Unmet Demands of White Cane Users: The Solution Is Not Looking Away

Sari – More than 9,000 blind and visually impaired people in Mazandaran are waiting for equal opportunities amid urban barriers, difficult employment, and unmet demands.

Ambassador Arjan of the Provinces Group: a scaffolding in the middle of the sidewalk, a car that blocks the passage or a job opportunity that is lost before the abilities are measured; For many citizens, it is a simple and transitory event, but for the blind, it can become a serious obstacle on the way to independence.

In Mazandaran, more than 9 thousand blind and partially sighted people are covered by welfare services; A population that, along with rehabilitation and support services, still has serious demands regarding employment, housing, urban access and equal opportunities.

Imagine leaving home to get to work or to run a daily errand, but the path you've taken so many times is now blocked by a parked car, unannounced scaffolding, or objects occupying part of the sidewalk. For a sighted citizen, it might take a few seconds to find an alternative way; But for a blind person, the same obstacle can make movement difficult, increase the risk of collision and injury, and force him to ask for help from others.

This is just one of the experiences that clarify the necessity of adapting the urban environment for visually impaired people; Necessity which, along with employment, providing housing, education and access to public services, is a part of the demand of the blind to lead an independent life.

International White Cane Day, equal to October 15, is an opportunity to hear these demands; Not only to remember the limitation of vision, but also to pay attention to the obstacles that society can partially remove with proper planning.

When independence is tied to a job opportunity

For many blind people, employment is not the only way to earn money; The possibility of independent decision-making, participation in social life and freedom from unwanted dependence are also tied to it. However, the way to enter the labor market for visually impaired people can face obstacles that are not necessarily related to their professional ability.

A blind young man from Mazandarani talks about his concerns: We have a plan for our lives like everyone else. We want to study, learn skills, work and be able to support our own living expenses. The problem is that sometimes before a person's ability is seen, his blindness is seen. A person may have the necessary skills, but never get a chance to prove himself.

He, who introduced himself as Mansour, continued in an interview with Mehr reporter about the effect of employment on individual independence: When we have income and a job, we can more easily make decisions for the future and shoulder the burden of our lives.

He added: No one likes to always wait for the help of others to do the usual tasks of life. We also want to have a share in the society and show our abilities, but this is possible when we have a real opportunity.

A walk that makes the path of life difficult

For a blind person, safe access to public space is a prerequisite for many daily activities. The right path is not limited to sidewalks or special flooring; The path must be continuous, passable and free of unforeseen obstacles. Parked cars, scaffolding, roadblocks, and objects that have been left without regard to the traffic path can hinder this possibility.

A blind woman from Mazandarani explains the difficulties of commuting like this: When we leave the house, we should be able to travel independently as much as possible.

40-year-old woman Mahbobe continues in an interview with Mehr reporter: If the sidewalk is closed or there is an obstacle on the way that we don't know about, the situation will change. We may have to change our path, cross the street or ask someone to help us. It's not just a matter of convenience; It is a question of security and the right to use the city.

Emphasizing that the blind also want to do their daily affairs independently, he says: We should be able to go to work, medical centers, stores and other public places without having to worry about the road being closed every time.

This Mazandarani citizen added: If the city is designed for all citizens, many of these difficulties will be reduced. Customization shouldn't just be on paper; It should be seen on the roads we pass every day.

This demand highlights the responsibility of urban management. Adapting roads, preventing roadblocks and dealing with dangerous obstacles should be a part of continuous city management, not a one-off action on the eve of disability-related occasions.

The loan of 400 million tomans is not responsible for the construction of housing

The demands of the blind in Mazandaran are not limited to employment and commuting. Housing is also one of the important concerns of this group and their families; Especially when the cost of building or providing the house does not match the financial ability of the household.

Hamidreza Janbazi, CEO of the Rohul-Amin Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Mazandaran and the director of the Rohul-Amin Quranic Institute of the province, referring to the problems of this group in the areas of employment, housing and urban adaptation, said: Our children should not be treasure houses and attention should be paid to the blind and visually impaired throughout the year.

In an interview with Mehr's reporter, he said that families are facing problems in terms of employment for their blind children, and added: The number of our blind children is decreasing and it is very important to pay attention to artistic work and create employment for this group.

Emphasizing the necessity of the active presence of the blind in the society, Janbazi said: Our children should not be treasure houses and a field should be provided so that they can show their abilities and talents in different fields.

The Managing Director of Rouhul-Amin Mazandaran Association continued to criticize the state of city road improvements and stated: Municipalities have left little in the way of road improvements, and there are many road blocks, scaffoldings, and cars, and we are not safe.

Referring to the efforts of the Welfare Organization, he stated: "Behazisti is making a lot of efforts and is working with all its strength, but the municipalities should take more steps with the help of Behazisti."

In another part of his speech, Janbazi mentioned housing problems and said: Our children are facing problems and housing cannot be built with a loan of 400 million tomans and we need assistance.

He emphasized that attention to the blind and partially sighted should not be limited to the White Cane Day and that their needs should be taken care of throughout the year.

The share of employment of the blind in the offices of Mazandaran is ignored

Employment, safe access to roads and access to public facilities are among the most important demands of blind and partially sighted people in Mazandaran. According to the CEO of the province's blind and partially sighted community, some of the demands are still facing serious problems in the implementation phase.

Referring to the non-observance of the three percent share of employment of people with disabilities in the executive bodies of the province, Mohammad Moslami Jurjadeh said in an interview with Mehr reporter: Neglecting job opportunities has affected the personal and family life of many blind and partially sighted people, and economic pressures have made it difficult for some of them to form and maintain a common life.

He added: One of the measures that can provide the opportunity for these people to enter the work environment is to employ them as operators in offices and executive bodies. An opportunity that can answer part of the employment needs of this society.

incomplete adaptation; An obstacle to safe traffic

Referring to the accessibility of public places, the CEO of the Mazandaran Blind and Visually Impaired Society said: According to the statistics provided, only 44% of public places in the cities of the province have been adapted for the use of blind and visually impaired people.

Maslami Jurjadeh criticized the incomplete implementation of urban adaptation regulations and stated: The inappropriateness of roads has caused injuries to blind people in the cities of the province, and this situation shows the need for more serious monitoring of the implementation of accessibility regulations.

Stating that some municipalities do not pay enough attention to the issues of people with disabilities, he added: The problems of this group should be considered as a part of the responsibility of urban management, and adaptation should not be excluded from the priorities of municipalities.

Referring to the actions of the welfare organization in this area, Moslami Jurjadeh stated: "Behaziti has compiled a specialized manual for the adaptation of places and provided it to the municipalities so that the necessary criteria for creating a usable environment for people with disabilities are clear.

He also called for more coordination between the drilling machines and the executors of the construction projects with the welfare of the cities and said: it is necessary to inform this organization of the location of the excavation of roads and the installation of scaffolding so that blind people can plan their commute knowing the condition of the road and reduce the possibility of accidents.

Braille printing and the development of cultural facilities

The CEO of the Mazandaran Blind and Visually Impaired Society, referring to the capacities of the association for members to access written materials, said: There is a Braille printer in the association's office, and members can submit their collected materials for printing and binding.

According to him, this provides the possibility for members to access the content they need and can be effective in their study, educational and cultural activities.

Maslami Jurjadeh also announced the launch of a special swimming pool for people with disabilities in the Fayyad Bakhsh center and added: the implementation of welfare jihadi Thursday programs and presence in the villages has also helped to identify people with disabilities, including the blind and partially sighted.