A host of visually-impaired students are trying hard to pursue secondary or higher education in the country, with steely determination, to defeat the darkness and brighten their future.
However, they need help of their families, friends and educational institutions to overcome the learning barriers. Preeti Kannan and Suzan Saleem provide an insight into the various aspects of their challenges in this special report.
There are several visually-challenged students, Emiratis and expatriates, studying or trying hard to pursue a secondary or higher education in the UAE. These students rely on audio books, Braille, softwares on their laptops or just families and friends to realise their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs, HR personnel and even journalists.
Visually-impaired students try extremely hard to overcome the hurdles. However, the biggest challenge they face is in getting admissions to regular universities or schools that are simply not equipped to support and teach students with visual disabilities.
Students allege they are rejected because colleges cite inability to cater to their special needs or sometimes cautiously admit them on ‘test trial basis’. This brings to the fore the core issue faced by institutes and schools in including students in regular classrooms, programmes and campus life.
Even if in rare cases they are admitted, the student and the professor are left alone to “figure out” a method to overcome the learning barriers. As helpful as this maybe, it is in fact a “pirate system” and students say cannot compare to a professionally developed support system.
According to pupils, some of the best and reputed schools and universities in the country are unable to accommodate them because they do not have well-trained or special educators, besides support materials. Some students say it is also a lack of determination on the part of the colleges to take blind students or other special needs students under their wing.
However, many universities, colleges and schools are aware of the present scenario and are now trying to make efforts to equip themselves with the necessary technology and staff. Importantly, they are also trying to bring in a change in mindsets and perceptions to help these students.
Officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research are aware of the problems the visually-impaired students are facing and are trying to bring in changes that will help integrate these students into the mainstream. They strongly believe that the society has a major role in helping these students.
Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, told Khaleej Times he was aware of the issue and that many of these students had excelled in academics. He said the physically challenged were not any less able than other people.
Shaikh Nahyan said, “We have them in UAE University. We have made special arrangements, which is a sign of advancement. It is the duty of every society to take care of its people and we need to be open. Each one of us can be of assistance to the disabled and special needs people. And in our institution we do abide by assistance and education to take care of them. They aren’t less able than others and they can perform well.”
At present, UAE University in Al Ain provides higher education to local students, with different disabilities including visual, in different streams, while Tamkeen, a non-profit centre, provides professional vocational training for only visually-impaired students, expatriates and locals, and prepares them for employment. It also helps in recruitment and placement of students in various organisations.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) which supervises private and public schools in the UAE, recently announced it would move nearly 100 Emirati students, with at least 11 different disabilities, from various special centres to public schools across the UAE in the next academic year. Of these, many are pupils with low or impaired vision.
Officials say for the first time, students suffering from low vision are being recognised in the special needs category. In fact, public schools will also have a new set of standards for identification and placement of students with special needs and ensure they are equipped to handle and serve them, beginning next year.
Dr Ayesha Al Jalahama, Acting Director of the Department of Special Education in the MOE, told Khaleej Times earlier this month, “All students need to be given the right to education. Each child needs to be thoroughly evaluated and with the parents we plan for educational placements that meet the individual needs. We are looking at students who are ready to come from centres into our schools. We are working with the centres closely and are also bringing about awareness in the community that children need to be in schools with their non-disabled peers.”
This, parents and students, see as a ray of hope, though many hope that the standards would include private schools, too, which at present decline to admit students for the same reason.
Challenges and hurdles
Khalfan bin Baher, First Year Business student, American University in Dubai
Khalfan, an Emirati student, is a member of the Royal Institute of Blind in the UK and a frequent participant in international conferences for visual impairment around the world, such as Australia and the United Kingdom. Khalfan’s repeated attempts at not letting his disability get in the way of his education, has finally paid off.
“It took me two years to get into the American University of Dubai. When I first approached them in 2006, they told me I was eligible academically but they weren’t sure on how to deal with my disability. I relentlessly pursued them until they finally agreed to have me sit for an English language test which I cleared,” said Khalfan.
