Feature

Resource Centre Beneficiary for the Visually Impaired

Kazi Ahmed Farhan

On June 10, 2007 I along with Tasmia Islam Nion have done a cover story titled “Seeing Through The Inner Eye: Tale Of Some Brave DU Students”. That write up was all about the disabled students who are enrolled in the University of Dhaka. We both went to several boy's and girl's hall and talked with several disabled students there. Many things came out while talking with them. We have highlighted several problems what the disabled students face in their day to day life. Among all types of disabled students, the visually impaired students face some of the most critical problems.

On that cover story, I mentioned the Sight Savers International that came forward with the offer of transforming the normal edition books into Braille edition. Initially they transformed two books per subject into Braille. But this is not enough to solve the problem that the visually impaired students faced in their student life.

Right now, University of Dhaka have 41 students who are visually impaired. They regularly face problems regarding the unavailability of books in Braille. Another one is that the disabled students are not allowed to use the Central Library of University of Dhaka. They need a corner in the Central Library of University of Dhaka so that they can study without any hassle.

Here is the good news!
On August 16, 2007 University of Dhaka has opened a Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired Students. The inauguration session was attended among others by Professor Dr. SMA Faiz, Vice-Chancellor of DU, Professor Dr. AFM Yusuf Haider, Pro-VC of DU, Dr. Syed Abul Kalam Azad, Treasurer of DU, Dr. Caroline Harper OBE, Chief Executive, Sight Savers International, Mr. M. Enamul Kabir, Country Representive of Sight Savers International, and Professor Shamsuddin Ahmed, Advisor of Central Library.

Sight Savers International helped the university authorities in building the Resource Centre at a cost of Tk. 19 million. Initially they have provided 72 Braille edition books, 3 computers, 2 Braille typewriters and a Braille printer for the Resource Centre. Listening materials are also available there. Professor Dr. SMA Faiz promised to provide air condition facility for this centre. Eight students can use the Resource Centre simultaneously.

While talking with Mr. Khandakar Fazlur Rahman, Librarian of the Central Library, he said, “The DU authorities are optimistic about the Resource Centre. The Visually Impaired students will get various benefits from it in the future.”

Several visually impaired students of DU have commented on the role that Resource Centre can play for them. They said, “It is definitely our long time demand. We very much want this facility and want to have access to it. We want to thank the University authorities and the Sight Savers International for doing such a beneficiary work for the Visually Impaired.”

(MBA 8th batch Department of Marketing, DU)