Through education visually impaired overcome myths
Written by Chang on Friday, October 10th, 2008
Through education visually impaired overcome myths
Agnes Winarti , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta
LISTEN TO THE ALPHABET: A blind man practices typing accuracy without using a monitor. He is listening to the alphabet through headphone. (JP/Agnes Winarti)LISTEN TO THE ALPHABET: A blind man practices typing accuracy without using a monitor. He is listening to the alphabet through headphone. (JP/Agnes Winarti)
After more than 17 years of providing comprehensive educational services for the sightless, the Mitra Netra (Blind Partner) Foundation is still struggling to break stigmas and myths about the handicap.
“From then (17 years ago) now, people still believe that blind people can only work as masseurs. Nothing else,” Aria Indrawati, public relations officer of the nongovernmental Mitra Netra Foundation, told The Jakarta Post.
“Through a qualified education and an improved support system, such as access to books, information technology’s and advocacy, blind people are socially and mentally ready for work in various fields,” said Aria, who has had poor vision since the age of two.
Since its establishment in 1991, the foundation has been providing educational services to almost 600 visually impaired people, 50 of whom currently work in a range of professional fields including as training instructors, counselors, journalists, writers, banking customer service officers, marketing officers, phone operators and entrepreneurs.
“Although only a handful, they have proved that blind people can work independently and productively given adequate support,” Aria said. Aria graduated from the law faculty at a private university in Semarang, Central Java.
Rosa Mery is only 22 and has lost most of her vision to glaucoma.
“It is like I am charging my spirit every time I come here for my computer course because I meet more severely blind people who still can do useful things here,” Rosa said.
“If they can, I can too.”
The instructors at the foundation, also visually impaired, teach computer skills, Braille reading and writing, and the special subject of daily activity skills for the blind called orientation and mobilization.
“I want to go on with my study. I don’t want to become a drop out,” said Rosa, who is now in her fifth semester of study as a German literature major at the University of Indonesia. When she lost her vision during her first year of senior high school, Rosa admitted she stopped studying.
“At first, I was embarrassed because I had to study at the same level as my younger sister at school, but my parents lit up my spirit,” Rosa said.
Aria said that today parents were better informed than in the past, but problems still remain.
“There are many even in major cities like Jakarta who still perceive having a blind child as shameful or bad karma. These parents hide their children at home,” Aria said.
She cited National Education Ministry data from 2000 that showed only 5 percent of blind school-age children nationwide were actually enrolled in school.
“Where are the remaining 95 percent?” she said.
Aria said about three or four years ago the foundation discovered a 21-year-old blind person living in Pamulang, South Jakarta, who had never been to school.
“Some blind children are kept at home for their entire lives,” said Aria. Often parents who lack information about blindness tend to focus on the medical aspects of the handicap without knowing the education possibilities available for their children.
“Thus, the secondary disabilities, in terms of the child’s physical, mental and social handicaps, become more severe than the blindness itself,” she said.
According to Aria, blind people who have no other disabilities can be very productive.
“Families need to get their blind children out of the home and expose them to education, no matter how old they are,” she said.
Blind children of school age can learn basic skills in orientation and mobilization as well as Braille at the special school for the blind, SLB-A, on Jl. Pertanian Raya, South Jakarta or at the foundation itself. Visually impaired adults can go to rehabilitation centers in Cawang, East Jakarta, and Tan Miyat, Bekasi, to learn lessons in skills for life.
“Those who suffer blindness and do not have multiple disabilities are better to study at public schools so that they can interact with normal children. It is better for their mental and social growth,” Aria said.
Cucu Nuraeni, vice principal at the special school for the blind SLB-A, Pembina Tingkat Nasional, said, “Some parents refuse to have their children transferred to regular schools because they are worried they will be teased by normal students.”
Aria cited the Health Ministry’s 1996 estimation data that blind people consisted of 1.5 percent of the country’s population, while the World Health Organization found the numbers of people with low vision are estimated to be three times that of blind people.
The foundation, located on Jl. Gunung Balong II No. 58 Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, currently provides educational services to 25 blind students in 14 private and state-owned universities around Jakarta. These include the National University, the Jakarta Public University, the University of Indonesia, the Catholic University of Atma Jaya, Muhammadiyah University, Hamka University and Trisakti University.
Some 100 students in 70 public and private elementary, junior and senior level schools in Greater Jakarta currently also receive the foundation’s free services.
The services at the foundation’s resource center include a library of talking and Braille books library, academic tutorials, orientation and mobilization training, Braille writing and reading training, computer training, advocacy and counseling.
Aria said empowering the blind must be comprehensively encouraged through counseling and advocacy from an early age in schools to prepare them for entering the labor market.
“We need government policy supporting all of those (goals),” Aria said.
