Harara: Society Shows No Change Towards Disabled People

By: Rania El Bendary

Ahmed Harara, a visually impaired political activist who lost his eyesight throughout the January 25 Revolution, said in an event held at AUC Wednesday that society continues to hold the same stereotypes against disabled people.

Egyptians did not show any change in their behavior towards the disabled after the revolution; they still give the same sympathetic looks, same inequality in treatment and no active help, Harara said.

The activist spoke in the event organized by “Zayee Zayak,” which translates to We Are Equal; a campaign which raises awareness about the challenges facing disabled people in an attempt to change how society views them and to show that like all people, they are fully effective individuals.

Losing his eyesight after being hit by birdshots in both of his eyes throughout the revolution, Harara became the center of media attention.

Heba Hagrass, one of the disabled guest speakers at the event and an AUC graduate, took the stage to call for the rights of the disabled.

“[2013] is a very special year for disabled people in Egypt because the constitutional article regarding the rights of the disabled has finally been amended,” said Hagrass.

She added that the article ensures full government responsibility towards the educational, economical, social and cultural needs of disabled people.

“Equality, justice and equal opportunities are the three keywords that define progress regarding the rights of the disabled in the new constitution,” she said.

She added that disabled persons have the right to get educated, but for them, education doesn’t stop at being accepted into universities.

Hagrass said that the schools they get enrolled in should provide them with facilities that facilitate their learning process in accordance to their disabilities.

“We have to congratulate ourselves as we’re the only ones whose constitutional article got amended. Yes, it came after constant nagging and negotiations, but we made it at the end,” said Harara.

The event started with a march across campus by disabled individuals and supporters from Prince AlWaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Hall (HUSS) to Bartlett Plaza.

After the march, a performance by “Sunshine Group,” a band that consists of visually impaired members who play famous Egyptian songs, took place on the Bartlett Plaza stage.

Mayada El Fahl, a political science senior, said, “[It was a] very impressive performance, I was amazed when I found out that the musicians are blind and capable of playing such amazing music.”

Three booths were placed in the plaza to sell products made by people with disabilities to the AUC community on the day of the event, which was followed by football and basketball tournaments for the disabled individuals in attendance.