just like you

            Have you ever encountered a blind person and felt uncomfortable, and didn't know how to act? You are not alone. As a blind person, most of the people I meet don’t know what to do when they meet me. They are somehow afraid of helping us. I became blind when I was 7 months old, so I have been blind almost all my life. I came to the USA from Oman in 2009 to complete my higher education as a Computer Science major at CSU. I’m writing this article to help people understand better about blind people and give them a clear idea to work with blind people more effectively. Blind people are just normal individuals, like everyone else. Interacting with blind students should not be an obstacle.

            People are not aware of what they can do to help blind people, not because they don’t want to help, but because they are afraid of offending us. I asked my friend Christine Difato, a PhD student at the University of Exeter in the UK about the most difficult challenges she has encountered as a blind individual. She replied by saying, "One of the most difficult challenges for me, personally, is when a person is so concerned about making a mistake that they won't approach me…” It seems to me that sighted people already have their own assumptions as to what a world without vision must be like and sometimes the fear of offending us prevents them from interacting with us more effectively.

Another main problem that me and other blind students encounter is when we go somewhere with our aids. When we ask a question, people talk to the sighted person instead of us. I asked my friend Auda Hazeem, about his experiences working as an aid for the blind, and if the sighted people hold conversations with him instead of the blind person he is helping. Hazeem said, “They almost always do. I nicely ask them to address the blind person directly as he or she can understand, answer and interact without me being in the middle of the interaction.”

Being empathetic can help a lot to understand how to interact with a blind person. I asked a classmate about his viewpoint of blind people he said: “Honestly the only blind person I have met was you…I kind of just was trying to picture what the world would be like for me if I couldn't see.” In this student's case, he had never encountered a blind person before me, but he used empathy to interact comfortably with me. Empathy goes a long way when dealing with blind people.

            I interviewed a student at CSU who has had over 20 years experience growing up with a blind sister. The advice she gave in the interview was to : “…remember their disability is that they can't see; but they can hear, they can think, they can walk, they can answer for themselves, they can read and that they are capable of most anything anyone else can do, but in a different way."

            A person interacting with blind people must make a serious effort to understand the nature of the challenges presented by visual impairment. Blind people represent a valuable human resource which has been ignored by societies because of a lack of understanding and empathy. After all, we are just like you.

first experience

I left Muscat, Oman in March going to United States of America (USA) to complete my dream and make it become true. I went to study at Arkansas state university (ASU) planning to major in Computer Science. Unfortunately, the cabin crew at Atlanta airport forgot me which resulted in missing my flight to Arkansas but later on, someone helped me to find another flight to get there.

I arrived to ASU. Everyone was happy to meet me. I have started the English as a second language program (ESL) immediately. This program has 5 levels. Everyone who is non native English speaker should take this program.  Because my English language was not that good, I started with level 2 in March. In June, I have completed level 3 and I passed the ESL program by passing the TOEFL test.

Also, I have noticed that my mobility skills needed to improve in order to be more independent. For this reason, I have contacted the division of blind services to get mobility training. They gave me training for a week in ASU campus. In May, they sent me to Lions World Services for the blind (LWSB) to study there and this place was two hours away from my Campus. My goal for this trip was to be more independent so, I have studied a mobility advance course and an independent course. In this course, they taught me how to cook, how to sew the buttons in a shirt, how to organize my room and how to be more independent in life. Also, beside these courses they gave me an assistive technology course which was very easy and I passed it in one day. In addition, to improve my mobility skills and to help me more, the ministry of higher education has provided me with a handheld talking GPS device (Trekker Breeze). I have completed the training sessions in LWSB by the end of May.

Because my goal is to be independent, I have tried to prepare for the fall in the summer. I registered with Hadley school for the blind and they offer many courses for the blind to study either long distance learning or online. Also, I have registered with national library services for the blind and handicapped and they gave their members books with accessible formats such as: Braille, DAISY (digitally recorded textbooks which require to use a specialized DAISY playback system.), or large format. But, most of their books are not academic. To get more academic books, I registered with Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic: Accessible Audio books for students with visual impairment, dyslexia or learning disabilities (RFB&D) and Book Share. These two libraries provide the books with DAISY format.

