RAWALPINDI – An awareness seminar on “Disability and Inclusive Development” was held at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) here on Thursday.
The seminar was arranged at the library, under the umbrella of Susan B. Anthony Reading Room (SBARR). The seminar aimed at informing how the youth could play a positive role in highlighting the issues of disabled people and develop a society, which was equal for all.
Zarina Bibi, Coordinator (SBARR), welcomed the honorable guests Asim Zafar, President of Saaya Association and Dr Muhammad Shah Nawaz, National Coordinator (Community Based Inclusive Development) on behalf of the FJWU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Samina Amin Qadir.
She gave the overview of the Sayya Association and also briefed the audience about the resources that were available in Susan B. Anthony Reading Room. The chief guest of the seminar was Dr Farah Qadir, Chairperson Behavioral Sciences Department.
Speaking on the occasion, Asim Zafar said, “we are here with new courage”. He introduced and shared the history of Saaya Association, by declaring it a name of the movement and courage, a name of thought, where persons with disabilities could finds the solutions of their problems. “We believe in working and then making progress. We want to get education, but not in special institutes, he said. Mobility was the basic problem of disabled people so they were kept in their homes unwillingly till death. If any person uses wheelchair and doesn’t have it he can’t get education, job and also can’t involve in social activities,” he said. He urged that it was necessary that the system must be changed according the need of persons with disabilities.
Dr Muhammad Shah Nawaz discussed the issues of accessibility and engagement of persons with disabilities. He asked the students to join the trainings offered by Saaya Association. He highlighted the role of youth for the changing of sympathetic attitude towards the persons with disabilities.
Waqar Khursheed, a person with disability, also shared his personal experience with the audience. He said that we must not show pity instead we must deal them with as personable differently.
Dr Farah Qadir gave vote of thanks and presented the university souvenir to the respected guest as a token of appreciation. In her closing remarks she said that we lack social attachments and we should build it for better future. She appreciated the contribution made by Sayya Association for the development of persons with disabilities.