JEDDAH, 9 May 2005 — Blind students demonstrated their capabilities and independence during a university event marking the introduction of white canes that are increasing the students’ mobility.
Last week at the King Abdul Aziz University White Cane Day Festival, blind students presented a program about their achievements, their dreams and the daily struggles they face — ironically more because of societal attitudes than their visual impairment. The event was held in cooperation with the university’s Student Affairs and Activities and the Saudi Scientific Club.
“They worked on the program themselves for two weeks and did everything with the help of student volunteers and members of the Saudi Scientific Club,” said Ahlam Mufti, director of KAAU’s Special Needs Office.
From a dramatic presentation called “The Sweetness of Dreams and the Bitterness of Reality” to poetry and a demonstration of cane use, the blind students took pride in the event, which was staged to spread awareness about newly adopted white canes that help blind people get around and also identify them to motorists and other passersby.
The Special Needs Office was established a year ago to assist handicapped students with integration into campus life, providing a variety of tools, such as canes, wheelchairs, Braille references and a new reading machine for typing that replaces older Braille machines.
“I have 20 blind students now who come to the office as well as eight physically handicapped students,” Mufti told Arab News. “They spend most of their time here assisted by volunteers in studying and socializing.” The canes give the students new mobility.
“Having the cane is great,” said student Nadia Al-Garni. “It made me more independent. I don’t have to rely on a student volunteer to walk me to my destination. The volunteers are very nice and helpful, but this is better.”
Some blind students say the curriculum choices should be expanded. “We have to study either Arabic, Islamic studies or history,” said Amal Al-Ghamdi, a blind student who has been transcribing the university magazine Nawafith, or Windows, into Braille.
So far only two students have been granted special permission to study in other fields. Sahar Al-Hamrani is majoring in business administration, and Somayya Al-Najashi is majoring in psychology.
