Voice of the Blind

Collection of news and informations of and for the blind (Period – From 1st February to 15th February 2017 )

Table of Content

Editorial
Appeal for contribution
News from far & near
Announcement
Information
Employment

1. Editorial

We at voice of the blind wish health and good will for all our readers and dedicate the 38th issue of the bulletin to them.

This issue has a blend of a large number of news, announcements, informations and job opening updates that suit every plate.

It covers the T20 Blind cricket cup, news and highlights of right to persons with disability act 2016, updates on advocacy initiatives of NFB Karnataka and many useful informations.

We urge our readers to help as ever in spreading a word and encourage the others like themselves to subscribe, read and contribute this bulletin.

We hope and trust that our readers will make the bulletin more healthy and interesting by their valuable insights.
Happy reading

With best compliments
Editor

2. Appeal for contribution

We appeal to all readers of this e-bulletin to share the relevant stories, news, events and development of and for the blind across the globe for this news bulletin so that we can report you the best on your success and development of the sector.

Dead line for coverage of the content provided by the readers for the next issue is 27th February 2017

Please send your submissions in English and e-format to above given mail id.

3. News from far & near

1. How We Can Make Cinema an Accessible Experience for the Visually Impaired ( 01/31/2017 )

There is a need to make audio description mandatory for film makers so that cinema becomes an inclusive source of entertainment for persons with blindness and visual impairment. Sonali Jain further explores the world of audio-described movies.
Films are an integral part of our culture and society. A movie allows us to unwind and escape from our daily routines and problems into an alternate reality. Cinema gives us the opportunity to socialize with friends, family, and others to collectively laugh, applaud, and share similar emotions. Cinema is also a reflection of the times and the society we live in, and therefore it plays a pivotal role in shaping the perceptions and values of the masses. Films are an important source of both entertainment and information. Films are an effective medium of disseminating information on various subjects like history, mythology, politics, science, technology, sports, and so on. Yet there is a section of society who is deprived of this enriching experience of cinema.

The next time you visit a cinema hall, close your eyes for a few minutes and try to make sense of the film that’s playing. The dialogue-heavy sections won’t sound too different, but it’s the sections with no verbal exchange and some music playing in the background where you feel that you’ve lost out on details. You will feel a sudden disconnect with the plot. That’s the experience a visually impaired person goes through every single time he or she is watching a film in a theatre full of a sighted audience.

2. Haryana stars get ready to rock T20 World Cup for blind (02/01/2017 )

Deepak Malik bowls at a speed of 140km/hr and is regarded as the world’s fastest bowler. He also holds the record of the fastest half-century in the ODI World Cups. Another talented lad, Rambir Singh, holds the record for the most economical bowling (at under six runs per over) in Asia Cup T20. Both are young and promising but the most cruel part is that they cannot see.

The two are visually impaired.

Hailing from district Sonepat, Malik and Singh are part of India’s blind cricket team which will participate in the second edition of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, beginning in Delhi on January 30.
Malik and Singh were not blind by birth. Malik lost his vision in 2004 when a firecracker hit him in the eye during Diwali celebrations, Singh lost sight of his left eye at the age of four due to an intraocular malignancy, a type of eye cancer. But the duo did not allow blindness to hamper their dreams. “Everything was normal for me till that Diwali night in 2004 when a rocket hit my eye and left me in the dark. Slowly, my left eye also got affected and my life came to a standstill. My family sent me to a blind school (Institute for the Blind at Panchkuia Road) in Delhi in 2008. There, I got hooked to blind cricket as I thought that was the only way to live a respectable life,” Malik said.
“Initially, my family was not supportive of the idea to take up cricket. For them, only wrestling and kabaddi qualified as sports. My elder brother Vijender Malik is an international-level kabaddi player. He recently represented Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League. My family was impressed with my skills when as a part of the Indian blind cricket team we won the 2014 ODI World Cup by beating Pakistan. After that, their rejection turned into acceptance. This time they have promised they would come to Delhi to watch some of the matches of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup,” added Malik, whose father is an agriculturist.
Blind but fastest in world
Malik holds the distinction of being the world’s fastest bowler in blind cricket. As per the rules of blind cricket, the bowling is always underarm and the ball is filled with ball-bearings so that fully or partially-blind cricketers can hear the sound and judge the trajectory of the ball. According to the chief coach Patrick Raj Kumar, Malik normally touches a speed of 135-140 km/hr.
When Malik was first selected for the Indian team in 2013, the 21-year-old took the sport by storm.
At the ODI World Cup, he earned back-to-back Man of the Match awards for his superlative performance. In the semifinal against Sri Lanka, he took two wickets and hit the fastest fifty of the ODI World Cup in just 17 balls, remaining unbeaten at 78 off 33 balls. In the final against Pakistan, he scored a 33-ball 65 and accounted for two batsmen to help India lift the trophy for the first time. In last year’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Kochi, Malik scored 45 runs and took three wickets to take the team home.
For Singh, a 19-year-old from Sonepat’s Saidpur village, it was his good performance in 2015 and 2016 Nationals that convinced his family that his decision to take up the sport was correct. “My parents would tell me to look for a government job through quotas for the physically-challenged. Since I had a deep passion for cricket, I did not let blindness come in way of my dreams. When I got selected for the Asia Cup my family distributed sweets in my village,” said Singh, who will be playing his first World Cup.

