Far away there in the sunshine
are my highest aspiration. . I may not reach them, but I can look up and see
their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
I wonder sometimes that am I
blind or the vision people talk about in my surrounding, they are blind? Or is
this me who can’t see? That is why I call it “Beyond Our vision".
Yes I am representing the community, which is mostly, shun by
our society, and ware a stigma or lable “Disable”.
I sometimes wonder who is more courageous? People who can see
and take their step, go where ever they want to, or those people who want to go
but with close eyes?
I bet if I say any of you to just leave your own room and go
out side you will be scared. Think
twice and its easy to laugh at others but hard to listen laughter behind your
back.
I don’t say or even think that
the ambiance of our society will change abruptly but I have no answer when?
Where? How? Or are we ready to to say ourselves let’s do it right now?
This is Saima Yousaf from
Pakistan, I am a visually impaired person my self. I am giving computer training
to blind/visually impaired people in one of the rehabilitation center near by.
My struggle started five years
back when I first got the software “Jaws, a screen reader” That time I had
no idea that I can ever use computer on my own because I even don’t know how to go into start menu
Now I am the first blind/visually impaired person who
created the website in Pakistan, I have made the tutorials for HTMl for blind
community so they can make their own website, I have completed several courses
from the Hadley school for the blinds such as, “Word processor, Basics of
computers, basic conversation in Spanish, Save without sight, Personal
psychology, etc and I
also created an audio magazine where sighted and blind community work together
from all over the world, and the audience have no idea that who is blind or
sighted.
It’s all because of Mighty
Allah who has given me this opertunity, strength to carry on and keep my blind
faiths alive otherwise I would not
Then been or now be able to
accomplish anything. Even Though I heard many times, from blind and sighted
persons what difference can you make by doing all these things?
My dream is still alive. my aim
is to run the first “ATI”(Accessible technology institute) in Pakistan.
Where blind/visually impaired people can get free and appropriate training and
can find their nitch as a computer trainer or a software engineer. The Computer
is the tool which can make a blind person feel independent and enable him or her
to gain and pass knowledge to others and provide
Entertainment for him or herself.
My reasons for writing this article are; to pass on
information,
to promote awareness in society
that a blind or visually impaired person can help themselves and other
handicapped individuals and that handicapped
People can and do maintain a
positive attitude in every facet of their lives.
Lets try to alleviate each
other's pain and suffering. We must not allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity
and we must not think that our efforts are too
Little to be effective. This is
the irony and hope is the key of success, which is inevitable.
One Note is:
"Your talent is God's gift
to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God."
So what ever you can do to make
this dream come true join my hands and try to see what is beyond our Vision”?
One great lady said:
"I am only one; but still I
am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse
to do something I can do."
-Helen Keller
If you like to write me then:
Or
Guidingstars2007@gmail.com
My homepage is:
Artical related comments.!!!
Saima, what an inspiring story, thank you. you are a woman with much inner strength as well as love, compassion and much concern for your fellow man/woman.
i admire you greatly for your achievements in this life, as well as your strength, intelligence and kindness. i don't say this lightly, but with all sincerity.
May Allah continue to shine his light upon you in all that you do.
By Cheryl
2 from Mikey:
That was a great article, Saima. Smiles