IBM and PAVI program graduate seven instructors for visually impaired in computer application CAIRO: IBM and the Parents Association of People with Visual Impairments (PAVI) celebrated the graduation of seven certified instructors and four trainers of computer skills for the visually disabled. Yet, during the joyful event, many of the graduates expressed their dismay that companies refuse to give them the chance to prove they are efficient employees because of their visual disability. Multinational companies claim to extend equal opportunities for all job applicants, says Mohamed Abdel Raaouf, a graduate of the program and a fresh graduate of the American University in Cairo with a specialization in marketing. Abdel Raaouf says he has been through many job interviews but wasn t even given the opportunity to demonstrate his efficiency or qualifications. Give us the chance, then judge, he says, referring to the three-month probation rule applied in all companies, whereby if he is deemed inefficient, he won t get a full time job. Be an equal opportunity employer for real, he continues, noting that there are high-ranking executives and CEOs abroad with disabilities. A law is on the books stating that companies, especially in the public sector, should hire people with disabilities, amounting to five percent of their total staff. Unfortunately, as many PAVI associates and employees note, this law ends up in superficial application. Some employees with disabilities are even instructed not to approach the workplace and simply receive their salaries. It ends up to be a job with no work and work with no meaning, says Philip Maher, one of the graduates of the program. But while this law also confuses visual impairments with the concept of disabilities in general, it is not alone in this regard. Sawsan El-Messiri, PAVI chairperson, notes that the government does the same when it comes to schooling. Established schools for children with special needs cater to children with visual impairments. But, explains El-Messiri, children with visual imparities could be easily integrated in regular schools; countries around the world have already followed similar policies. Schooling for the visually impaired, in general, is lacking in Egypt. El-Messiri notes that technology has now destroyed previously prevailing obstacles facing the visually impaired in their education and training. But Egypt is still struggling with the basics, where some students with visual disabilities don t have easy access to proper audio taped curriculums and the number of schools and universities that cater to them are limited. Nothing says that people with visual imparities can t major in engineering, she adds. Technology has made it possible. Yet this field and other scientific majors are still local taboos to the visually impaired who constitute four percent of the population. She notes that daily life is now much easier for the visually impaired, and they can in fact be independent individuals, thanks to technology. But, yet again, Egypt lags behind. El-Messiri adds that, like schooling, qualifying training is also lacking. This is due to various factors: the costly special computer equipment that facilitates access to technology and Internet (sets of hardware and software cost from LE 62,000 to LE 81,000); the absence of awareness of the existence of such technology; the lack of qualified instructors; and the haphazard training programs. This is where the association and its joint program with IBM figure in. During the same event, which was held last Tuesday, PAVI and the company celebrated the establishment of the first IBM authorized training center in computer applications for the visually impaired. The center would qualify its trainees in the realm of communications and information technology (IT). The government, along with private and public efforts, should get together to disseminate awareness in a way that helps this group to get involved, communicate and become a productive and effective power that participates in building the nation s future, says El-Messiri. The duo, IBM and PAVI, is also organizing a training program to upgrade the capacities of educators and teachers in schools catering for the visually impaired in six governorates. El-Messiri also highlighted the cooperation of the government and numerous NGOs in this field. But more could be done, she continues. For example, the government could eliminate taxes and customs on the required expensive equipment to make them more affordable locally, she suggests. One of the most important objectives is to train the visually impaired and provide new work opportunities appropriate to their health circumstances, which [would] help them compete in the working market, says Amr Ghoneim, IBM Egypt general manager. If people say technology is the magical wand in education [for the visually impaired] I say technology is the magical tool in the workplace, adds Maher. But Maher also notes the required change in social perception of the visually impaired population; he points to the look of sympathy the visually disabled receive in the workplace in spite of their qualifications. According to El-Messiri, three of the recipients of PAVI s educational program have won the top places in international IT Olympics. PAVI has big plans and many targets, including training 56 trainers this year that require both financial and moral support. The question is: Does someone like Mohamed Ayman have a chance on the local scale? Ayman is a 12 year-old, and is the youngest recipient of the IBM certificate, not just among the visually impaired, but also on the national level. He was fortunate to get the opportunity to find a center and a program that recognizes his advanced talents, but even with all his ability, the future is still uncertain for him.