3. How visually impaired George Abraham took cricket for blind to international stage (02/03/2017)

When you first notice George Abraham, it’s hard to figure out his vision impairment. With his sunglasses on, he confidently walks along the shortened boundary rope at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium without any human assistance or a walking stick. It’s only when he requests a grounds taff member to pull over a chair and help him sit for the interaction you realise about his impairment. “My positive attitude towards life and ability to face the challenges have helped me feel no lesser able than any other person,” said the 54-year-old.
Abraham is known as the pioneer of cricket for the visually impaired. Whatever little attention and recognition the sport is getting across the globe, it’s solely because of his unwavering resolve. For the world of blind cricket, he is the “father figure and lone crusader”. Many consider the man as the “founder” of competitive blind cricket and credit him for hosting the first-ever ODI World Cup for Blind in 1998. It was Abraham’s efforts that brought the blind cricket boards together to form the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) in 1996. He was also the man behind holding India’s first National Championship in 1990, which has now become an annual affair.

“We had started from scratch with no history and background of blind cricket. In 1996, we hosted an international conference for blind cricket in New Delhi where representatives of seven cricket-playing countries joined us. It was a two-day conference to standardise the rules and equipments. We formed WBCC and took the challenging decision of hosting the ODI World Cup in November 1998. I was elected as the founding president of WBCC and that’s how things started moving,” Abraham said.
The Journey

What caught Abraham’s attention towards blind cricket was his visit to a blind school in Dehradun in 1989. “Given that I was passionate about cricket, I had my own ideas about the game. I wanted to become a fast bowler, but my vision impairment led to my cricketing career getting nipped in the bud. I happened to visit a blind school in Dehradun when I was 29 years old. I saw blind kids playing cricket using the white ball with ball bearings inside. My passion for cricket suddenly erupted and I saw a possibility of taking the game to the international stage,” Abraham said.

“After returning, I decided to organise a national level tournament in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by then BCCI president, late Madhavrao Scindia, and the closing ceremony was attended by Congress president Rajiv Gandhi. Next year we organised the Nationals in Bengaluru and the third championship was organised in Ahmedabad, after which, I felt the need to raise the game to the next level. That’s how WBCC came into existence,” said Abraham, who was born in London to Indian parents.
History of blind cricket

According to Abraham, blind cricket first started in Australia and its progression happened independently in different countries. “The old-timers say that an improvised form of blind cricket was played in Australia in 1922. In England, it started in 1936, while in India and Pakistan, it was somewhere in the 1960s. In India, blind kids would use empty tins, which they rolled on the ground and hit with a stick. So, the evolution of the game happened differently. I won’t say it was a linear progression, but it happened independently in different years. So, the efforts we put in 1996 to bring the blind cricket boards together resulted in the start of international tournaments,” he said.

About the man himself

Abraham was just 10 months old when he suffered from meningitis. “People suffering from this disease usually die, but I was lucky to survive. However, my eyes got damaged. I had a very poor vision right from the beginning, but for the last 10 years or so, the eyesight has worsened,” he said.

Abraham’s parents, however, didn’t give up hope. When Abraham was two years old, they relocated to India. They decided to send him to a mainstream school for studies despite his disability. It was a challenge for Abraham to keep pace with the other children. He would do combined studies with his school friends while his parents would read out the texts from his school books which he would record and later use.