In the fall of 2009, I got admitted to ASU and, I started the first semester. It is the most difficult semester for every student. Yes, it was very difficult. In the first semester, I tried to take as less hours as possible but as an international student in USA, the immigration system requires the student to take a minimum of 12 academic hours per semester. The most difficult thing that I faced was the courses accessibility. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to deal with one of the subjects which was Math due to the software the university is using to teach the subject. This software is not user friendly for the blind; I couldn’t use it by using any screen reader (speech application). As you know, my major is Computer Science which requires taking a lot of math courses. I have decided to transfer to another school that will hopefully help me succeed and get my degree.

                The education in America is different from Oman. In America, I attended Arkansas state university. The major difference is the Culture. It has lots of international students from all over  the world. It’s not like the universities in the Middle East where they have eastern students mostly.

·         The American people are very friendly, good natured and helpful . Also, if they know that you are disabled , they will try to help as much as they can to make you succeed .

·         Also, they are very respectful and they like to know other cultures  . When you visit America , you will notice that they are very nice and happy .

·         As a blind student , I realized that studying in America  is better  than middle east  from different perspectives :

1.       They always try to give an equal opportunity for everybody to have a chance to succeed.

2.       All the universities in America they have resources for disabled students (disability services ) to make the educational materials accessible.

3.       Beside the disability services there are some other organizations that takes care of the disabled human such as blindness like the NFB (national federation of the blind) and  AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) to help them achieve  their goals and succeed in their lives.

4.       Beside these organizations there is division of blind services which provide the blinds people with tools , devices and materials that might help them to make their life more accessible .

5.       The schools in America helps blind people to take any major that they desire regardless of their disability. In the Middle East they treat the disabled person as a n interference on the way.

6.       I hope that the Middle East service gets better than now and change their opinion about disabled people. Because disabled people can do better than the normal ones.

Guide Dogs FOR THE BLIND For Family, Friends and Co-Workers

This information is intended for family, friends, and coworkers of a new guide dog team. We hope it will be helpful for making a smooth transition from our training program to the guide dog user's home and work environment.

Guide dogs are trained to be mobility partners for people who are blind or visually impaired. A guide dog team consists of a blind or visually impaired "handler" and a "guide". The handler has completed an extensive training program to learn how to work and care for the guide dog. The guide is a specially trained dog, bred from stock that has been carefully selected for its stable temperament, intelligence and good health. The dogs are taught good social behavior from the time they are puppies. They respond to obedience commands in addition to guidework, and they are trained to settle quietly when not guiding.

Family & Co-Workers

In order for the dog to maintain focus on its guidework and to ensure the safety of the team as they travel, the dog and handler must form a very close bond and learn to communicate dearly with each other. The handler will need to act in ways that will reinforce this bond and maintain the training the dog has received. Therefore, it is important for co-workers, friends and family members to respect the handler's needs and avoid doing anything that might hinder the bonding process between the guide dog and its handler.

Interacting with a Guide Dog Team

Although it is very tempting to approach and pet a guide dog, it is important that you greet the handler first and ask permission to meet his or her dog. Never distract a guide while it is working, because you may endanger the safety of the team or erode the dog's training. The dog should be on leash, under control, and not feel cornered when meeting people for the first time. Individuals should approach one at a time, speak softly to the dog and offer the back of their hand for the dog to sniff.

Family & Co-Workers

An important goal in our training is to foster independence in attitude as well as through mobility. Feel free to offer your help, but do not force your assistance on the handler if it is not welcome, especially as it relates to the guide dog. Occasionally the handler may need directions to a destination or an explanation of an unusual situation. Never grab the person's arm or the dog's harness handle to direct the team. You can help by answering questions accurately and specifically using words such as "to your left" or "straight ahead" rather than "over there" or "that way." A guide dog handler will know how to cope with most situations if given accurate information about the circumstances.

In certain situations, the handler may determine that using a cane or human guide for travel would be a better option than working their guide dog. This decision is sometimes made to avoid stressful situations for both the dog and the handler. While walking with a human guide, the handler holds the dog's leash rather than harness handle, and the dog walks next to the handler.

Family & Co-Workers

At Home or at Work

As the clog learns to adjust to its new home and surroundings, it should either be on leash, on tie-down, or in a crate when not working or playing. A tie-down or crate is necessary to make sure that the dog does not develop poor house behaviors. After being home several weeks, the dog can gradually be offered more freedom in short increments. This freedom should be withdrawn if the dog exhibits poor behavior. Proper and consistent handling needs to be maintained to ensure appropriate behaviors.

