Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • How a trek led to the start of a larger journey – My Take by P Devendra, Founder, Nayan Foundation

How a trek led to the start of a larger journey – My Take by P Devendra, Founder, Nayan Foundation

Get-hooked December 18, 2018
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
0

In My Take this week, Ponnalagar Devendra, founder-president of Nayan Foundation in Mumbai, talks about the many different ways in which he is working to break the biases towards blind and low vision people.

I reject the word impossible, not just for myself but for everyone who has a vision impairment. Right from my childhood, I have been an outgoing person and have never allowed my disability to come in the way of participating in any activities.

My early schooling was at the Happy Home School for the Blind in Mumbai. It was while studying at Ruia College that I started taking part in indoor games like chess and carrom as well as sports like cricket.

Around this time, I also joined the NSS and would go on treks with sighted people. While I enjoyed them, I also realized how such outings for vision impaired people were always planned by the sighted. There were no such activities for us.

I started thinking about how to change this and it motivated me to plan a trek with 13 visually impaired people to Shivneri Fort in 2010. This was quite special as it was the first time that visually impaired people went on a trek without volunteers to support them.

The excursion was a turning point in my life. I realized that blind people do not have to wait for others and are more than capable of exploring their world if they had the courage to go out of their comfort zones.

In 2011 I formed a trekking group under the name of Nayan Foundation. We not only did treks but started planning other activities like chess competitions and tree plantation drives.

Since then the NGO has consistently looked to set benchmarks and achieve new milestones when it comes to empowering visually impaired people. We reach out to blind boys and girls and I personally train them. We formed the first Dahi Handi group of blind boys in 2014 called Nayan Drishtiheen Govinda Pathak. We also set up a similar group of blind girls in 2017. The girls group is active in Nashik and Alibaug in Maharashtra.

Apart from this, Nayan Foundation also works towards creating employment opportunities for visually impaired people. Safety and security, especially of blind girls, is an issue and we offer lessons in self defense. We have an international-level taekwondo coach Usha Shirke working with the girls.

In 2016 Nayan Foundation teamed up with the Netra Group and organised the world’s first yoga utsav by visually Impaired people. The goal is to show that given support and encouragement, people with disabilities can aim for the stars.

Going forward my dream is to launch English medium schools in Maharashtra for blind people. The community also struggles for basic facilities like playgrounds and sports complexes. I want to change that”.

Watch in Sign Language

0

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Technology
    Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
  • Get-hooked,Headlines
    Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Contribue to Newz Hook. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Christine Ha has covered her eyes and the words how you see me are on the back of her hand

Get-hooked

Blind MasterChef winner Christine Ha is the face of month-long campaign this International Women’s Day

Matthew Walzer is wearing a blue shirt

Get-hooked

Matthew Walzer’s letter continues to make an impact nearly 10 years later

Invite to the telecast & webstreaming of the 2021 CavinKare Ability Awards at 7pm today.

Get-hooked

Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Images of the 5 apps featured in article

Technology

Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Employment

Hatti Kaapi's coffee cups bring cheer for many reasons

Get-hooked

#FutureChamps- Art & color make up 11-year-old Ayman's world

Technology

#TechThursdays - EMx turns the spotlight on early intervention & inclusive education in the 3rd edition

Get-hooked

Understanding Socializing Benefits for Children with Autism

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook is a media site focusing on Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight stories that share insights into the lives of people with disabilities, offer solutions and create collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who share knowledge about disability, inclusion & accessibility.

Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.