Over the next few weeks, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has a rather important task on hand. It will have to respond to a set of suggestions presented by the Disability Rights Alliance–Tamil Nadu (DRA), indicating which of their recommendations will be incorporated into the facility.
Fed up with the rising number of dog bites and the alleged mishandling of situation by the administration , visually challenged students of Jawaharlal Nehru University have threatened to go on a hunger strike from Wednesday night.
The Centre has lauded the efforts of the disability commissioner for his efforts to redress grievances of the disabled in Jharkhand, which has outshone other states in providing justice to a section of society that is often ignored.
A letter dated March 12 from the office of the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities, under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment, hailed Satish Chandra for successful use of “mobile courts” in Jharkhand.
Saturday saw the opening of the city’s first hangout for differently-abled youth, Kalakkal Cafe, on the Vidya Sagar campus in Kotturpuram, a prime locality.
�� Anuradha Shankaran, a teacher at Vidya Sagar, says, “The menus are in braille language for the visually-challenged, text for those who can read and just pictures for those who cannot read. The place is accessible to wheelchairs, and has tactile walls, bathrooms and eating aids.”
The ACT Government is running a three month trial where participants receive a pocket-sized bus hailing kit containing Braille number cards and a plastic sleeve.
It can be used to make a sign showing the number of the bus route the commuter would like to catch, and then held up to signal the driver.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says the system has been used in Canada.
"These have been used overseas to help people with a visual impairment catch a bus, and make sure that they are hailing the actual bus that they want to catch," she said.
Despite all odds, they have been caring for the visually-challenged, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society. This has been the mantra that has kept the ‘Divine Light Trust for the Blind’ going for the last six decades.
Entering the 61st year, this institution was established by Rev Father Abraham. He knew the challenges of being visually-impaired very intimately and hence, wanted to help them. Today, this fully-residential centre caters to the needs of 74 children, with some even living with speech and hearing disabilities.
Nine visually challenged students from Jawaharlal Nehru University called off their indefinite hunger strike on Friday after authorities assured them that immediate steps will be taken to address the stray dog menace on the campus.
They were on strike for the last two days.
According to Sandeep, convenor of JNU visually challenged students' forum, the campus has some 700 stray dogs. Over 20 blind students have been bitten by them in the last two years.
Students with disabilities will hold a protest on Wednesday demanding a more disabled-friendly campus from Delhi University authorities.
A month back they had submitted an application to university authorities regarding safety on roads, said a member of DU cross disabilities association (DUCDA).
“A week ago another reminder was sent but to no effect,” added the member.
The members also carried out a signature campaign where around 700 students showed their solidarity.
A three-month trial of kits for people with vision impairment to signal buses has begun in Canberra.
The kits being used in the trial were supplied from Canada by Ottawa's public transport provider Transpo.
Regional manager Guide Dogs ACT and NSW Beth Helmers has welcomed the trial.
A RISCA man took on a 24-mile wheelchair challenge to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
Martin King, 42, travelled from the Twyn Carn Day Centre in Risca to the Senedd, to raise awareness of the condition.
Mr King is visually impaired and has been using a wheelchair for the past 14 years due to muscular dystrophy.
The father-of-four had trained hard for the challenge over the past five months in his local parks.
Facebook comments