Although it is important for the guide to be accepted as a member of the family, the handler should be the dog's main caregiver in order to establish the leadership role of the handler and to strengthen their bond as a team. Playing, feeding, relieving and grooming should be the responsibility of the handler whenever possible. Co-workers, family and friends must refrain from feeding treats to a guide dog - the dog's diet is the handler's responsibility. Feeding the dog people food may not only adversely affect the dog's health and digestion, but it can

Family & Co-Workers

Your Opportunity to Help

Consider these opportunities to be a supportive co-worker, friend or family member. By providing a warm welcome and demonstrating a willingness to interact appropriately with the guide, you   \n\11 be helping the guide dog team on their way to a successful and lasting partnership.

Nattiq technologies

The Technology for blind people started in America a long time ago, which makes blind people’s lives more independent. However, in the Middle East the technology for blind people started in the late nineties. One of the first companies that has been trying to make blind people’s lives easier and more independent was Nattiq Technologies. Nattiq Technologies was  founded in the state of Colorado in 2001. Auda Hazeem, an Arab American, is the creator of this company. He had worked in the computer field for over 10 years before he started his company in 2002, after returning to the Middle East.

When Auda Hazeem was asked about the founding of his business, he stated, “In my previous business, I helped discriminating users build powerful lap top computers. One day a blind person asked for a custom-built laptop” (Hazeem, personal email).  He continued, “ As I started to help him obtain a powerful laptop, I was intrigued by how he could use standard laptops knowing that he was blind. I made a decision, on that day, to launch a business to help blind Arabic-speaking individuals access information technology. The challenges were numerous” (Hazeem personal email).

After experiencing firsthand  how expensive adaptive technology is, I acknowledge this constraint because blind people in the Middle East are very poor. Additionally, government help is virtually non-existent, and ignorance is widespread. Hazeem echoes these statements, saying “Many more challenges existed, some of which continue to exist. I was able to overcome such challenges with patience, high work ethics and the love to make a difference. Many people helped me. My team at Nattiq, our champions in the field and many friends,” (personal email).

 According to its website, the company is located in the United Arab Emirates, in a city called Alsharja. The company depends on their advanced users to work for them as dealers in other countries in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman (www.nattiq.com).  Nattiq provides their customers with up to date tools, devices, and software to make blind people’s lives more independent. To meet the varied needs of blind people, software solutions, such as DAISY book makers, DAISY book players, and screen magnifiers, are offered. Other hardware options include Braille displays and note-takers, Braille embossers, reading machines as well as many other tools and accessories. Nattiq chooses to select leading solutions from companies who are open to localizing their products into Arabic.  For example, Nattiq imports its products from different companies around the world, then adds the Arabic language to make it ready for Arab users. However, there are some challenges that the company faces in localization because Arabic development is extremely slow; western companies' knowledge in the Arabic language continues to lag behind.

Despite the challenges facing blind people in the Middle East, Hazeem thinks that he has reached most of his goals from the founding of the company.  When he started the company his goal was to make a difference in the lives of blind people in the Middle East by enhancing their privacy and independence in accessing information and telecommunication technologies (Hazeem, personal email). They have been able to localize, into Arabic, leading Adaptive Technology software and devices.

Nattiq achieved their goals by realizing the differences they have made in the lives of thousands of blind individuals in the Middle East. Nattiq’s mission will continue as new Adaptive Technologies are invented; as stated earlier, their goal is to localize them into Arabic for the benefit of the customers. According to the website, Nattiq has served about 3000 customers.  To support his claim that he has made a difference in the lives of blind people, he continues, “I have received a lot of feedback from the field. We, of course, could meet some expectations while we continue working on meeting the rest. Our business routines and practices continue to evolve based on the feedback we receive from the field.”

In conclusion, Nattiq will continue providing their customers with the devices, tools, and software to make their lives independent. Hazeem will continue to overcome the problems and the challenges until he reaches his goals. Therefore, the customers should support him and his coworkers to make blind people lives more independent.

References

Nattiq Technologies (2007) Products page.  Retrieved from http://www.nattiq.com/en/home.

Accessed on 18 April 2010.

Hazeem, Auda.  (19 April 2010).  Personal email to Noah Al Hadidi. 

