by Sanaa Kamal
RAMALLAH, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian non-governmental organizations have recently launched a campaign to facilitate the integration of people with visual impairment into the local community.
The campaign, dubbed Waem, or harmony in Arabic, was launched in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh on the occasion of the International White Cane Safety Day, with the hope that it will be expanded to include all Palestinian territories.
The White Cane Safety Day falls on Oct. 15 each year to raise the global awareness of the contribution of blind and visually impaired people to their communities.
Mohammad al-Omla, a resident of al-Bireh who suffers from visual impairment, warmly welcomed the campaign, highlighting the importance of providing daily services to meet the requirements of people like him.
According to the founders, the campaign aims to introduce Braille system in restaurant menus as well as the elevators of shopping malls in Ramallah and al-Bireh by lobbying for relevant public policies.
"I have never been to a restaurant that uses a Braille menu. This makes it impossible for me to rely on myself whenever I want to order food," al-Omla, who has a master's degree in Arabic language, told Xinhua.
The 24-year-old said offering a Braille menu will make him feel comfortable as he can place orders without asking for help.
Basim Bani Shamsia, director of project at the Palestinian Vision Foundation that launches the campaign, said efforts are being made to encourage restaurants to add Braille menus and elevator firms to provide Braille buttons and sound systems.
"So far, we manage to sign agreements with 17 restaurants and cafes in Ramallah and al-Bireh to print Braille food and beverage menus for the visually impaired," he added.
The campaign also aims to open a public discussion with the authorities to push through legislation facilitating public services for visually impaired people, according to Bani Shamsia.
Mohammed Abu Khalil, director of Behematkum Association, a local organization dedicated to supporting and empowering youth with disabilities that co-launches the campaign, told Xinhua that about 400,000 Palestinians, or seven percent of the total population, suffer various physical disabilities.
"The Palestinian society needs more awareness to accept people with disabilities and facilitate their natural integration into life," Abu Khalil said.
According to data issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 37 percent of people with disabilities in the Palestinian territories suffer unemployment.
Ziad Amru, head of the Palestine Association for the Visually Impaired Persons, said there are many obstacles to the integration of visually impaired people into the Palestinian society.
"We suffer from the lack of policies and legislation to bring justice for the disabled, especially the visually impaired people," Amru noted. Enditem
