Not long ago, I started to read about Turkish-born artist, Esref Armagan, the person I got to know about through an unrelated Google search, when an article about him caught my eye. Using colors, perspective, shadow, and light, Esref attracts many people and amazes even more. I was struck by his work with paints. He has an elusive capacity to create an astonishing art and that is sufficient to make him exceptional, if you took disability out of the equation. Esref Armagan is visually impaired since birth. He had no direct visual experience but is able to paint sky, birds, and ocean. You may wonder how did he learn about colors and draw his paintings as he has never been able to see around. Beyond his sight limitation, he possesses an exceptional intellect which is beyond comprehension.

On 29th June, 2019, I was scheduled to visit Binae welfare institute. The objective of this visit was to meet with Safira Bibi, an inspiring public speaker and a student of mass media, Safira is now utilizing her learning to enable others to find their way. “I’ve always been passionate about to work for the personal development especially of those who are visually impaired that is why I leaped the opportunity when I’d been called by Binae” She tells me during the course of our interview.

Safira has lost 95% of her sight due to degenerative eye condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which affect the retina, cause vision loss as the light sensing cells of the retina gradually deteriorate. But it surely doesn’t contribute to her identity. One could possibly assume that she may not be able to conduct her daily life by herself and need a sighted person always, she may be incapable of reading or writing independently. But if you have a stereotypical assumption that she can never live a productive life, then that’s the wrong way to go about her. “I was the first blind student from Pakistan to attend the yearlong Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program in USA” she tells me. “From where I’d learned to accept myself the way I am and I committed myself to share what I’ve learned”

Read the full article at: Dunya News Blogs