Month: August 2024

My Experience at the Independence Day Celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan

My Experience at the Independence Day Celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Posted on by Sunil Abbas

Reflecting on My Invitation to Rashtrapati Bhavan: The Need for Tactile Communication Awareness for the Deafblind

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I would like to share my recent experience and feedback. I was honored to receive an invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s House, to attend the Independence Day celebration on the 15th of August, 2024, in New Delhi. The event was attended by many achievers with disabilities, like myself, in the ceremonial hall. The campus was vast, with multiple gates, and security was tight, including numerous police officers. We entered through Gate No. 35 but were not allowed to use our phones once inside.
We were seated while other non-disabled attendees stood, waiting for the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister of India to arrive. I was accompanied by my professional tactile signing interpreters, Ms. Manisha Sharma and Ms. Sarah Sharma. When our Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, entered the hall, he was engaged in conversation with several ministers and foreign dignitaries, exchanging greetings.
Due to strict security measures, I was not allowed to shake hands with the Prime Minister, which was disappointing, especially as a deafblind achiever who relies on tactile communication. It became evident that many people, including high-ranking officials, were unfamiliar with tactile signing—a method of communication through touch that is essential for individuals like me who cannot see, hear, or speak. At one point, it seemed as though people misunderstood my use of tactile signing with my interpreters, possibly thinking we were behaving strangely because of our disabilities. The situation was somewhat amusing in hindsight, as they might have thought we were fighting or dancing.
Despite these challenges, the event was excellent, and I enjoyed the refreshments, coffee, and snacks provided. I took the opportunity to educate others about the deafblind community and the work of SEDB India. Unfortunately, I could not bring my notepad and pen due to strict security protocols, which further complicated communication.
I found it frustrating that the security officers did not allow me to touch any VIPs, as touch is crucial for me to understand what is happening around me. This experience highlights the need for greater advocacy and awareness of tactile communication for deafblind individuals in India. Touch is not a bad idea; it is a vital tool for us to interact with the world.
I am deeply grateful to my tactile signing interpreters for advocating on my behalf and to the team from DEPWD under MSJE, Government of India, for their support and encouragement in allowing me to attend this event for the first time.
Thank you all for your continued support. I am hopeful that in the future, more people will learn how to effectively communicate with deafblind individuals. I also want to express my thanks to Anubha for introducing me to the fan wrestler, Mr. Virendra.
Yours sincerely,
Zamir Dhale
Founder, Director, and Consultant
SEDB India

 

Mr. Zamir Dhale Honored at illuminATe Initiative Launch by Bajaj Finserv & AssisTech Foundation

Posted on by Sunil Abbas

Zamir Dhale Speaks at illuminATe Initiative Launch, Emphasizes Assistive Technology’s Impact on Deafblind Community

Mr. Zamir Dhale was honored to attend the official launch of the illuminATe initiative, an event dedicated to showcasing the most promising solutions for enabling education and interventions for children with speech and hearing impairments, as well as those with neurodiversity. Bajaj Finserv, in partnership with the AssisTech Foundation (ATF), has partnered to provide access to Assistive Technology (AT) for over 3,000 children with disabilities, ensuring they receive the education and appropriate interventions they need.

To mark the beginning of this collaboration, a kickoff event was held on August 12th, 2024, at Four Points by Sheraton in Viman Nagar, Pune. Mr. Dhale’s expertise, insights, and collaboration have added immense value to this initiative. He was honored to share his experience of how Assistive Technology has empowered his life and his vision for revolutionizing the lives of persons with deafblindness through AT. Additionally, the audience was eager to hear about his work with the Society for the Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind (SEDB) and their goals for the future.

The event also featured demonstrations by four pioneering startups, each offering groundbreaking products that are poised to significantly impact the lives of children with disabilities.

After the speakers delivered their presentations via PowerPoint and showcased their work through well-crafted videos, Ms. Chahat, an AT researcher, invited Mr. Dhale to share a few words about his life experiences in obtaining technologies such as Braille devices and how they are helping deafblind children and adults in India. He spoke about the challenges faced by the deafblind community in accessing technologies, such as the inability to effectively use video calls due to a lack of readable content and emotional connection.

Mr. Dhale expressed his gratitude to ATF and Bajaj Finserv for their support in achieving and successfully accessing these technologies. He firmly believes that technology will be the key to reaching solutions for all persons with disabilities.