Kabul [Afghanistan], January 4: Despite being blind, Reshad Hassan is busy writing books in Braille. He dismisses the idea that vision loss is a disability that can prevent a determined person from living a normal life in society.
"My job here in the National Press Braille (a publishing house) is writing books in Braille. I copy a book word by word and point to point to Braille without pictures," Hassan told Xinhua in his office recently.
Wearing eyeglasses to hide his blindness and having a master's degree in crisis management, Hassan currently works as a permanent staff member of the National Press Braille in Afghanistan.
"I am very happy with my work here and earning a reasonable income to support my family," said the bread earner of a four-member family.
The books written in Braille by Hassan, after proofreading and correction by another blind man named Jawad, will go for publication, Hassan said.
"Learning Braille is vital for anyone with a loss of vision. Learning Braille facilitates visually impaired persons to find a job, earn income, and run their daily life properly," Hassan said, as the United Nations marks World Braille Day on Jan. 4 to promote Braille as a means of education for people with vision loss.
Ali Zia Amini is a student of administration and management at an institute that provides higher education for visually impaired people.
"Learning in Braille school has changed my life positively, and that is why my life is on track," said Amini, who was born blind 23 years ago.
"My proposal to the government, aid agencies, as well as neighboring countries is to provide necessary equipment to the Braille schools to help the visually impaired people in Kabul and provinces to update their knowledge," Amini spoke softly.
"My dream is to write books and articles in Braille for people with vision loss so that they can learn something and use them in their daily life," he said.
So far, more than 4,000 textbooks have been published by the National Press Braille for students in Braille schools since the industry was established in the post-war country four years ago.
Said Safir Mansoori, a public relations officer of the Technical & Vocational Education & Training Authority (TVET-A), said more than 4,000 students, including boys and girls suffering from blindness and deafness, are studying in TVET-A educational centers.
He added that the TVET-A currently has 26 educational centers for special students. It will add five more centers in the new educational year (March 23, 2026) and aims to open educational centers in all 34 provinces of the country in the future.
Source: Xinhua News Agency