Vedant Hingu's Blind Walk for his school project

Vedant Hingu (Grade 6 of Lancers School) had to do a social connect project at school. His mother got in touch with us and they decided to do a Blind Walk.

The Blind Walk was done at a club in Gurgaon and at the INA Metro Station, Delhi.

Here is his experience, in his own words: 
I conducted a blind walk at INA station on 11 September 2019. I was unsure of asking people to participate but I still tried. Some people asked me why am I doing this and some wanted to know if I want donation. When I told them that this activity is to create awareness about making people spaces available and safe for blind, they were still not very convinced. But once they did the walk (where they had to close their eyes and use only the cane for help)- they realised what I meant. I showed them what the tactile tiles are meant for. I pointed out how people had kept their luggage on the tactile tiles - blocking the way of the blind.  5 people did the blind walk today and I was happy that they realised how important it is. I wish more people would participate and help the blind

Explaining what the Blind Walk is about to the staff at the Club

Experiencing a Blind Walk 

At the INA Metro Station

Explaining why a Blind Walk is necessary to create inclusive citizens

And he has everyone's attention 

How to make it a more inclusive world: Guest Post by Tapas Bhardwaj

 

•            Please ensure that no one around you keep their belongings on the tactile paths which are made for the movement of persons with visual disabilities, it creates inaccessibility. You all can contribute in making a path free of obstruction so that an easy movement of a person with visual disability can be made sure.

 

•            Some people while cleaning their houses or galleries leave the water on the floors, which can be a hurdle to any person. The consequences can be worse if a person using a wheel chair approaches, then the wheel chair user can slide and fall down. It is advised that the water should be properly wiped off.

 

•            I have often observed, the garbage bins are kept on the staircase of the apartment so that the sweeper can come and pick it up. However, it should be given to the sweeper only when he comes. The garbage bin if left on the staircase, can be a reason of falling of a person with visual disability as he can bang into that bin and fall down.

 

 

•            At times, some people spit or scratch the dots of the Braille signage provided on the elevators thinking that it is some fancy design. The dots at times get displaced causing inaccessibility.

Advise anyone whom you see doing such a thing, to not to do so as it also gives a wrong image of that particular public place in the eyes of visitors also!

•            The Government has provided auditory signals in metros and is in a process to provide these signals in buses so that persons with visual disabilities can get to know about the station they have reached.

However, at times the people talk so loudly in public transport, that the people are unable to here the announcement which creates a problem in navigating the station. Try to talk in a low tone the next time you travel, it also helps in saving your energy.

•            Auditory signals have also been provided on the red lights for crossing of the roads for the persons with visual disabilities. The use of the horns often hides the sound of these signals thus creating inaccessibility. While driving your vehicle, try to use the horn to its minimum level.

•            People can also contribute in providing accessibility to the persons with disabilities by participating in short courses like learning the basic of the sign language so that they can communicate with the people who are hard of hearing.

•            People also need to come forward and design special programs in their community for the persons having intellectual disabilities.

•            Persons with disabilities should be made part of the resident welfare associations in colonies so that the problems and the challenges that they face in their day today lives can be resolved as these associations interact with the Governments as well. The contribution of both the people and the Government can only lead to a dream of Viksit Bharat come true and the rights of persons with disabilities act 2016 properly implemented. There should be a communication, cooperation and contribution by both the public and the Government for making an accessible India which can become a role model country for the persons with disabilities of the entire world.

 

About the Author:

Tapas Bhardwaj

Tapas Bhardwaj is a student of Amity Law School Delhi. He has been the Head Boy of Delhi Public School RK Puram. He has been the recipient of the NTSE scholarship provided by the Government of India. He has been the recipient of national levels awards provided to him by the Home Ministry Government of India, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change Government of India and many others. Tapas feels that persons with disabilities requires platform to showcase their abilities. The ability if utilized properly can help any person to live his life with dignity respect and a sense of happiness. Tapas has authored several columns that have published in DailyO, Newzhook, ED Times, AB EDU news etc.

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Tapas Bhardwaj (BA LLB Honours)

Amity Law School Delhi

Contact Number :+919958313047

Lead The Rest Through Read Fest!

As the doors opened for the Read Fest to be held at School of Inspired Leadership, we could see a plethora of eager volunteers gearing up for the same!
As the flurry picked pace, the excitement grew paramount with participants enquiring for the same, curiosity & inquisitiveness pretty evident from their expressions!

"So.. What's This About? Can You Brief Us?" 

