Every Closed Eye Is Not Sleeping, And Every Open Eye Is Not Seeing!
“Where are you Lulu?” I called out to talk to my parrot, Lulu.
“Here, right above your head on this small branch,” he responded. I had difficulty spotting Lulu hidden in green foliage of the mango tree. “I was watching you yesterday speak to a girl student. It appeared to me that she was visually challenged.”
“Never knew you follow me, Lulu. Yes, she was visually challenged.” I said. “She was appearing for placement interviews. She said that some of the interviewers showed insensitivity in interviews. The mere recollection brought her to tears; it must have hurt her deeply.”
“And I saw tears in your eyes too! Men become sensitive only when they grow old!!”
“May be you are right. People always thought of me as a man with the heart of a solid rock! My children now laugh when they see me crying while watching a movie.”
“Crying? So what did you discuss with her? Did you offer her a job?” Lulu asked.
“I am no longer employed, Lulu, you know that very well. She had several questions on her mind. The reluctance of organisations to offer her a suitable job was finally taking toll, her confidence was eroding.”
“Hmmm…….it is unfortunate, and I hope she gets a good job soon. But I have seen visually challenged persons working with speed on their laptop. Don’t your fellow professionals know that they use software called ‘Jaws? It literally talks to them.’”
“Life would have been different if HR managers were so well informed! But I can’t really blame them. I too did not know about the software and that they do not have a handicap when it comes to working with laptop.”
“Is being visually challenged really a handicap? I remember what happened when you screened a movie for your students. The most insightful observations were made by a visually challenged student who actually ‘heard’ a movie.” Lulu wondered.
“I remember that day. I was actually shocked to hear him raise some questions and observations. I was then so moved ….I had to search for words. Good that he did not see my moist eyes.”
“So visually challenged persons can understand the intricacies of human emotions. I guess they might be better than others at that.”
“Yes, I would agree.”
“Is rational thinking affected if you are visually challenged?” Lulu asked.
“Not at all. The two are not connected. I mean some may be better at it and others not so, but it has nothing to do with their being visually challenged.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You human beings believe that you see with your eyes. The fact is that it is your brain that “perceives” what you think you see.” Lulu said.
“I agree Lulu.”
“You have to make an effort to see things….to perceive them and that too correctly. Remember perception is intentional.”
“Sometimes that is not enough. There is also a question about the safety of visually challenged people in the minds of recruiters.”
“Nonsense.” Lulu shot back.
“What?”
“I wonder why you just don’t see what goes around. People actually are more protective of a visually challenged person in open spaces and on streets. And so they do in offices.”
“Hmmm…..let me think what you are saying…..are you saying that it is all about being socially conscious and inclusive?”
“That is right, but it is such a cold and inert statement. I like what Bill Cosby said.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“Every Closed Eye Is Not Sleeping, And Every Open Eye Is Not Seeing.” Lulu quoted him as he perched on my laptop and looked at me meaningfully.
Vivek
Thanks for sharing Bill Cosby's quote.
This is a true story. Thanks Chandrika.
Very rightly said Vivek. It is sad that India has no special policies to help people with physical or mental challenges survive independently using the faculties that God deemed fit to give them. It is really annoying to see the condescending and patronizing attitude most people have towards them.
Superlike!
It is one thing to make world class infrastucture that is compatible to people with special needs and one thing to be accepting people with special needs. yes this is true organizations have bias. And this is what is a differentiating factor between different HR professionals.
My request to others and my ask to self is not to see recruiting with people as special needs as tickmarks in "diversity" checklist.
map jobs to skills and competencies of people, not ro presence or absence of an organ.
Very nice quote and so true. None so blind as those whose hearts are closed to understanding. Someone asked Helen Keller if there was anything worse than being blind. She said, ‘Yes, to have sight but no vision.’
These two persons I know have literally no limitations. In fact they are better than most of us in many respects. I hope when in position of power we will all do the right thing..
Thanks for sharing – beautiful as usual each time we learn something different from your sharing. Thank you once again
daisy
Dear Vivek,
Thank you for sharing this. In fact, it feels great since we at Standard Chartered hired around 10 visually impaired staff in 2010 who have now successfully established them in our Tele Sales team. And yes, we use the 'JAWS' platform.
Rgds!
Really touching..and definitely gives one some food for thought!
Scintillating read. Nicely collaborated two true stories. Thanks for sharing.
There are numerous stories of visually challenged people doing great job! Here is an example where they are actually making Boiler components for IOCL. Great!!! Link here: http://www.sefindia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=44127