You are on page 1of 3

Trinayani is a registered trust involved in creating awareness and sensitizing the public,

especially the academic community about issues pertaining to disability. We at Trinayani


believe that neglecting the cause of including disabled people in the mainstream of social
life, happens more out of ignorance on the part of the decision makers.
We have therefore launched a Disability Awareness Drive and our first project was
“LOOK AT ME” A “Disability Awareness Film Festival” which was held in ten
educational institutions of Kolkata from the 13th to the 22nd Of November 2006.
Trinayani uses the medium of films, interactive workshops and seminars to create
awareness within the academic community on issues pertaining to disability.

Our objective is to try and reorganize the incorrect perceptions of


‘Disability’ prevalent in the minds of people, especially those involved in
the educational system and corporate sectors. We want to get them to
challenge how we define “normalcy” in areas of life. The films chosen and
created also questioned socially defined categories of normalcy and ability.

Some of the films that were screened during the festival were as follows:

• In the land of the Deaf.


• Colour of Paradise
• Colour of the Blind
• Iqbal
• Anjali
• Chhoo Lengay Akash
• Five 30 to 60 seconds films on disability made by professional film makers.
• 22 minutes film based on success stories of people with disabilities previously
aired on Doordarshan.
• Disabling Imageries series from London.

Besides, we had also screened a few short films that Trinayani has produced through
professional and known Film makers.

A booklet tilted “LOOK AT ME” was distributed amongst students and teachers, for
them to take back home useful information about the world of people with disabilities.

We also conducted two hour workshop titled “UNDRSTANDING DISABILITY” for


regular teachers. This module is designed to facilitate the process of Inclusive Education
within the Sarva Shiksha Abhyaan program followed by the government of India.
The crux of the matter that we at TRINAYANI want to drive home, is as follows:

According to conservative estimates, approximately 6% of India’s population is disabled


and many myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities prevail in our society.

The general public seems to be lacking a basic understanding of disability issues.

In addition, people with disabilities rarely appear in broadcast media or films, and, when
they do, two distinct but predictable images are portrayed. Whereas one set of images
constructs the disabled persons as the ‘problem’, the other set, at best symbolizes the
threshold of human challenge, rendering disability as heroic and admirable.

Consequently, what has emerged is a stereotypical treatment which has left people with
disabilities highly marginalized and hence dissatisfied.

People with disabilities are usually seen as incapable of participating in everyday life.

They are isolated and excluded from community activities due to physical barriers
making them practically invisible in everyday living.

We do not see them, we do not go to school with them, we do not work with them and we
do not shop with them. And this approach makes it hard for them to be a part of the
mainstream society.

Thus the need of the hour is to highlight the presence of people with disabilities in
everyday situations and portray them as integral and productive members of the society
by shifting the focus from their impairments. Moreover, its time to inculcate in people the
habit of understanding differences and thus create sensitive and aware individuals.

We need to remember that "Psychological Acceptance" comes before actual "Physical


Integration".

Films have a crucial role in facilitating this. All over the world, Disability Awareness
Film Festivals have become a popular and effective way of raising awareness about
disability issues and helping break down stereotypes about persons with disabilities.
Our OBJECTIVES during the year 2007-2008.

We at TRINAYANI are working towards organizing the “LOOK AT ME”, Disability


Awareness Film Festival and dedicated workshops and seminar for teachers and students
of regular schools all over the country. We would like to reach out to everyone who is
directly and indirectly connected with the academic community. We hope:

• To bring about an attitudinal change leading to an acceptance of children with


disability in regular schools, and thus building bonds of camaraderie and
friendship in all.

• To educate and sensitize school children on disability issues and increase


"Appropriate Visibility", break misconceptions, project correct and positive
portrayals of people with disabilities and present facts about them.

Another aspect of “LOOK AT ME” Disability Awareness Film Festival 2006 was
AUDIO DESCRIBED SCREENINGS OF FILMS FOR PEOPLE WITH VISUAL
IMPAIRMENT

As you are aware that persons with blindness and low vision also watch movies but they
follow only the dialogues and try to perceive what the filmmaker has offered to the
spectators. Lot of the story and crucial information in the movie is provided through
facial expressions, costumes, ambience, environment and body language. Most of such
information is unable to reach the persons with blindness many of such things are
perceived by them by just mere guess based on audio clues.

Here comes in AUDIO DESCRIBED FILMS, where the silent portions in the movies are
filled with appropriate commentary such that the continuity of the film is not lost. And
persons with vision impairment can relate to the dialogues that follow.

“If you can’t see doesn’t mean you can’t dream.” is what we believe in, and so
TRINAYANI screened the Audio Described Version of the Film Munnai Bhai
MBBS for an audience of students from the five Schools for the Blind along with
students from regular schools on the 14th of November 2006 which is celebrated as
Children’s Day as part of its Disability Awareness Film Festival.

We wish to continue to do many such screenings all over the country to include
people with visual problems with regular filmgoer.

You might also like