“I did my math honours from St Stephens College and then post-graduation in Management Operations. I had started my career as an advertisement professional and in 1989 I got involved with blind cricket. In 2002, I established the SCORE Foundation in Delhi and launched Project Eye way as a one-stop destination of knowledge resource for people living with blindness and low vision. Now, I intend to get into public speaking,” he said.
India hammer England by 10 wickets

Indore: After going down against archrivals Pakistan, defending champions India bounced back in style to register a crushing 10-wicket win against England in the T20 World Cup for the Blind here today. England, after opting to bat, posted 158 in 19.4 overs courtesy Edward James Hossell and Justin Hollingsworth, who scored 57 and 24, respectively. India overhauled the target in just 11 overs; SukhramMajhi top-scored with an unbeaten 67, which included 12 boundaries, while Ganesh Mundakar smashed 78.
Brief scores

England: 158 all out (Hossell 57, Hollingsworth 24; Patel 2/40); India: 159/0 in 11 overs (Mundakar 78*, Majhi 67*)
New Zealand: 168/1; Australia: 172/2 in 10 overs
Sri Lanka: 164/7; Pakistan: 165/5 in 17.2 overs
South Africa: 146/5; Nepal: 149/4 in 17.3 overs
West Indies: 195/6; Bangladesh: 196/2 in 19.4 overs

4. INDIA DEFEAT ENGLAND IN BLIND T-20 WORLD CUP (02/03/2017)

In the much-awaited T-20 World Cup for the blind, held at Holkar stadium here on Thursday, India inflicted a crushing defeat on England by winning the match with 10 wickets. Electing to bat first, England in 20 overs scored 158 runs.

In reply to this competitive total, Indian batsmen notched the victory in just 11 overs with brilliant half centuries by Ganesh and Sukhram who scored 78 and 67 runs respectively. Ganesh was declared man of the match. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated Indian cricket team for the Blind for this brilliant victory.

Thousands of school students from various city schools who had been especially brought to the stadium on the initiative of Indore collector P Narhari enjoyed every moment of the game and greeted Indian team with tumultuous clapping as and when the Indian players scored boundaries and sixes. Department of social justice, education department and the district administration along with a social worker Dr Anil Bhandari had played key role in organising this important T 20 world cup match between India and England.
Earlier the match had been inaugurated by Indore Mayor Malini Gaud, while state minister Gopal Bhargav was the chief guest at the award presentation ceremony. The district administration had made arrangement for free entry in this match.

5. NIVH ALL SET WITH DESIGN OF BRAILLE BALLOTS TO FACILITATE VISUALLY IMPAIRED DURING POLLS (02/03/2017)

The task of printing ballot papers for the visually handicapped in the assembly elections has been entrusted on the National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH). The election commission uses specially designed Braille ballots for the visually impaired. These special types of the ballots have the names of the candidates and their symbols in Braille script. The visually impaired having knowledge of Braille can read the candidate’s name and symbol by the feel of their hands on these ballot papers. These Braille ballots are then pasted over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the visually handicapped to press the button of their choice and take part in the festival of democracy.

The NIVH Dehradun would use six machines imported from Norway to print these special ballot papers. The director of NIVH, Anuradha Dalmia said that these high tech machines are being used for the first time to print ballots to be used for visually impaired in the assembly elections.

In Uttarakhand assembly elections a total of 24,184 physically impaired voters are registered in the electoral rolls out of them an estimated 3400 voters are visually handicapped. The election commission ensures that ramps are constructed in all the polling stations for the convenience of physically challenged voters.

India has about 7.8 million visually impaired people which constitute around 20 percent of total population of blind of the world.

6. 250 visually impaired on fast seeking jobs (02/03/2017)

As many as 250 visually impaired, who are eligible for Class-III and Class-IV jobs under 1 per cent cadre quota, have accused the state government, including various corporations, of violating the Supreme Court orders passed on October 8, 2013, by not filling the posts reserved for them.

The employees, under the banner of the National Federation of Blind, have been on a fast for the last three days here for the step motherly treatment being meted to them by the state government. They have been raising their demand to fill the cadre post, but to no avail, they rued.

Suraj from Nagrota Surian and Dayant from Chatri(Mandi), who have been on a chain hunger strike, said nobody listened to them.
“The politicians talked about poor and handicapped in election rallies and in the Vidhan Sabha, but do little and we are the example,” they resented.

Talking to The Tribune here today, members of the National Federation of Blind said there were about 250 eligible persons to be recruited on class – III and IV posts. But some non-genuine visually impaired were getting preference in these jobs and various departments and corporations claimed that they had exhausted the quota, alleged general secretary Shobhu Ram.