After his friend, Ahmed won a scholarship from the government for AUD in 2007 and was enrolled in their Business programme, Khalfan approached them again and this time they accepted him.
Khalfan observed that in the United States, blind students had the latest technology but over here students still use Perkins, a device which converts normal text to Braille but cannot be used in class since it was very noisy.
He suggests simple steps like providing blind students with handouts given in class in PDF or word format so that laptops could read them, enabling blind students to be more aware of what goes on in class.
Dana Nashawati, First Year Major in Human Resources, Canadian University in Dubai (CUD)
A Syrian expat, she was rejected by two universities before finally being accepted this year by the Canadian University. Dana also works part time in Emirates airline in customer service staff.
“I first contacted the American University of Sharjah and explained my disability, they rejected me saying their professors and facilities were not equipped for my impairment. I confess I felt anger and disappointment. I felt that to them my disability defined me and none of my accomplishments mattered — a girl with a job in Emirates airline and a really good academic record.”
Recalling her experience with the other university, she said, “I applied to Middlesex who were happy to have me. I registered, after which they approached me and said it was not working out.”
They said they were unable to provide her with the audio books as promised. “I replied I didn’t need any audio books. I could take the normal books and convert them to Braille at my expense but they refused because of ‘copyright’ reasons. Almost losing hope, I went to the Canadian University and I told them all I needed was for them to accept me, to give me a chance.”
The college took her on a trial basis to see how she would cope on a campus that was not friendly for the visually-impaired.
She now attends evening classes and records all her lessons. On weekends, she listens to the audio tapes. During exams, a professor or a student acts as a scribe for her and gives her extra time if needed.
A determined Dana stressed, “I feel that I had to fight and struggle to receive education which is my right.”
Laleh Haghparast, Special Needs Student Counsellor at CUD, said, “Dana Nashawati is a highly functioning young lady with great self confidence and determination. She finished this semester with a GPA of 3.17 out of 4. We are also now testing out the new Eye Pal camera which can read books and even blackboards for Dana in order to equip and assist her with the best technology.”
Dana thinks the problems they face exist because of the lack of social awareness. “At my college I get a lot of pity from students. However, I ask, ‘I have a full time job, I am financially independent, are you?’” According to her, society fails to understand that even if they are visually-challenged, they are capable of working and learning as any non-disabled person. “We don’t need protection, we need empowerment,” said Dana.
Mohammed Al Ghafly, First Year Media student in the University of Sharjah
A 22-year-old Emirati student, Mohammed is an aspiring student hoping to get into the media after his education. He said, “The University of Sharjah provides me with a scribe and even extra exam time when I require it. I am currently studying media and I hope to become a journalist some day. Regardless of what most people think, with the latest technology for the blind like the note-taker, I can pursue a career in journalism. Perhaps, I cannot concentrate on the television, but I can focus on radio or print journalism where my disability doesn’t restrict me. However, a lot of the technology available is very expensive and not everyone can afford it.”
He went to Tamkeen in 2006 where the English language and computer courses helped him master the subjects. “I still go there every Thursday and attend meetings with other visually-impaired friends. While seeking education here in the UAE some of my disabled friends have gone through negative experiences and some have not. It really depends on the university you attend and the support they provide you with,” he said.
Middlesex University in Dubai, which has been approached by special needs students, conceded they didn’t have disability support unit so far. However, they said they would like to accept them in the future when they have the right facilities.
An official from the college, who didn’t want to be named, said, “The university is still not ready as resources to support such cases are not available. If we develop our support facilities we don’t mind accepting them but at this stage we are not able to support.”
They extend the helping hand
Tamkeen
About 200 students, expatriates and nationals, study at Tamkeen, which offers courses like mobility training, computer and English language courses for visually-impaired students. It also helps students find employment.
Ahmed Al Mulla, Head of Community Relations at Tamkeen, said, “Many of the problems or barriers visually-impaired students face at colleges is because the latter is not fully aware of the university, federal and copyright policies concerning disabled students.”
