KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar held in connection with International White Cane Day emphasised the need for using assistive technology for visually impaired persons, especially for students, in the education sector.

The event was organised by KU’s Inclusive Student’s Society in an effort to highlight the day’s significance and the challenges faced by differently abled persons in the society.

Speaking at the programme, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said there was an urgent need to set up labs for assistive technologies at universities so that special persons and visually impaired students could have access to equal educational opportunities.

“Universities should initiate training at the departmental level to help visually impaired students get the benefit of assistive technology. All visually impaired students of KU as well as students enrolled with KU-affiliated colleges can use special software in examinations that would help them perform without a helper,” he said.

Both public and private sectors needed to raise awareness of the difficulties being faced by visually impaired persons, he added.

The vice chancellor also urged students not to ignore differently abled persons and help them in whatever way they could.

Student affairs adviser Dr Syed Asim Ali said people with disabilities had proved that they were a productive part of society and could play their role in the economic and social development of the country along with other people, provided they were given adequate opportunities.

“Promoting special education in Pakistan and other developing countries is the need of the hour. Education is essential for every child and there is a need to formulate national policies based on this philosophy.”

Later, the speakers blindfolded themselves and participated in a walk to show solidarity with visually impaired people.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2022