As many as 475 visually impaired had been employed since 2017, Ram said, citing government data. “As per the cadre strength of 1 per cent quota for the blind, we should get about 2,000 posts. We are not asking for filling these posts, but are seeking justice for the 250 genuine persons eligible for the Class-III and IV posts,” added Ratan Chand, its president.

They rued that their genuine voice had not reached Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The Supreme Court order passed on October 8, 2013, had directed all states to fill 1 per cent jobs reserved for them, but 250 visually impaired awaited justice, said Ram.

7. Ballot papers for visually impaired (01/30/2017)

Chandigarh: Visually challenged voters will be able to exercise their franchise as the Election Commission is providing 26,773 ballot papers in Punjabi Braille script. The ballot papers will be available at all polling booths. On the orders of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Institute for the Blind here is printing the papers. Institute chairman Maj Gen Rajendra Nath said they had been printing the papers since 2009. A total of 1,900 papers are being prepared for the Amritsar Lok Sabha byelection and 24,873 for the Vidhan Sabha elections.
Canadian ex-MP campaigns for Cheema

NurpurBedi: Former Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla addressed a rally in favour of Education Minister and SAD nominee from Ropar Daljit Singh Cheema here on Saturday. CM Parkash Singh Badal was scheduled to address the rally, but he could not reach the venue. Cheema said the SAD-BJP alliance would form the government for the record third time. Lashing out at AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Dhalla said Punjabis would never allow ‘topiwalas’ to rule Punjab.

Ex-servicemen body backs Cong

Gurdaspur: The All India Defence Brotherhood (AIDB), an organisation looking after the interests of ex-servicemen in the region, has pledged support to the Congress. Its state president, Brig Kuldip Singh Kahlon (retd), said the decision to support the Congress was taken after evaluating the performances of all political parties in the last five years. He said during the run up to the 2012 elections, some parties had promised to get exemption to ex-servicemen from toll tax barriers, but nothing had been done. “Besides, the CM had promised to set up two police stations exclusively to cater to the grievances of ex-servicemen and those still serving the armed forces. But it remained only on paper,” he said.

8. Startup arranges tours for the deaf in Delhi (05/2/2017)

Deaf Com is a startup that has started working in the field of tourism and sign language. One of the founders is Manish Narayan, who is a historical tourism graduate

The company has organized several tours across major tourist attractions for the deaf. It is also planning to launch applications that will be accessible for people with impairments.

One of the apps is `Sign My Tour’ that will have subtitles in various languages along with sign language communication.
The tours have received positive feed back

9. Touch feedback device will help the blind study science (05/2/2017)

A device that relies on touch – feedback is helping translate scientific data into information that can be touched. This will help people that are blind or visually impaired to study science
The device has been developed by the purdue university in the US. It uses an interface that gives feedback that the user can touch or physically feel. This will enable people to interpret visual information using their hands.

The device helps explore tiny images like that of a blood cell. It has been tested on people who are blind or are wearing a blindfold. They could differentiate between red and white blood cells using the device.

10. New toolkit makes dyslexia diagnosis easy ( 05/2/2017)

Dyslexia is a disorder in which children lack the required skills to read and spell and understand the written word.

A team of Indian researchers have developed diagnostic toolkits in local Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi and Kannada.
The toolkits have to set of tests – one is a screening test used by a class teacher to identify a child with dyslexia. Another is a test used by psychologists to identify dyslexia in children speaking in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada and English.
The Idea is to detect dyslexia early and provide the required support.

11. Fixations help people with autism (05/2/2017)

Parents and teachers should strongly encourage the preferred interests of people with autism. Such interests can calm the mind and often lead them to careers that are suitable.

People on the autism spectrum often show strong interests in topics like computers animals or trains. Traditionally, many experts thought that such preferences might come in the way of social development.

Now a new study that looked at the experiences of 80 adults with autism between the ages of 18 to 70 years shows otherwise. For many of them, their preferred interest were a great source of support and strength. They said it brought them a sense of calm.

12. Disability advocates threaten to sue over special education cap (01/2/2017)

AUSTIN, Texas- Disability advocates this week threatened to sue the Texas Education Agency unless the state permanently ends its special education enrollment benchmark within the next month.

The advocates said immediate action was necessary because of the “devastating harm” caused by the benchmark.

The State already has suspended and pledged to eventually eliminate the decade – old benchmark, which punished school districts for giving special education services to more than 8.5 percent students. But the state has angered advocates by not saying when it will permanently end the policy.

