Aishwarya Pillai, Rehabilitation Counselor, Blind Filmmaker, Artist
Before losing my eyesight, I cherished travel as one of my greatest passions. But when my vision faded away, the world transformed into a different place. I reluctantly abandoned my dreams of exploring new destinations on my own. However, with the assistance of innovative technology, I started to regain my independence and reduce my reliance on others. Over the past two years, I took up solo journeys to various Indian cities, made possible by these life-changing technologies. Yet, during my recent visit to Dubai for the annual Accessabilities Expo, my perception of accessibility underwent a profound shift. I realized that genuine accessibility is not solely about assistive technology; it encompasses the very fabric of our infrastructure. In India,
I distinctly remember navigating footpaths riddled with potholes, deteriorating structures, uneven terrain, and vendors obstructing the way. In stark contrast, Dubai boasted well-maintained footpaths, complete with ramps. Even the smallest shops had ramps, and accessible pathways were available on beaches. The only place that my friends who use wheelchairs would not find the ramps was the desert.I gave the roads a thorough cane-scan, but guess what? Not a single pothole wanted to play hide-and-seek with me!
In India, crossing a road independently was a formidable challenge, with vehicles rushing from all directions. In Dubai, whether it was a luxury car or a modest vehicle, drivers uniformly stopped at pedestrian crossings. They even had a button system on the main roads that, when pressed, displayed a green signal for pedestrians to cross safely. I indeed felt like a VIP, well, not a ‘Visually Impaired Person’, but ‘Very Important Person’ whenever I crossed those roads.
Taking an elevator in India could be an uncertain endeavor at best. For someone with vision impairment, it could be a frustrating experience as one is not sure if they have reached the floor they meant to reach. Only a few places, such as airports and select corporate buildings, had elevators with audio feedback. In Dubai, even the smallest elevator incorporated this feature, making it easy for me to ascertain my location.
Beyond the remarkable infrastructure, what truly set Dubai apart was the awareness and sensitivity of its people. They knew how to interact with someone with a visual impairment, yielding the right of way and patiently waiting for me to pass. In contrast, back in my home country, people often seemed oblivious, hurdling over or inadvertently obstructing my path as if I was some kind of video game monster and they had to get to their destination before me.
It’s worth noting that some may argue Dubai’s status as a developed city, and I don’t contest that fact. Nonetheless, is it unreasonable to hope for a similar transformation in my own country? While developers create advanced and often costly assistive technology, one can’t help but wonder why we don’t invest more in making our infrastructure more accessible. The government often distributes assistive technology products, sometimes without considering the actual needs of the recipients. Could these resources not be redirected toward creating a more inclusive infrastructure? Just pass me a cane, a smartphone for directions, and some friendly pathways, and watch me go from Kashmir to Kanyakumari all on my own. It’s like having a personal tour guide in my pocket! I am sure my friends with visual impairment would agree with me.
I’m not here to blame; I’m simply sharing my thoughts. As someone who calls this country home, don’t I have the right to live with independence and dignity? Enhancing accessibility and improving our infrastructure could make a world of difference, allowing people like me to lead more fulfilling lives in the land we proudly call our own.
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