My first introduction to word ‘blind’ was through a personality who was a true personification of bravery, vision and conviction. I was just a kid when I saw Mrs Fatima Shah’s interview on national television. At that age, I was unable to grasp all that she was explaining, but her grace, confidence and oration kept […]
The unfurling optimistic side of Pakistan – the second story
“The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being” — LeeIacocca The population with special needs is among the most neglected and overlooked part of our society. Many of us only think in terms of charity or pity for them. Today I […]
The Unfurling Optimistic Side of Pakistan: the First Story
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” Our generation grew up listening to famous, heart warming national songs and heroic stories of the inspiring leaders of Pakistan’s freedom movement. The vigour and determination of the first generation Pakistanis still […]
Who is a ‘Slow Learner’?
A group of senior professionals was sitting in a briefing room, very keenly listening to the findings of a study, carried out to estimate students with special needs already enrolled in govt. run regular education schools of Punjab. An international tool was adapted and piloted very skillfully, using teachers as primary informer. But a major […]
Result season and suicides
Saqib was a student of electrical engineering in a private university of Islamabad. He was in his tenth semester; one day out of blue he took his life. According to reports repeated failure in a specific course dragged him into depression. He reached so deep in the abyss of hopeless that ending his own life […]
Assess learning not memory
“His son is very intelligent; he has secured 96 percent marks in board exams.” “Samina’s son is such an average boy, only B+ in intermediate exams.” “We are sorry to inform you that you have not been short listed for a job interview because your CGPA does not match our requirements.” We all can relate […]
Inclusive education for a more harmonised society
The journey to scale a mountain starts with a single step. That step is just about to be taken towards practical implementation of inclusive education in the Punjab. There have been a few initiatives in this direction by the provincial government such as the Punjab Inclusive Education Project, initiated in 2015 in two districts of […]
Three decades of protecting children
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child was the first-ever international commitment that was legally binding on the signatories. In 1989, the UNCRC was presented, especially, to ensure that children enjoyed all human rights. It is the responsibility of all 193 signatory states to protect the human rights of all children in their […]
Super moms of special children
It has been almost six months but her words keep coming back to me. Every time I sit down for writing something, I remember her words: “Write something for us, mothers of special children. Tell people we need support and encouragement.” I have found it hard to gather enough courage to ink those sorrows, but […]
Legitimizing bullying
My 11-years-old son was so shocked a few days ago while watching a dialogue between politicians that he changed the channel to protect his younger sister from bad exposure. As a mother, I was immensely pleased for the responsible young man. The psychologist in me, however, was left wondering. For how long is the constant […]