“The time for action to protect and support Texas’s children with disabilities is now’’ the advocates from the coalition of Texans with Disabilities and Disability Rights Texas wrote in a letter to the texas education Agency and Commissioner Mike Morath.

Asked to comment on the letter, agency spokesman Gene Acuna Said that officials were already working to eliminate the 8-5 percent metric. Changes to the policy should be proposed in the spring. He sadi.

As always, we continue to seek input from stakeholders during this process’’ Acuna Said.

The Texas Education Agency has denied that any child has been harmed by the benchmark.

The threat adds a new dimension to the debate over the benchmark, which already is a topic in the state legislature and the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.

Legal action also could open the door to an effort to obtain compensation for the tens of thousands of students with disabilities who have been denied services due to the benchmark. Federal law requires schools to serve all eligible students with disabilities.

The four-page letter cited a 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation that revealed the policy and the damage is caused.

The chronicle found that officials arbitrarily chose the 8.5 percent target while facing a @ 1.1 billion state budget cut and did not consult lawmakers, the federal government or any research.

Nationwide about 13 percent of students receive some type of special education services such as tutoring, counseling therapy – a percentage that has not significantly changed for years.

In Texas, after the benchmark took effect, the percentage dropped from near the national average down to exactly 8.5 percent. That is the lowest rate in the United States, by far.

More than 100 current and former school employees admitted to the Chronicle that they delayed or denied services to students with disabilities due to the benchmark.

“The children and families of Texas deserve, need, and are legally entitled to better,’’ the advocates wrote in their letter.

The letter also outlined the group’s legal theory.
First, the advocate said, the benchmark was inappropriate because states are allowed to monitor school districts “only as necessary to ensure compliance with federal law’’ Moreover, they argued, the benchmark activity violated the law “because it directs, incentivizes, and has caused school districts to deny enrollment in special education programs to eligible students.’’

The advocates said they would not file the lawsuit if Morath and the agency counter – sign their letter and initiate the process of permanently ending the benchmark within 30 days.

“We genuinely hope and believe such a law suit is unnecessary given our joint interest in making sure the children with disabilities of Texas get the support and services they are legally entitled to receive,’’ the advocates wrote.

13. Tips to make kitchens accessible for the visually impaired (05/2/2017)

The kitchen is an important part of household and should be made accessible for a family member with a visual impairment.
Create a design using high contrast colors and use different colors to separate sections like the countertop and cabinet, sink and taps. This will make them more visible.

Put different labels on food containers. Rubber ands, file cards, or dots on containers can help direct different food items.
Make the appliances more accessible and put braille labels on switches

Some manufactures make talking appliances that are designed for people with low or no vision.
Making sure the kitchen is safe is also important.

14. supreme court tells centre to frame policy to eradicate leprosy (05/2/2017)

Based on the petition by a visually impaired lawyer, the Supreme court has directed the centre to frame a policy to eradicate leprosy. It has asked the government to file the scheme before the court in four weeks.

The petition, filed by lawyer Pankaj Sinha, said that leprosy affected over 1.25 lakh people every year in the country and that people were still suffering from the disease, due to the government’s indifference.

The supreme court expressed concern that people were still suffering from the disease although it was curable and the multi-drug therapy was available in the country since 1981

15. A centre for deaf kids opens in village near Kolkata (05/2/2017)

Muslima Bibi, who live in a village near Kolkata, has two sons with hearing impairments. She had to travel to a centre in Kolkata called Vaani every time for her sons needs.

This was too tiring for her and the kids and she decided to set up a centre for kids with hearing impairments in her village
With the support of vaani, she has now opened a centre in the village. Over 20 kids have joined the centre

The teachers at the centre guide the students and their parents. The success of the centre in a small village is an inspiration for others as well.

16. Blind critic movie review of Raees (05/2/2017)

A Blind perspective:
Raees is a Hindi action drama and crime thriller film directed by Rahu Dholaka

The film stars Shah Rukh Khan as Raees, Mahira Khan as Aasiya, Nawazuddin Siddiqui as IPS Majumdar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Sadiq, Atul Kulkarni as Jairaj and Narendra Jha as Musabhai

During childhood, Raees learns an inspiring lesson about business from his mother – Koi dhandachotanahihotaaurdhande se bada koi dharmnahihota. (No business is small and no religion is bigger than business)

This motivates Raees to meet Jairaj who gives him the job to transport alcohol bottles. After many years of service, now a grown upRaees plans to start his own business in the same field with friend Sadiq.