He added, “Sometimes certain employees of universities are unaware of university policies regarding the admission of disabled students and they act individually.”
He noted that though there was an ongoing change, there was still a long way to go. “Change is here but it’s very slow. Western regions have accepted the people with special needs more readily and quickly in all spheres of life, work, educational and personal compared with us. Many parents think their blind children are better off in special schools. They don’t think they are capable of receiving a proper education and can lead a very normal life. Instead, they protect and shelter them and this only inhibits the child from growing up to his or her full potential.”
Al Mulla believes that seeking admission in colleges should be a simple process for special students and they shouldn’t need to explain, convince or plead for their disability.
They should only put it down on the application forms so that the college is automatically aware of their needs and has a disability assistance programme prepared to help them with integration.
He said, “We also help our students to find employment - which is another battle. Most of the time, we are the ones who approach the employers and offer them the technical assistance, knowledge and support to help them integrate a visually-impaired person into their work environment. Tamkeen also offers training for any teacher or school interested to learn about special education.”
UAE University, Al Ain
UAEU is by far the only university in the UAE to admit nationals, male and female, with different disabilities, including students who are visually challenged. The college which has been admitting special needs students since it opened its doors over 30 years ago has about 13,300 students, including nine students who are visually challenged or have low vision.
The university has Braille machines, laptops with software to read out to students, audio books, hi-tech magnifying glasses and most importantly trained staff and faculty who use these teaching aids to help pupils learn their lessons like other regular students.
Assistants also help transport disabled students from their dormitories to the campus, while other assistants help the students with their personal needs.
Dr Courtney Stryker, Assistant Provost and Dean of Students, UAEU, says, “Our students, staff and faculty always step in to help out. However, the university should have a formal programme. We need to have a structure in place so these services are uninterrupted and students can avail them at all times, instead of only relying on the goodwill of students and faculty.”
Therefore, as part of a new strategic plan in accordance with the new Federal law to accommodate students with different disabilities, the university has created a new office for Disability Services, the first of its kind in any college in the UAE.
Elaborating on the role of the new office, Dr Stryker explains, “It is a state-of-the-art facility to assist our students with various disabilities, be it physical, learning, visual or students confined to wheelchairs. This office will have the technology to support these students.”
A new director for the facility should be in place by October 2008 with plans to be fully operational by January 2009.
The way forward
Katy Newitt, Chairperson and Founder of Foresight, an organisation which is raising funds to help cure blindness, said that teachers should be reached out if these students had to be integrated into the society.
“Raising awareness among teachers so that they know how to tackle students and approach people with visual impairment is important. Educating the teachers is one of the ways forward. These students are highly motivated and intelligent people, but the only problem is they don’t have a vision,” she said.
Sally Prosser, who works with blind people in the emirate, observed that students needed very little help to be integrated into a school or college.
She said, “A magnifier or a software or literal understanding of their problems will help them go a long way. Some of the technology is available. They are asking for help but people need to find out what is the appropriate help.”
Bashar Nashawati, parent of a visually-challenged student, said, “The government in the country should enforce universities to provide services and facilities for these students. it should also subsidise the price of technology required by these students. Our society needs to be more humane and should be willing to help the community. This would help these students progress with the rest of the society.”
Joel Vergis, an Indian student from the emirate, recently came out with flying colours in his examination, thanks to the support of his parents, teachers, school and friends.
Executive Principal Aziz Akhtar of Our Own Indian School said, “Visually-challenged children should be able to study in normal schools and institutes must be equipped to support them. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is supportive and gives students more choice of subjects. There are certain papers they needn’t attempt if they have diagrams and are also allowed extra examination time. A scribe is also provided for the student.”
Having helped Joel, the school says it has more confidence to accept a similar student.
Akhtar added, “Schools should have assistants to help move around the campus and need safety and security support for their physical well-being because of their support. They need to have the right material and training to read that material. Teachers also have to be trained to help.”