Bhutanese society is said to be aware and supportive of those visually impaired persons. Although the infrastructure are not too friendly to those living with a disability, the visually impaired persons said they get support from society. To further create awareness on the support they need, more than fifty visually impaired persons walked the core town of Thimphu, yesterday. This is also to observe the international White Cane Day for the first time in the country.
A group of visually impaired people walked the streets of Thimphu town without stopping the traffic. They said if they stop the traffic flow to walk and create awareness, it would not be effective. They wanted to walk as any other normal day and seek support from the public, especially motor vehicle drivers.
“Even if we are visually impaired, all we need is opportunities and people’s support. So the main objective of our walk today is to create awareness to the society that if they see a person carrying a white cane, they are visually impaired and that they need support. It is also to seek support from the drivers to slow down their vehicle when they come across visually impaired persons,” said Yonten Jamtsho, a White Cane Day Participant.
“We cannot walk far without a company because of the high population of people and lots of vehicles. Also, some paths are narrow and risky. But when we walk short distances, people do support us. Our society is aware of the challenges we face and the support we get from them has improved drastically. People can understand us now,” added Dupthob Zangmo, also a Participant.
They said they are thankful to the society for their support and that they hope to get a more friendly environment.
One of the oldest teacher and counsellor of the blind school in Bhutan said the society should always support and consider the people living with a disability in the community.
“It is to show that there are people living, working and being useful to the society and the country of Bhutan even though being blind. And that is so important to show and make people know that these people are not very much different from us, they are just people with impairments,” said Gro Holm Rypestoel, a Teacher/Counsellor.
She also said Bhutan has to do more in terms of creating a friendly environment to those people living with a disability in the country.
“It is something fairly new to the Bhutanese society and the planning of the town, streets and the pavements were done somewhat before people and the city planners were aware of. There might be some challenges with regard to blindness,” she added.
A cultural event was also organized in the evening by the members of Disabled Persons’ Association of Bhutan to mark the day.
Kinley Dema
