroad.
"You need more than a naked eye to read about and appreciate Hamlet, King Lear, or Othello," smiles the scholar,
Not many know that before he became a lecturer of English in Nagpur, Asudani cracked the Civil Services exams, both prelims and mains, but was blocked at the interview stage. He, along with a dozen or so candidates with disabilities, was disqualified as the UPSC said, "we have no provision to accommodate" persons with disabilities in A and B categories of the class one service. This was in 1993.
Advocate Santosh Rongta of National Federation of Blind, on behalf of Asudani and others, petitioned Supreme Court, which, a decade later, ordered a 3% reservation for persons with disabilities in A and B categories of Central services. "By then, I was overage for the Civil Services and chose teaching... I didn't become a civil servant but did my bit to open doors for others who came after me," he says.
Asudani is among the five siblings, among eight, who are visually challenged. They suffer from degeneration of retinal cells.
Initially, he needed someone to read to him. "A sister's friend would help me read books. She was a sighted girl, our friendship grew. Later we married," he says. "We have a son and a daughter."
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10. South China Morning Post Hong Kong - Pilot audio description service gives Hong Kong’s blind a chance to enjoy sport14 Oct 2024
A pilot audio description service which gives listeners real-time narration of sporting events has allowed visually impaired people in Hong Kong to enjoy and take part in activities, the non-profit provider has said, while calling for equality regardless of disabilities.
The Hong Kong Blind Union said it had offered the service at 105 sports events over the past 4½ years, including the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and the Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships, with the number of attendances by users at more than 1,200.
Audio description is a form of narration that provides information surrounding key visual elements in films, television programmes, theatrical performances and sports events for those who are blind and visually impaired.
The union, which has about 1,800 visually impaired members, said a lack of public awareness and a limited number of service providers meant the service still lacked popularity in the local sports sector.
“In Hong Kong, people are more familiar with audio description in films and entertainment arts as well as dramas,” said Jackie Kwan Cheuk-yin, executive director of the union.
“We are promoting sports audio description as a pilot and pioneer in Hong Kong.”
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This Google Group news service has been made possible by courtesy of the Society of the Blind in Malaysia