Monthly meeting for the blind students
This was the first monthly meeting immediately after the December Conference for all college going students in Chennai. These are the minutes for the month of January (second week of Sunday) meeting as follows:
Attendees: Each College represented by two persons who take in charge of all activities support by Asha
MCC
Shyju
Ashok
Presidency
Iyyanar
Arumugam
Loyola College
Shankar
Joe Pradeep
Pachiayappa’s College
Banugopan
Vivekananda College
Ram Kumar
Suresh
Queen Maris College
Manjula
Asha Volunteers: Prasanna, D.P Prakash, Pandey, Sathya, Jeba Durai and Dhanalakshmi
Minutes:
Top 3 Priorities
1. Create better Job Opportunities (29 votes)
Change from begging and wilting situation to empowered self-reliance; Help the blind enter diverse jobs not just the standard stereotypical ones; Help the blind enter businesses and build credibility
2. Develop a modern library (11 votes) [Owners - Shankar, Loyola College; Ashok, MCC College]
Develop more Braille and audio offerings; enrich school/college life with publications; encourage blind writers; need spoken English training; need exposure to more braille materials than just religious texts that we have now; Develop a blind students resource center – with PC, internet access for unlimited time independence; Get knowledgeable scribes in college to help the blind students
3. Improve hostel facilities (4 votes)
Discussion on priority wise:
In the meeting, the overall discussion went on about who is going to be in charge for what and their roles to bring into action.
1. Create better Job Opportunities:
Person in charge:
a. Rajeswari, blind who is working as a teacher in Minjur. Got experience in placement of blind in jobs.
b. Ram Kumar - Vivekananda College
Other resources:
1.Ability Foundation conducting campus interview for graduates and post-graduates once a year for job placement.
2. Develop a modern library: To set up a library in a common place where all blind students can avail all reading facilities of books at one place.
Person in charge:
a. Shankar – Loyola College (Syllabus books)
b. Ashok – Madras Christain College (Syllabus books)
c. Suresh- Vivekananda College (Non-Syllabus books)
d. Shyju- Madras Christian College (Audio books)
Action:
The in charge persons collects the list of syllabus and non- syllabus books from all colleges in Chennai with the help of representatives of each College to set up the Library.
Needs:
- Computer with JAWS software - recommended by all
- Audio Books – Presidency College
Other resources:
1.Student Service for the blind (SSB) in Madras Christian College has audio books for the blind. So the resources can be shared to Presidency College.
3. Improve hostel facilities:
Manjula from Queen Maris College expressed that both Government and private hostels closes for vacation holidays for the month of April and May. She pointed out that those blind students who are preparing for entrance exams doesn’t have any shelter to stay and write the exams. Most of them are coming from rural areas for their education.
Needs:
Rented house during the month of April-May
Highlights:
Decided to give travel expenses for the blind students who attend the meeting as representatives.