MUSCAT, OCT 19
Ibda’a Al Basira group at the College of Arts and Social Sciences, in cooperation with the Student Affairs Department for Students with Disabilities at Sultan Qaboos University, organised a two-day exhibition titled 'Obour' at Al Andalus Garden recently, coinciding with the International White Cane Day, under the auspices of Dr Mohammed bin Ali al Alawi.
This year’s exhibition carried a humanistic message highlighting the role of the white cane in enabling the visually impaired to move with confidence and independence while continuing their journey of growth and progress. The exhibition’s theme, 'We cross the darkness to see the light', reflected the essence of overcoming challenges and transforming them into steps towards creativity and empowerment.
The exhibition featured five main pavilions, each offering unique educational and interactive experiences. These included the Basira Village, which showcased the group’s achievements; the Student Affairs booth, highlighting services for students with disabilities; and the Technology Village, which displayed innovative applications used in the daily lives of the visually impaired.
The programme also included a Sports Village and an Entertainment Village that hosted a talent stage and “Basira Market", adding vibrancy and inspiration to the event.
Ali bin Hamood al Amri, a student at the College of Education majoring in Arabic Language and one of the visually impaired, explained that the unit offers various services for students with visual, hearing and mobility impairments. He noted that the unit serves as a support centre for current students as well as former ones.
He added that the unit provides advanced devices used by the visually impaired, such as “Braille Sense” devices and “Clover” magnifiers for students with low vision, in addition to converting PDF files into Word documents that can be studied through audio.
He explained that this global six-dot method was developed by Louis Braille for the blind, and that its usage at the university has declined with the availability of more advanced electronic devices that offer greater conveniences. The booth also featured practical demonstrations on how to write letters in Braille, with practical participation from several students.
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