                                                                                      - Anudeep, Student SOIL

The Esha Volunteers left no stone unturned be it through providing information to students or motivating them to record.

Needless to say, the students were very excited & eager to help.
Help implied they had to miss classes & record audio content for Esha..

"We want to help! But we have classes till 6:15! How to go about it?"

                                                                                                - Analytics Student, SOIL

It seemed like an uphill task to convince them to stay back after classes.
The time had come to enlighten the students on how just 10-20 minutes of their time could help a Blind person in understanding & interpreting the world he lives in, in a better way.

The Esha Volunteers did succeed in getting recordings in languages ranging from Tamil to Bengali.
The mission resonated well with the students & they could well understand the impact this was creating on the society they live in..

" Yes, it did take time. Yet, I feel like I've done something of greater value today!" 

                                                                                                   - Marketing Student, SOIL

The Impact could be felt in the conviction & tenacity the Participants showed despite the fact that there were multiple takes at recording owing to technical glitches & noise disturbances.

" We thank you with all our heart & soul. You guys have done a great job!"

                                                                                            - Shivangi Sharma, Volunteer Esha

 

                     In Picture: Two Students supporting Esha in Audio Recordings in Bengali & Oriya at Read Fest

The Experience was enriching & provided lots of learning to both SOIL Students as also Esha Volunteers.

The Impact could be felt, somewhere in between the softened mumbles of students & the sighs of the Volunteers....

TSRS Visit to NAB Center for Women

Working with children is always super special to us. Because when we create inclusive children, we are creating an inclusive future.

Which is why, the program where we take The Sri Ram Students of Grade 7 to a blind school, is among our favorite programs. 30 students enter that school, and 30 inclusive children exit. Their faces are so different when they come out..

This year also, the teams came one section at a time, and were left in awe as they understood how we use mobile phones, computers, chop vegetables, cook on fire, serve on plates, eat food independently, use libraries and resource centers, and use special aids to do everything else.

This year also, the students had a lot of immersive pre experiences. Every class did something to prepare for the visit. The children prepared songs that they wanted to sing at the school, some of them made beautiful bracelets and earrings and canvas pouches. It was soooo good to see them hand over things that they had made themselves..

The visit typically lasts 90 minutes, and is an experience of a lifetime - for everyone - the teachers, the students and us. Every single time, every single year.




Till next year, then!

Travelogues from a Wheelchair

So, I am wheelchair bound -inside and outside the house, for at least 3 weeks, owing to a very severe ligament tear.

I could have sat at home and moped about it. (But as you already know, I'm not v good at that). OR, I cld just be my father's daughter. So I decided to do the latter, and explore the world, on a wheelchair.

I m going to chronicle my adventures here, as I move into totally unknown territory. Why? Because I hope, somewhere, that it leads to a more inclusive world. For all of us.

Day 1: I decided to take my son to both his classes. Got the wheelchair out of the house, and into the elevator.
Challenge - elevator door autocloses before the wheelchair can be wheeled in. Solution: My son holds the elevator switch to prevent the wheelchair getting squished.
Problem: The elevator is too small to turn the wheelchair around. Solution: Either I reverse the wheelchair straight out of a narrow lift, or I take help. Fortunately, family and the driver refuse to leave me alone.
Problem: How does the wheelchair go from the porch to the road (a height of about 4 inches) and back?
Solution: The guard helps carry the front wheels both times. Out of kindness. He is not obliged to do this.

I get into the car with relative ease, hopping on one leg and getting in. Once there, I put the injured leg horizontal, as decreed by the doctor.

At the training institute,  I stay inside the car. For an hour.

At the other class, I request them to open the door that has a cemented floor leading to the waiting area, and hop the entire distance on one leg.

Day 2: I decide to go shopping. This time, the wheelchair is added to the car. At the supermarket, I get off and someone has to help me with the wheelchair going up the ramp - its a 30 degree incline and I am too heavy to pull the chair myself.

At the entrance, they have to open the other door to let the  wheelchair through. This is done with no fuss at all. Inside, they assign a shopping assistant , since I can neither use a basket nor a trolley (I might be able to figure this out in a while). We are done with the shopping list in about 5 minutes. People look at me strangely. The shopping assisstant is efficient and quick. The billing counter queue is short and we are out of there in 7 to 8 minutes flat. I try to bring the chair down from the ramp on my own, and drop the purse and phone in the process. The driver refuses to let me try anything more adventurous on a downhill slope, and quietly steers the chair down that ramp. We reach home with no new lessons to learn.