Spring 2011

hi everyone!

in spring break of 2011, I and my friends got to visit California, (the golden state), on Saturday, March 12, we left CO going to California, Santa Barbra. When we got there, it was around 5 p.m, we went immediately to the beech as Colorado doesn't have beach's. I really enjoyed the weather over there, as it reminded me of Oman, my country.

on the second day, we went to a different beech that is much nicer than the first one, and we got to serf and  swim in the pacific ocean. we also enjoyed the hot tub and the swimming pool in the condos we rented. I wanted to try seafood because we were by the ocean, but we couldn't find a good restaurants at where we were unfortunately. on Wednesday, we left Santa Barbara, going to Santa Cruz, which is a land on the other side of the ocean. we spent 3 days without technology, for people who don't know me, I can't live without computers and technology :). however, I really enjoyed it as it was the first time for me to do it, I also got to hike for the first time, and before we left the land, I went Sea kayaking for the first time as well. Before we left CA, we visited the city and got to bike in a 6 persons bike, it was so much fun and something new to try :). I will try to get some pictures from my friends to show you very soon.

thanks for reading!

Guide Dogs in the View of Islam

As everyone know that I moved from Arkansas to Colorado last year. to continue my goal and to be more independent, I applied for a guide dog. however, as we know about the culture in Islam that dogs are not accepted. therefore, I've done a research to see what Muslim leaders think about this issue , and this is what I found. before you read the article, I just want to let you know that I got the acceptance to get a guide dog and I'm going for the training next month

Guide Dogs in the View of Islam

            A few months ago a 73-year-old guide dog owner, George Herridge was told by a Muslim bus driver to get off his bus because of his guide dog, Andy. Herridge states that "I was coming home on the bus and there were some Muslim children screaming...the driver pulled over and asked me to get off the bus" (Andy Russell). This scenario is very common throughout the UK. In the Islamic culture, people consider dogs as unclean animals and if the saliva of the dog gets on them, they will have to wash themselves. However, blind people in western countries use dogs to guide them safely from one place to another. There are many benefits of owning a guide dog since they help blind people to become more independent and socially active, and they are also different than typical pets because of the special purpose they serve. Therefore, Muslim people and leaders in the Middle East and other Islamic countries should accept guide dogs and follow the Muslim leaders in western countries.

            Blind people have been using guide dogs to guide them safely from one place to another for a long time. According to the International Guide Dog Federation website, guide dogs have been used to help blind people since World War I. Visually impaired people have also been using other mobility aids such as a white cane to navigate, which has been more commonly used than guide dogs. Guide dogs have become more popular due to the benefits they offer for blind people. There are many benefits of using a guide dog. Guide dogs can help blind people to move smoothly in rough and extreme weather conditions. Navigating through such conditions with a guide dog is more practical and convenient than using a cane. Also, guide dogs help increase the owner's independence and mobility confidence as well as helping them become more outgoing and socially active. According to Lorraine Whitmarsh, a lecturer in environmental psychology at Cardiff University, "Almost all owners (92%) report that people frequently stop and talk with them while out with their dog; and three-quarters have made new friends since having their dog." This illustrates that in addition to increased mobility confidence and independence, social engagement is one of the most important benefits of guide dog ownership.

            I asked Christine Difato, a  guide dog owner, about how independent she became after getting her guide dog, she said: "...I remember the first time that I walked with my guide-dog. It was the first time that I could walk down a path and day-dream. I didn't have to pay 100 percent attention to everything around me." With a cane it's very difficult to walk and be as independent as when you have a guide dog because the cane is an obstacle finder, which means that the blind person will have to walk around the obstacles and find the right path, and it's very difficult to do that in a non-familiar place. However, a guide dog is an obstacle avoider, which means that the dog will avoid all the obstacles and walk the blind person safely from place to another, even in non-familiar places. I also asked Christine about how safe she felt after getting her guide dog, she said that "I travel all the time, nationally and internationally, with my guide-dog. When he is with me, I am never concerned...he is looking and guiding me and will make sure, even in a completely new environment, that I am safe." This illustrates how guide dogs provide owners with a peace of mind. Difato also states that "...with a dog, I am much more conspicuous and visible, and people will notice me, which will help if I am ever lost or confused. I have done so much with my guide-dog that I would definitely hesitate to do without him, particularly traveling in new areas without any orientation and mobility." These examples demonstrate the invaluable benefits guide dogs have to offer to blind individuals.

