The visually impaired is now allow to grow within society

New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor B L Joshi today stressed the need to create an environment to enable the visually impaired to 'grow' in the mainstream of the society.Inaugurating a national conference of the visually challenged women here, he said, ''we have to create an environment, which allowed every visually impaired individual to grow together, realising their similarities while respecting the differences.

The visual disability should not be perceived in terms of just physical loss, he said and added that negative attitudes affect a blind person adversely more than blindness itself.''Social negativism is a real challenge for disability and not physical disability itself.'' Mr Joshi said the challenges faced by visually challenged women were manifold for they had to grapple not only with visual loss and its concomitant prejudices but also with gender bias and poverty.

Majority of the persons with disability could lead a normal life if they had effective access to rehabilitation services, he said and added these services should include early identification, intervention, education, vocational training, employment opportunities and the availability of aids and appliances.

The LG also released a book titled 'Uska Sapna', written by a multi-handicapped woman Dr Rekha Karda, on the occasion, where blind girl students presented a dance performance.The conference was organised by All India Confederation of the Blind as part of its Silver Jubilee Celebrations.