Dreams are also for the visually impaired

Does a person, who could once see and then has lost the gift of sight, still dream? This was one of the many questions that was put forward to Joyce Kane, president of the Southern Connecticut chapter of the National Federation of the Blind by the students of the Blind Boys’ Academy in Kolkata. Kane, who became visually impaired due to high diabetes, was in Kolkata today to visit the Blind Boys’ Academy and to speak at a workshop of the National Association for the Blind (NAB) at the American Center.

Notwithstanding an initial bout of frustration on having lost her vision, Kane chose to lead a ‘‘normal’’ life. Her guide in the journey of her life is her dog, Corey. With Corey guiding every single footstep of hers, Kane is touring India in an effort to, in her own words, ‘‘set an example of what a blind person can do’’.

On her visit to the Academy, Kane interacted freely with the students and patiently answered their queries about the emotions of a person who was not born blind, but had lost her vision. The seminar that she subsequently attended dealt with the issue of Disability Rights.

Among Kane’s plans are the creation of an awareness about the needs of the visually impaired and the need for Disability Rights. ‘‘Disability Rights in the United States has helped me lead a normal life,’’ said Kane.

Using herself as an example, she also plans to educate people about the use of guide dogs. Although India has an estimated 14 million people who are visually impaired, the knowledge and awareness about using guide dogs or any other service animal is still in its nascent stages.

Other speakers at the seminar included Kanchan Gaba, a visually impaired advocate who had been discriminated against and therefore could not follow her dream of pursuing a career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Her speech on Disability Rights in the Indian context, revealed that the most cherished desire of a ‘‘differently abled’’ person was the right to participate in society.