            Guide dogs are not like normal pets, and they are different from other dogs. Guide dogs have a special purpose which is helping blind people to walk with confidence and gain independence. Also, guide dogs are cared for differently than other dogs, and are not allowed to wander in the street or outside by themselves without their owner with them. Guide dogs are well trained and well behaved. The Quran (scriptures written by God), and the Hadith (scriptures written by the Prophet Mohammed) both state that dogs are an important part of human lives and we should accept them (Wijaya). In the Quran when talking about the Dwellers of the Cave and their dogs, a popular Islamic story, God says "You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst." Clearly, God is saying that dogs are an important part of human lives because the dog is sleeping with them, which shows that their dog is with them all the time. God also states in the Quran that he created the animals for humans to benefit from them. Prophet Mohammed supports this as well, in his response in the Hadith when people asked him "O Messenger of God, will we be rewarded for how we treat animals?" He said, "In every living thing there is a reward." (Wijaya). The prophet's statements clearly are encouraging people to take care of animals and not ignore them or mistreat them. The Prophet also said: "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself." (Narrated by Abdallah bin 'Amru, in Bukhari and Muslim). Therefore, because of these examples from the Quran and Hadith, guide dogs should be accepted in Islam.

Muslim leaders in western countries have been accommodating Muslim blind people and have accepted guide dogs. To spread the awareness about guide dogs and show Muslim people that guide dogs should be accepted in Islam, the Muslim community leaders in Australia have visited the Guide Dog Training School to prove to the community that guide dogs are different than other dogs. The leaders in the UK and Australia have issued Fatwa to allow blind Muslim people into mosque with their guide dogs. In the article "Convincing Muslims to Open Doors for Guide Dogs", David Earley quotes Imam Buksh who states that Muslims should accommodate the need of guide dogs for blind people and make special arrangements for them like other mosques in other western countries. In addition to the Muslim leaders, the UK transport minister, Norman Baker has been trying to stop Muslim bus drivers from refusing guide dogs and their blind owners from riding their buses, with no luck so far. Baker states that "'If dogs are causing a nuisance, a driver has every right to ask the owner to leave." Baker adds that "It is more questionable to be asked to remove a dog for religious reasons. Muslim leaders in the UK have worked very hard to accommodate the needs of blind people, among them is allowing guide dogs to mosque, like what they did for Mohammed Khatri. Mohammed became blind when he was 15 years old and he used the white cane for a while. Mohammed describes his life as very "independent" after getting his dog, "especially getting around on the college campus and getting food". According to his dad, it took Mahomed about "six months" to get use to the new life. These Muslim leaders in the UK and Australia are Muslim, and Islam is one religion. Therefore, Muslim leaders in other countries such as the middle East should follow them.

            In Islam, people view dogs differently than people in Western countries. Culturally, Muslim people think that dogs are  unclean, and they should not be allowed to be in their houses. Not only that, but  Muslim people can't touch dogs. If they did so, they will have to wash themselves. Muslim cab and bus drivers throughout the UK, Australia and other western countries have not been allowing blind people into their vehicles for the same reason. Rasheed A. Ali the Guide Dogs Queensland board director says that many cab drivers "are reluctant to have dogs sitting in the cabs because there's a belief that if their saliva gets on stuff it becomes unclean." However, this is making blind people's lives very difficult and complicated. In her article "Muslims eject guide dogs from buses; Guide dog row," Marie Woolf states that the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has been getting complaints from the dog owners about Muslim bus drivers discriminating against them. Some taxi companies in the UK have taken action against Muslim drivers that refuse to allow guide dogs on their vehicles, which may result with them losing their jobs. Muslim drivers and other people should understand the needs of other people and they should accommodate.  Since Muslim cab and bus drivers follow the prophet Mohammed and what he said in the Hadith, they should listen to God to what he said in the Quran and listen to their leaders when they issue Fatwas. Muslim people should get educated about these issues because the prophet Mohammed, God, and Muslim leaders have accepted guide dogs and they think it's reasonable for blind people to have guide dogs. Some blind Muslim people had to find an alternative to guide dogs. According to the Daily Telegraph website, Mona Ramouni a 28 year old  blind Muslim woman living in a Detroit suburb had to train a horse Cali as a guide because her Muslim family refused to have a dog in the house. Dawud Walid, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says that "horses are seen as "regal animals."' However, Walid states that guide horses may be treated like guide dogs in certain areas  in mosques. Since horses will be treated like dogs in certain areas , there is no reason to not accept guide dogs in Islam. Therefore, cab drivers and other Muslim people should learn and get educated about what the Quran and Hadith say about dogs in order to gain understanding and acceptance of guide dogs in Islam.

