By, Nur Atiqah Shamsudin
Gombak, October 15, 2024 – IIUM Student Union (IIUMSU), the Disability Services Unit (DSU), and Ibn Ummi Maktum Club (I-MaC) joined forces to celebrate International White Cane Day today, an event dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges and rights of visually impaired and blind individuals and promoting the practise of disability inclusion within the IIUM community.
The day began with a Tazkirah by IIUM academic from the Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences who is blind, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Nizam Bin Barom. His session took place after Zuhr prayer at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque, IIUM Gombak. His inspirational talk focused on the importance of understanding and supporting the blind and visually impaired, aligning with the day’s celebration on the theme of empathy and inclusivity.
Following the Tazkirah, visually impaired and blind students and volunteers participated in a walk around the IIUM campus, starting from Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque and continuing to Riverside, where the RSD Fiesta was taking place. The walk was led by Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement) of the IIUM, Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy Bin Abd. Rahman, demonstrating the university’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus environment.
At Riverside, several speeches highlighted the importance of White Cane Day and the collective responsibility to support visually impaired and blind students at the IIUM. An IIUM student who is blind, Br. Amiruddin Abdullah, shared his personal experiences and challenges while studying. His story shed light on the everyday obstacles faced by the blind, and the courage it takes to navigate these challenges.
Additionally, President of IIUMSU, Br. Ali Karimi Bin Mohd Nasri and President of I-MaC, Br. Ariff Aiman Azmi, addressed the audience, by underscoring the importance of the university’s ongoing initiatives in making the campus more accessible and welcoming for all including those who have disabilities.
The successful event not only celebrated the resilience of the visually impaired but also served as a reminder of the university’s role in building an environment that supports and respects diversity. IIUM continues to lead by example, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and by raising awareness within its community.
As International White Cane Day is recognized globally on every 15 October, the IIUM’s commitment to this cause stands as an important step toward a more accessible and inclusive future at the university,***
