Pooja Ullalkar.

The time Ramesh informed us about the selection of courses and when I went through the write ups this course interested me the most. Moreover it was on first come first basis so I was a little tensed as I really wanted to get into this course. At that time my mind set was that I will design for the blind. But after getting through the course I realized that its not me who's made a difference in the life of the visually impaired, its them who has made a difference.
The first day of our course Narendra explained how we should not sympathize we should empathize. At first I did not get it. But when he explained about how when blind are more aware about things around them and though we can see we are least bothered and unaware about what lies around us. Then on from that day he has been giving us assignments to understand the blind better and then get onto designing products that can better facilitate them. We went out for a lot of field work to know how blind friendly our streets are and to start with our college. What policies are offered etc.? We had to design visiting cards and hence we were introduced to braille. We all knew that a language existed known as braille but I am pretty sure no one before this course took the initiative to actually learn it or even know more about it. It's really interesting when we go deep into the subject. We all were then told to design t-shirts that interest the blind. Everyone has diverse ideas. Our next assignment was that we make posters telling people how to empathize and not sympathize . now we all are working to make Srishti blind friendly. Also we got a chance to interview a very intellectual blind person. And by the things he said to us we were really taken a back so Ishiyeta and I thought that we should make a documentary about the problems he faces. Hence we are working on it at the moment. We will be putting it up on Wednesday during the exhibition. What I have personally learnt is that, "We need to be the change that we want to see in the world." I have started seeing blind with a different perspective after this course. Its amazing of how its changed me and my appreciation towards life.