            Visually impaired people have depended on guide dogs to guide them from one point to another for a long time. Guide dogs are not like normal pets because they help blind people in their daily life. Furthermore, these dogs are cared for differently since they are trained to be more disciplined. Muslim leaders in western countries have issued Fatwas and have made adjustments in mosques to accommodate Muslim blind people. Blind Muslims have greatly benefited from these accommodations and are thankful for what their leaders have done for them. However, Muslim bus and cab drivers are still refusing to allow blind people and their guide dogs into their vehicles due to their belief that dogs are not clean. It is my hope that Muslim people who have this belief become educated and that Muslim leaders in the Middle east and other Islamic countries follow the  Muslim leaders in the United Kingdom and other western countries.

Works cited

Difato, Christine. “Re: Could you please answer these questions?” Message to the author.  1 April. 2011.E-mail.

            Earley, David. "Convincing Muslims to Open Doors for Guide Dogs." The Courier Mail             (Australia). 25 Sept. 2009. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

            "Guide Dogs: Advantages, Disadvantages, Equipment, Care and Training." Living Blind:           Blindness Information, Resources and Fun Stuff Too. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

            Guide Dogs for the Blind-UK. "YouTube - Guide Dogs within Islam - Mahomed Khatri and His            Guide Dog Vargo." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 24 January 2009. Web. 20 Mar.

                        2011.

            International Guide Dog Federation. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

            "Tiny Horse Trains as Guide for Blind Muslim Woman." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online,     Daily Telegraph. 10 Apr. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

            Whitmarsh, Lorraine. "The Benefit of Guide Dog Ownership." Guide Dogs for the Blind-UK. 24            Jan. 2009. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.Wijaya, Nur Amira Safari. "On Islam and Dogs: What the Hadith Says." The Straits Times         (Singapore). 14 Oct. 2006. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

            Woolf, Marie. "Muslims Eject Guide Dogs from Buses; Guide Dog Row." Sunday Times.          Sunday Times, 18 July 2010. Web. 11 Mar. 2011.

just like you

the following article will be published in the colorado state university newspaper on Tuesday 04/26/2011

I will provide the URL once it's published.

Just Like You

by Noah Al Hadidi

            Have you ever encountered a blind person and felt uncomfortable, and didn't know how to act? You are not alone. As a blind person, most of the people I meet don’t know what to do when they meet me. They are somehow afraid of helping us. I became blind when I was 7 months old, so I have been blind almost all my life. I came to the USA from Oman in 2009 to complete my higher education as a Computer Science major at CSU. I’m writing this article to help people understand better about blind people and give them a clear idea to work with blind people more effectively. Blind people are just normal individuals, like everyone else. Interacting with blind students should not be an obstacle.

            People are not aware of what they can do to help blind people, not because they don’t want to help, but because they are afraid of offending us. I asked my friend Christine Difato, a PhD student at the University of Exeter in the UK about the most difficult challenges she has encountered as a blind individual. She replied by saying, "One of the most difficult challenges for me, personally, is when a person is so concerned about making a mistake that they won't approach me…” It seems to me that sighted people already have their own assumptions as to what a world without vision must be like and sometimes the fear of offending us prevents them from interacting with us more effectively.

Another main problem that me and other blind students encounter is when we go somewhere with our aids. When we ask a question, people talk to the sighted person instead of us. I asked my friend Auda Hazeem, about his experiences working as an aid for the blind, and if the sighted people hold conversations with him instead of the blind person he is helping. Hazeem said, “They almost always do. I nicely ask them to address the blind person directly as he or she can understand, answer and interact without me being in the middle of the interaction.”

Being empathetic can help a lot to understand how to interact with a blind person. I asked a classmate about his viewpoint of blind people he said: “Honestly the only blind person I have met was you…I kind of just was trying to picture what the world would be like for me if I couldn't see.” In this student's case, he had never encountered a blind person before me, but he used empathy to interact comfortably with me. Empathy goes a long way when dealing with blind people.

            I interviewed a student at CSU who has had over 20 years experience growing up with a blind sister. The advice she gave in the interview was to : “…remember their disability is that they can't see; but they can hear, they can think, they can walk, they can answer for themselves, they can read and that they are capable of most anything anyone else can do, but in a different way."