Raees faces opposition from Jairaj but Musabhai helps him with money to start the business.

Raees becomes rich with the success of his business and gets married to his girlfriend Aasiya. But the twist in the happy story comes in the form of IPS Majumdar whose main aim is to stop raees from his criminal acitvities.

Loss in business makes Raees to take help of Musabhai again but unfortunately Raees gets cheated this time.

Unknowingly, Raees transport RDX to Mumbai that results in a bomb blast killing many people.

The way Raees realizes his mistake and surrenders to Majumdar forms the climax scene of the film.
The film has some action and suspense scenes that a visually impaired person cannot understand easily. Music and songs of the film are ordinary. Raees is a one – time watch for SRK fans and action movie lovers.

A sighted perspective:
In short, the film tells the story of Raees who is born in a poor family. It shows how Raees overcomes poverty and builds a successful business. His hardwork, smart thinking and business skills makes him the single most powerful man in Gujarat.

Awesome acting by Shah Rukh Khan with amazing dialogue delivery. Thanks to the writers of the film for giving worth remembering one liners and dialogues.

Nawazsuddin deserves appreciation for providing comic relief to a serious story. Infact, he had the best dialogues and gave tough competition while sharing screen space with SRK.

Mahira was restricted to songs and a few emotional scenes. Honestly, she wasn’t needed in the film.
Storytelling and songs are average an could have been better.

First half of the film runs little show but the second half is better. Overall, Raees is a one time watch, not a must watch.

17. One seat in every Delhi toilet complex reserved for pwd (05/2/2017)

People with disabilities in Delhi will have one seat reserved for them in every toilet complex in the city. This seat will be designed separately to suit the needs of PWD

There will be a facility for ramps and wheelchairs in the complexes. In the old complexes where construction is not possible, western seats will be installed so that differently abled people can use these.

So far the Delhi government has installed 7,000 toilet seats and wants to add 7000 more before March.

18. Noida temple to install stair –lifts for PWD (05/2/2017)

The Noida Kalibari or Bengali temple will install stair-lifts or chair lifts for the differently abled and senior citizens. This is to enable them to see the idols that are placed on the first floor of the temple.
This is the first temple in the region to install such a facility for the differently abled. The two stair-lifts have been bought from a German firm and will be installed on one side of the temple complex.

The stair-lifts will be used for senior citizens and those who are not physically fit to take the stairs to the first floor.

19. Incorrectly diagnosed sprains can cause disability 04/2/2017

Incorrect diagnoses of common foot and ankle injuries can lead to aliments like arthritis and disability.

Some injuries are often diagnosed as simple sprains. However, there could e a fracture that may go unnoticed.

It is advised that additional imaging and second opinions should be taken by patients. This will ensure that they get proper treatment on time and avoid problems in the future

20. Budget 2017 disappoints people with disabilities (04/2/2017)

Experts and activists working in the filed of disability in India are very disappointed with the fact that Budget 2017 has noting substantial for persons with disabilities.

It makes no mention about improving the lives of people with disabilities. No provisions has been made to set up the infrastructure required to make the country more accessible.
The budget only talks about lifts and escalators in 500 reailway stations. This is not enough and more is required like accessible toilets and PWD friendly tranis.

Despite passing the RPWD 2016 bill and a much publicized Accessible India Campaign, the government has failed to make any real changes for the community in the budget.

21. walking device based on laser could replace the white cane (04/2/2017)

Engineers in Australia have created an electronic device that helps people with vision impairments to walk confidently.

The device has cameras and lasers that detect barriers in the path and alerts the user

The lasers check out the surroundings for barriers or harmful objects in the way and sends an audio and vibration alert.

The makers of the device are hopeful that the device will replace the commonly used white cane as it is safe and easy to use.

22. 14 states to get Unique Disability Identity card 03.2.2017

Fourteen states have been chosen for the launch of phase 1 of unique disability identity (UDID) card project.

Under the project, a card will be given to people with disabilities as a document of identification and verification of disability. This will ensure that people with disabilities do not have to carry multiple documents.

The Government of India has selected 50 cities under the Accessible India Campaign, which includes Chennai and Coimbatore inTamil Nadu.

The campaign will create a more inclusive environment in the country.

23. Monuments in Karnataka to have Braille signage (12/2/2017)

Visually challenged visitors to monuments in Karnataka can now experience it through braille and the touch and feel way.
After the successful implementation of an accessible intiative at Bengaluru’s Tipu palace, there are now plans to take up similar initiatives at other ancient monuments, including Somanathapura in MysureandDariyaDaulat in Srirangapatna.

