The National Federation of the Blind
of Connecticut
India
By Joyce Kane

EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is an article from Joyce Kane relating her exciting trip to India last summer-leaving on July 10, arriving in Bombay/Mombai on July 12, and returning on August 6. She also included a web page that can be accessed to view pictures. She hopes to return this year if her schedule permits. Here is Joyce's fascinating account:

 

Hi everyone,
I am back home and slept a lot over the last few days. I can't believe I caught a cold in India, but went to my doctor yesterday and had a chest x-ray just to be sure.

The trip was such an outstanding venture.

I have put a web page here for you to have a glance at some pictures on some of the places and events they had for me.

Al, remember me saying, "I don't think I want to travel because I can't see anything so why bother." Well, I had a chance to do what most people talk about doing. I did not go to see the sights, I went to meet the people and that I did! From the children in schools and even one of those poor schools for blind girls all the way up to the Commissioner of Disabilities in the Capitol of India in New Delhi. Also, I met all the people in between from the major TV interviewers, marines that guard our Embassies, the poor on the streets, the people that gather along the Ganjy River and the children. I even had a meeting with doctors and medical staff, and the workers that go out to the villages to work with the blind there. I also met the heads of tourist and travel hotels, airlines and even the booking agents asking me how they could handle things better for the blind and disabled.

In India over 2 billion movie tickets are sold yearly and there is not a theater that has any accessible ramps to get into them. They have had a Disabilities Act in place since 1995 and only new government buildings have to follow the laws about accessibility. They say that 3% government jobs are for the disabled, but that is it. There are no incentives (such as tax breaks) for the non-government organizations/work businesses to employ the disabled.

Here is the web page:
http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov/photogallery4.html

 

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Updated May 2, 2006