            A person interacting with blind people must make a serious effort to understand the nature of the challenges presented by visual impairment. Blind people represent a valuable human resource which has been ignored by societies because of a lack of understanding and empathy. After all, we are just like you.

LIONS WORLD SERVICES FOR THE BLIND

LIONS WORLD SERVICES FOR THE BLIND

Continuing Education /Vrt9

(41.76,1,

Nooh Al-Hadidi was born on November 14th, 1987 in Masqat, Oman. He was a perfectly healthy baby boy, though that was soon to change. When he was seven months old he lost his eyesight and it has never returned. When he was 4 years old, under the direction of his grandparents, Nooh was burned five separate times on the back of his neck and head by his parents in hopes that this would cause his eyesight to return. This of course did not work and he still bears the five separate scars on the back of his head from the ineffective treatment.

Nooh was five years old when his family took him to a hospital in Mumbai, India; at age 6 they took him to a hospital in Dubai. Both trips were in hopes that the doctors could do something to allow their son to regain his eyesight. These attempts failed as the doctors were unable to help Nooh.

At age seven Nooh received a scholarship from the Ministry of Education in Oman to study at Saudi Bahraini Institute for the Blind in Isa Town, Bahrain. Nooh had to leave his family and country to attend school in Bahrain because Oman did not have the resources or faculty available to handle proper education for a blind student. Nooh would spend ten years in Bahrain before he had to transfer again to finish out his education.

In 2005 Nooh traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and live there for three years to complete his education. While in Riyadh, Nooh worked for Nattiq Technologies which develops new technology, devices, and software for the blind. Nooh graduated in July of 2008 and had a decision to make; he could either further his education or continue to work. He decided to continue his education and pursue a degree in Computer Science.

In the same month Nooh returned to Oman and started writing letters to the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman. The only way for Nooh to be able to study is if he was granted a scholarship by his country. After many months of writing and others corning to his aid in support of Nooh, his scholarship was granted to continue his education. Unfortunately, the scholarship only covered tuition, not living expenses. So once again Nooh did not believe that his dream would be realized; however, weeks later an anonymous donation came forward that covered the rest of the living expenses. In the process of applying for a Visa to enter the United States, Nooh decided to sell his mobile phone in order to pay for the cost. He described this as a very difficult decision because, "Being blind, my mobile phone is the main way I am able to communicate with friends and family."

Nooh was accepted to Arkansas State University (Jonesboro) but realized when he got to the campus that he would need more training. Disability services referred Nooh to Lions World Services for the Blind for more specialized training in mobility with a cane and independent living skills.

Nooh will be taking English language courses at ASU for the summer and fall of this year and then start on his major of computer science next spring. Nooh's goals in life are to get his Doctorate in Computer Science and then either

work here in the United States or

return to Oman and start an educational center for the blind in Masqat.

                                          

Making a Difference

Making A Difference - Building the Community Through Helping the Talented

Making a Difference – Helping the Talented

One of the most obvious challenges in our community is the failure to recognize talent. Talented individuals go unnoticed. While they may eventually do

relatively well for themselves, they feel disappointed as their community had failed them. Nattiq feels that something has to be done and it is demonstrating

that making a difference, in building the community through discovering talent, is possible.

When Nattiq was in Oman training a group of young blind Omanies several years ago, a young individual stood out. Mr. Noah Al Hadidi was without a doubt very

talented. He absorbed knowledge and information like a sponge. What impressed us most was the fact that he continued to stay in touch with Nattiq regularly

providing us with feedback and other useful information. A decision was made to appoint Noah as a Nattiq Champion in Oman and Saudi Arabia. As he nears

the completion of his high school studies, Noah turned to me for help. He wanted to study Computer Science in a university that would accept him knowing

that he is a 4.0 GPA student. This is virtually impossible in the Middle East. No university I know of may admit a blind student in Computer Science. But

knowing that his financials may not support his pursuit of a university degree, we had to brainstorm on how we can secure a full scholarship for him. It

is worth mentioning that Noah is employable as is and I was tempted to offer him a full time job at Nattiq, and I know he would have accepted the offer

without hesitation, but it was not the right thing to do. Noah must go to college and have that wonderful experience first.