The authorities will put up signboard in braille explaining the cultural and historical significance of structures at popular monuments. There is easy to walk on pathway that requires no assistance.

Visually challenged visitors can also touch and feel the monument which is not permitted for others. This will not only provide them information, but also gives a sense of involvement.

24. Rules under Disability Act to be framed by March 2017 12/2/2017

The government is likely to frame the rules for the implementation of the Rights of persons with Disabilities Act by March End. This could come into force across the country before 14 April.

The government has asked for suggestions from experts so that all areas are covered by the rules. The Act has raised the number of disabilities from seven to 21. The effort is to ensure that the more difficult disabilities are identified early so that medical facilities can be provided to those affected.

Under the new act, the disability certificate will be valid all over the country

25. Blind Critic movie review of jolly LLB? (12/2/2017)

A blind perspective:
Writer Director Subhash Kapoor yet again packs a punch with his satirical coutroom drama, Jolly LLB2.
Akshay Kumar is simply impressive as Jadaishwar Mishra, a struggling lawyer in Lucknow with his wife Pushpa (Huma Qureshi)
Whilst in his efforts of becoming a famous lawyer, jolly finds himself responsible for the suicide of Hina (Sayani), a pregnant woman desperate to seek justice for her husband Iqbal (ManavKaul) killed in a fake encounter.
Shaken by the guilt of Hina’s death, Jolly begins the fight for justice against the corrupt policemen and crippled judiciary system
The chemistry between Akshaykumar, Saurabh Shukla as Justice Tripathi and Annu Kapoor as advocate Mathur keeps the audience connected throughout the movie.
Sadly, there are numerous occasions where the Visually impaired audience has to depend upon sighted assistance to understand the proceedings.
Especially during the flashback while Jolly studies Iqbal’s case file. Also during the song `Bawara Mann’ when Jolly is shown recovering, after being shot with bullets.

Having been said this, the movie is sheer delight to watch for its realistic plot and well-written dialogues producing moments of hilarious laughter as well as emotional rush.

If you believe in “Satyamev Jayte” jolly LLB 2is difinetely a must watch. Of course, with a sighted uddy!

A sighted perspective:
Jolly LLB 2 is a perfect courtroom drama with lots of entertainment. It is a sensible and daring movie that makes one feel that justice exists even in today’s times.

It is interesting to watch the current Judicial system and its working in the film. The story’s theme that neither we want terrorists nor corrupt police officials have been presented in a beautiful and humorous manner.

Akshay Kumar as Jolly looks real and superb, Annu Kapoor, as lawyer Mathur has acted extremely well in a negative role and Saurabh Shukla’s extraordinary acting as Justice Tripathi is powerful. Honestly, Saurabh Shukla steals the show with his amazing dialogues and funny punchlines.

Huma Qureshi as Jolly’s wife Pushpa is supporting. Huma does’nt have a major role as such in the film but no one could have done the small part better than her.

Director Subhas Kapoor deserves appreciation for keeping most of the scenes realistic. Nothing looks larger than life in the film.

Verdict: Jolly LLB 2 is a must watch for its good social message, excellent direction, tight script, perfect humour timing and best performance by all actors.

26. State human rights commission demands equal rights for PWD (12/2/2017)

The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission has demanded equal rights in government jobs for people with disabilities.
The commission made the statement while hearing a petition about people with disabilities not given jobs by certain departments.
Upon investigation, it was found that although they were hired last year, PWD were being rejected at the final stage without any medical tests.

The commission has asked the administration to conduct proper medical tests at the time of recruitment.

27. Exercise regularly to delay disability in old age 12/2/2017

A new study says that physical activity and exercise can help older adults to delay disabilities or serious health problems.
The research was done on 1,635 adults between the ages of 70 and 89. The participants were divided into two groups. One group was encouraged to exercise regularly like taking 30 minute daily walk, performing balance training and exercise on muscles whereas, the other group attended weekly health workshops.

The research found that people in the daily exercise group experienced a lower level of sever mobility issues than people who attended weekly health workshops.

28. Kolkata youth with disability starts petition on improving rail travel (11/2/2017)

24 years old YashSethiya, who lives in Howrash in west Bengal, has started a petition on change.org asking foe better accessibility for people with disabilities on trains.

Yash decided to start the petition after a terrible train journey to Mumbai. Yash, who was left with permanent parapledgia after an accident, says no facility on the trains is accessible from railway stations to trains and toilets.

