The two New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers Wednesday stressed the need to provide quality education, equal opportunities to special children, enabling them to play their due role in society. During a visit to Special Education Centre for 'hearing impaired children', they said that special children should be given equal opportunities besides providing all opportunities to them in order to develop leadership qualities.
The NYPD officers also participated in a netball match, a new sport for most Americans and also took part in a cricket match alongside the schools' male students. Speaking on the occasion, Detective Elvis Vukelj NYPD officers said that this is his first visit to Pakistan and the time he spent with special children, is one of the good experiences of his ongoing visit.
He said that in New York, police officers have been asked to conduct visit of special education centre to get knowledge about communication methods or regarding sign for deaf children. He said that in New York, his colleagues and he had organised summer camps and sporting activities and played alongside the youth to bridge the gap between the community and the police. He said that the sport activities can help both American and Pakistani police to engage constructively with young women and men in our communities and help them developing leadership and teamwork skills.
US Embassy Counsellor for Public Affairs Christina Tomlinson said that the visiting NYPD officers -Lieutenant Adeel Rana and Vukelj - are members of one of the most diverse police forces in the world. In their job they build bridges between their colleagues in the New York City police department and the various communities they serve, she said, adding they are in Pakistan to share their experience with communities facing similar policing challenges. To a question about other programmes, she said that in May 2014, the US Department of State funded an International Visitor Leadership Program focusing on disability rights and issues. "Participants in the two-week project focused on advocacy, legislation, programs, and activities to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Through site visits and hands-on activities, visitors experienced programs and pursuits that enhance and enrich the lives of people with disabilities", said Tomlinson.
She said that we would sponsor another international visitor leadership program in spring 2016 focusing on enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. "This programme will examine the challenges and successes experienced in the United States under the Americans with Disabilities Act", she said.
Miraj Gul, Director Special Education Centre, said that at present, over 550 deaf students are getting academic and vocational education at the centre. The centre also provides sport programmes to students to encourage team building among them, he said. The visiting police also met their police counterparts and representatives of various youth organisations.
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