I wrote several letters to some influential people in our region requesting their help to secure a scholarship for Noah. One of the people I wrote to is

a dear friend, an activist for blind people in Oman who dedicated her life to help various special needs people especially those with visual impairment.

Mrs. Barka Albakri took the matter to Her Highness Saida Alia Bin Thuwaini AlSaied, a member of the Royal Family in Oman, who discussed the issue with

His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education in Oman.

Noah has the task of selecting a university which may accept his application to study Computer Science. While I have some suggestions for him, I thought

I should write this memo and circulate it to all our partners and friends in order to receive their suggestions as to where the best university for Noah

is. I hope to receive your feedback at auda@nattiq.com. If you wish to contact Noah, you may do so at: Noah@nattiq.com.

I feel that we are demonstrating how a community can be enhanced through helping talented people realize their full potentials. This effort takes the entire

community to help. Thus far many responsible people have stepped forward and did what they felt the right thing to do. We can’t thank them enough.

My sincere thanks to my friend Mrs. Barka Albakri whom I admire and love. I also would like to thank Her Highness Saida Alia Alsaied, His Excellency the

Minister of Higher Education in Oman, the board of Alnoor Institute for the Blind in Oman. I also would like to extend my love and appreciation to my colleague

Mr. Noah Al Hadidi for being who he is and having the talent which must not go unnoticed.

Auda Hazeem

Nattiq Technologies

Gulfnews

Gulfnews: Visually-impaired Al Hadidi sees way to new achievement

Last updated: 23:54 (GMT+04) Monday, March 09, 2009.   Jumada l-Ula 24, 1430.

THE GULF 

Oman

Supplied Picture

Noah Bin Talib Al Hadidi is joining Arkansas State University in the US to pursue further studies in Computer Science.

Visually-impaired Al Hadidi sees way to new achievement

By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief

Last updated: March 09, 2009, 08:08

Muscat: His world is nothing but darkness, but visually impaired Noah Al Hadidi has marched along brightly after one success after another, with

a dream to serve other blind people in future.

After securing 96.31 per cent marks in his Higher Secondary examination from Alnoor Institute for the Blind in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al Hadidi is joining

Arkansas State University in the US to pursue further studies in Computer Science.

"Once I complete my research, I would like to return here and start a science and technology school exclusively for the blind," he told Gulf News about

his dream.

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He is confident that his dream will come true one day. "I want to prove that the blind people can achieve what others with good vision can, after all the

function of the brain is the same for both," reckons the brilliant blind pupil, who will be studying in the US with the other normal students.

One of four siblings, Al Hadidi lost his eyesight at the age of seven months due to retina related complications. "I don't know the reasons but my elder

sister is also blind," he said.
He says that like him most blind people also live normal lives. For that, he says: "Patience is the key."His claim is somewhat justified when one sees Al Hadidi's website, who is backed for his US trip by the Al Noor School for the Blind in Oman.

The site is at (http://www.batechno.com). "I have had help from my blind Jordanian friend Mohammad Alshra in developing this website and we plan to take

it further," he said. He says that visually impaired people can do anything on computers through digital documents.

"Like me there are so many blind people who are good with the computers," he said.

Al Hadidi also pointed out that computers had helped improve awareness among the blind people as well as about them.

However, at the same time, he rues lack of Arabic material in Braille. "We do have some Braille work in literature but very little Braille material for

science studies," he said, adding that someone must take it up to create more and more Braille material in Arabic.

He thanked the Al Noor School for the Blind in Oman and his mentor and Omani philanthropist Barka Al Bakry, who is actively involved in improving the lives

of visually impaired Omanis.

Although the latest figures are not available, according to Al Bakry, there could be fewer blind people in Oman now than the 11,000 counted during the 2003

census. "Medical services have improved and also people are more aware now, helping us reduce the population of the blind," she said.

There may be only 11,000 blind people in Oman but Al Hadidi would like the authorities to consider their needs. One such, he pointed out, was the need to

install talking traffic lights. "In many countries they have speaking traffic lights for the visually impaired. Why can't we have it?"

INSIGHT

Facts and figure

list of 4 items

• Oman has about 11,000 blind.

• There are 110 students studying at the sole blind school, Al Noor, in Muscat.

• Education authorities in Oman have agreed to social

worker Barka Al Bakry’s request to admit partially blind children to normal schools.

• Noah Bin Talib Al Hadidi is the first blind Omani student going abroad for higher studies.

list end

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