Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi (KU) has said that due to fundamental obstacles disabled persons have never been accepted as normal and vital segment of the society.
He was speaking at inaugural session of daylong conference on the occasion of International day for disabled persons, which was held at Arts auditorium of Karachi University. The conference was organised by the Department of Special Education here on Monday. The theme of moot was "The opportunities of decent work for persons with disabilities in Pakistan, achievements and challenges."
Dr Pirzada Qasim presided over the occasion while other key speakers include Shuja'at Ali Baig, Minister for Education, Abdul Hameed, Naseeruddin, Ismail Saad, Khalid Naeem, Mansab Hussain Siddiqui, Anjum Bano Kazimi, Zeenat Ismail, Mehmood Awan, Shahida Sajjad, Rubina Jamil, Nooruddin Bhawani, Saira Saleem, Qazi Fazlay Aleem, Shireen Dossani and Nighat Iftikhar.
Pirzada said that the attitude of society with disabled persons has always been a question mark, hence cognitive dissonance creates in their minds, which causes psychological disabilities among them.
He urged society to change their mindsets, which would pave the way to change the current scenario in favour of disabled persons. The society should avail those opportunities which have potential to do something better for disabled persons, he added. He said that if our society would change their mindsets, it would help in providing better living conditions for disabled persons.
He expressed that the annual observances of the International Day of disabled persons with the aim to spread awareness about disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities.
He said that conference was a step forward in facilitating and providing a platform for special education and rehabilitation professionals to join hands together and work for the integration of persons with disabilities in society.
He further said that university was yet not facilitating special students in their studies including special seats and lifts arrangements for them. He said that keeping this view, he held a meeting with construction consultants and discussed into the matter and apprised that all these amenities would be provided in new constructed departments.
Dr Abdul Hameed, Chairman Department of Special Education, University of Punjab said that no efforts had been made to calculate job opportunities for disabled persons in Pakistan on a scientific basis.
He apprised that some local studies had indicated that a huge disparity exists between employment opportunities offered to persons with and without disabilities besides depriving labour rights, jobs security and social protection.
This segment of a society is vulnerable in all types of coercion especially in employment opportunities, he urged and pointed out the rising need to address economic marginalisation at all level by using all possible means.
Dr Anjum Bano Kazimi said that study had been designed to investigate the problems faced in rehabilitation process of blinds and partially sighted persons in the society.
She said that blind people were facing derogatory remarks and attitude problems from employers and colleagues, however, there is a legislative support of two-percent quota in employment for them.
Despite that legislative support employers feel that they are not well equipped to take work from blind people and they prefer to pay same amount as charity instead of give jobs to them, she apprised.
Nighat Iftikhar (a lady with short stature) said that she was still facing problems from a full inclusion in mainstream. A major problem is a stereotypic attitude of a society towards a person with disability.
She lamented on the role of education institute and said that these institutes have nothing to do for them in term of their policies, methodologies, support and guidance. Moreover, people with disabilities in general and adult in specific are facing an enormous challenges to achieve a decent life, she added. An immense participation from different fields and students from several departments were witnessed on this occasion.