Speakers at a conference have emphasized that intellectually challenged persons have lot more potential than ordinary ones and they should let them prove their abilities. They should also be provided right to work and live a happy life. Adolescent phase for such persons is very crucial as they experience emotional, mental and physical changes, which warrants immediate attention, awareness and support by parents and other caregivers.
The speakers were addressing second annual conference on “The Rights of the Intellectually Challenged to Work” held at a local hotel by the Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) for the intellectually challenged in collaboration with TVET reform support programme to celebrate the International Day of Disability. Decision makers from the corporate, development, government and education sectors attended the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, Founder Principal of KVTC Robina Inam emphasised that intellectually challenged persons had extra skills but needed proper care and guidance to utilise their potential. “Their abilities should not be underestimated. “They have right to work in better environment. There is no structured training programme for such kids till 1988. Later, the KVTC was formed in 1991. Mr Burger is the first corporate sector unit to provide jobs to intellectually challenged persons which must be acknowledged and appreciated,” she told.
“The KVTC has rehabilitated over 1,000 such people in Pakistan and helped more than 500 graduates to get jobs so far. Shelter workshop is the first ever project in the country in which 250 persons are enrolled in campus facility and 40 in home-based facilities. The centre has special focus on sports and so far its kids have clinched 960 medals during last 22 years by participating in special Olympics. Now, we are working on formulation of curricula to suit needs of such persons,” Robina Inam highlighted.
The South Asian Self-Advocate for the Autism Spectrum, Designer and Autism sufferer, Fazli Azeem shared his own story and achievements with the audience and gave tips to other special persons aiming to grasp their status in society. “We should not talk about the things what a child cannot do rather we should talk about the skills which a child can utilise. Abilities of such kids should be discussed,” he stressed.
“Every individual is unique and be encouraged to turn his or her interests and hobbies into career activities but it is time taking. If interest of a kid is low than he or she should be made exciting. Let them try different things to give them confidence and exposure,” Fazli Azeem suggested.
Supply Chain Association of Pakistan president and father of intellectually challenged boy, Qaysar Alam shared his own family experience that how they lived in denial phase of their son disability due to lack of awareness about the condition. “There is weak legislation to protect rights of intellectually challenged persons which highlight urgency of public awareness among general public so they should take such kids seriously,” he added.
Consultant Shahnawaz Agha said it was combatant to them all as a collective society to uplift these kids as it was a noble service indeed. Chief guest of the conference, Senior Education Minister Nisar Khuhro appreciated the efforts of KVTC for raising awareness about intellectually challenged persons and assured government all out support to facilitate such persons. “Pakistan took 50 odd years to incorporate compulsory free education rights of children up to 15 years of age. Public sector has failed to fulfil expectations of public at most of times but still there is a hope that nation can do a lot to cope challenges,” he was optimistic.
Director Projects Farhan Khan and Khursheed Khan from GIZ also spoke on the occasion. During the seminar, special children of KVTC presented their performance on cultural and national songs apart from demonstration of martial arts techniques.