Give me your eyes
by Panchanmee Hewavissenti
Eyes is an important organ in our body. We normal people don't know
the real value of it, because we are often blessed with a good pair of
eyes. We don't realise the importance of taking much care of our eyes.
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At a press conference held at the Galle Face Hotel to mark
International White Cane Day. Pic Saliya Rupasinghe |
To be blessed with good sight is a great blessing afterall. As
Charles De Lint "The few wonders of the world only exist while there are
those with the sight to see them."
Visually handicapped people are part of our society. This world is
not only for those who can see, but also for those who can't. The
beauty, the succulence of nature is also for those who can't see.
Do you know that the visually handicapped can feel the beauty and
exuberance of this world more than normal people? They have a higher,
sharper and accurate instinct than others.
Since they're deprived of the sense of vision, their other senses are
highly developed. Senses such as touch, smell, hearing are comparatively
sharper than in those who are not handicapped. Therefore these visually
handicapped people exhibit excellent talent in so many fields such as
music and dancing. They show excellence in education, problem solving
and they're also more creative.
Merely because they are visually handicapped, they cannot be cast off
by society. They are also human beings with the same rights. They're not
distinguished in the law.
They have the right to do whatever beneficial things they wish to.
They can talk, play, sing, study and also have the right to get together
and establish federations. They are mobilised.
The Sri Lanka Federation of Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) which is the
pioneer and premier national self-help organisation of the visually
handicapped community in this country was first incepted in 1974.
SLFVH is marking International White Cane Day for the 34th
consecutive time this year. The White Cane was innovated and introduced
by Dr. Richard Hoover in 1920s.
The person with a White Cane symbolises that the person is visually
handicapped and he needs more attention. White Cane assists its user to
clear a safe path ahead by diagonally tapping a cane in a half circle.
It also assists to identify the surface on which the user is walking,
if hard or soft, rough or smooth. Further by tapping the cane on
adjacent or adjoining structures or surfaces, such as walls and trees,
the user is able to get an idea of his bearings and directions. The
White Cane aids visually handicapped cross the street through the
traffic. White is sufficiently visible to a motorist. This is the reason
behind painting the cane in white.
The White Cane was first introduced in Sri Lanka in 1957 by a student
of the School of Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana. International White Cane
Day was first proclaimed in Sri Lanka in 1969 at the second convention
of the International Federation of the Blind.
On marking the International White Cane Day, an awareness meeting
will be held at the Public Library at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, October 19
and that is to be preceeded by a "White Cane Walk" commencing from
opposite the Open Air Theatre at Viharamahadevi Park at 2.30 p.m. White
canes and white umbrellas are to be given away to the participants.
Financial assistance will be given to some selected members.
The entire event is being sponsored by Chevron Lubricants Pvt. Ltd.
The first Lady Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa will be the chief guest at the
ceremony.
President Rajapaksa in his message for International White Cane Day
said that all handicapped should receive their due place in society and
they should be given special privileges.
He also says that the government is bound to confer equity for those
visually handicapped, get them involved in the country's development
process and through that pave the way for the visually handicapped to
live as respectable people.
Chevron Lubricants Lanka is working hand in hand with VLFVH to mark
International White Cane Day in Sri Lanka. The CEO of Chevron Lubricants
Lanka Pvt. Ltd. Kishu Gomez said at a press conference held recently,
"We will once again join the VLFVH to commemorate International White
Cane Day. Through this project we aim at creating awareness among the
general public encouraging greater assistance to support the activities
and endeavours of this special group of people".
Chevron Sri Lanka has also supported the Sri Lanka Council of
Visually Handicapped Graduates with the completion and expansion of
their facilities and office complex in Colombo.
The time has come to give the Visually Handicapped their due place in
society. We, those who're blessed with vision should be more alert to
those who cannot see. The time has come for all of us to come forward
and help the blind without marginalising them.
Small things make a big difference. So, let us do small things for a
blind person like holding his hand and helping him cross the road.
Let's offer our seat to a blind person when we go in a bus. Let's
help them in the market. Let's stop casting sympathetic glances at them.
They need our support. 'This is not my responsibility alone but yours
too. It is a collective responsible as a society.'
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