Ensuring intellectually-challenged people's rights: speakers for creating awareness among masses

Speakers at a conference on Wednesday called for creating awareness among the masses to ensure rights of the intellectually challenged people. Speakers also shed light on the negative perceptions held by the general public regarding the capabilities of the intellectually disabled. Emphasis was placed on breaking such social stigmas so that these individuals can also live, work and thrive in a society like ours.
Farhan Khan, Director Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) while addressing the conference titled 'The rights of the intellectually challenged to work' organised by KVTC at a local hotel said that the purpose of organising the event was to create awareness about intellectual disability with a view that persons with disability can be rehabilitated which allows them to secure and retain jobs. He said that there is dire need of spreading sense of awareness about the rights of special persons in the society.
He informed the participants of the conference that for the first time in Pakistan KVTC is introducing a new way for intellectually challenged people to learn some new skills through virtual simulators.
This new mean of training is part of a special project- Inclusive Vocational Education and Training through Technical Simulation Learning Lab (TSLL) which aims at promoting employment opportunities for intellectually challenged people. This model is different in the sense that it aims challenges traditional approaches to vocational training and skill development, he said.
This project is supported by the TVET Reform Support Programme, which is funded by the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Royal Norwegian Embassy and has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for- Economic Co-operation and Development. GIZ is implementing this Programme across Pakistan, he added.
Provincial education minister Nisar Khuhro on this occasion spoke about the role of the government in rehabilitating persons with disability. He said that such conferences should be held every now and then so that people would be able to understand the rights of special persons. He also showed his commitment to play an active role for the rehabilitation of physically and mentally challenged people across the province.
Muhammad Amin of British Council said physically and intellectually challenged people can also play active role for the development of society however he said that the people around them should provide them special importance, respect and care. M. Awais Khan, executive committee member KVTC said that KVTC specialises in rehabilitating and finding gainful employment for the intellectually challenged through vocational training. Over the past 23 years, we have developed a system of individualised training which fits the Pakistani context. The conference was attended by government officials, corporations, philanthropists, special education experts, and people from different walks of life.