He said the bogie for PWD is mostly unclean and not air-conditioned. Stations do not have ramps or lifts either.

Making reservations at ticket booking offices is also a challenge. His petition on change .org. titled proper seats and accessibility for the Differently Abled people inside Trains in India, has requested Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to intervene in addressing the needs of PWD

29.Teaching them to shoot at sight (02/07/2017)

It’s been 11 years and 1,000 blind students. By the end of each workshop, these students learn how to handle a camera and click photographs just like someone who can see. Partho Bhowmick, teaches them the art of blind photography, right from holding a point-and-shoot camera to touching and feeling the texture, and to use auditory and olfactory cues to understand the frame. This initiative brings them a step closer to the rest of the world, who can witness the beauty of things with their own eyes.

A few photographs by Partho’s students
A corporate employee turned photography enthusiast, Partho once read an article in 2004 on EvgenBavar, an accomplished, blind Parisian photographer. Thrilled, he contacted Bavar. “I was profoundly influenced by his work and philosophy. I engaged myself, studying blindness and visual art, and in the process, came in touch with several blind photographers and blind artists from around the world, and people working towards giving new insight to the visually-impaired and their artistic expression,” says Partho. Two years later, in February 2006, he started Blind With Camera, a project to train the visually-impaired in photography, with just one student.

Getting the blind to click photographs was, of course, challenging. “The first challenge was to get the blind to believe that they can take photographs. Initially, there were a few dropouts,” he says. But, with time, that issue was solved.

While some of them use their existing memories to visualise the objects in front of them, for others it is the soothing scent of a flower, the sound of music, or a touch that prompts them to click. “I ask my students what motivates them to click a particular photograph. Some of them are brilliant and can tell me exactly why they’ve clicked it. Their senses are in sync,” says the proud teacher.
He is very careful about the subjects he gives his students. “I never ask a completely blind person to photograph a sunset or a sunrise. No matter how you explain it, it is the warmth of light for them. There isn’t any creativity involved here,” says Partho.

While he empowers the visually-impaired to see through photography, he conducts blindfolded photography workshops for sighted individuals, where an eye mask obstructs their vision. Some of his students become trainers in these workshops.

A decade since inception, Partho now has an e-school for blind photography. He is happy to see his students coming closer to the world, bidding farewell to their disability with something as small as a camera.

30. Pakistan make it six wins in six in Blind World Cup (02/07/2017)

Photo Courtesy: PBCC
KARACHI: An unbeaten half-century by BadarMunir guided Pakistan Blind Cricket Team to a nine-wicket win over South Africa as the Men in Green registered their sixth consecutive win at the T20 Cricket World Cup for the Blind in India on Monday.

Batting first, South Africa were restricted to 100-9 in their allotted 20 overs as Anees Javed took two wickets giving away 15 run, while Munir and Riasat Khan claimed a wicket apiece for 12 and 19 runs respectively.

Pakistan toughest opponent: Indian blind cricket team coach
Tefo Lesley Classen (19), meanwhile, was South Africa’s top scorer.
In reply, Pakistan reached the target in just 5.1 overs as opener Munir scored an unbeaten knock of 60 runs off 20 balls, studded with 10 fours and two sixes, while Muhammad Jamil, who remained unbeaten after scoring 29 off 11 balls with the help of six boundaries, contributed significantly to the team’s total.

Asher Jonathan Hattingh was the only South African bowler to be among the wickets as he claimed the wicket of Anees Javed (two).
“We are really happy with our sixth consecutive win and I am happy that I have been able to perform for the team in every match,” an ecstatic Munir told The Express Tribune. “It is a great achievement for me and the team.”

T20 Blind Cricket World Cup: HYPERLINK

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1311667/t20-blind-cricket-world-cup-munir-stars-pakistan-new-zealand/ – MunirHYPERLINK https://tribune.com.pk/story/1311667/t20-blind-cricket-world-cup-munir-stars-pakistan-new-zealand/ – stars as Pakistan down New Zealand.

Pakistan, with six wins are leading the table with 18 points, followed by India who are second after having lost one out of their seven matches and Munir is hoping his side can maintain their form in the upcoming matches.

“We have three matches left with Bangladesh, West Indies and Australia in the next three days. So we have to stay strong till the end of the tournament and be fully prepared for the next matches,” he said.

Pakistan will face fourth-ranked Bangladesh on Tuesday, seventh ranked West Indies on Wednesday and fifth ranked Australia on Thursday.