2022-03-31
Aishwarya Pillai
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Aishwarya Pillai - Rehab consultant

Think of the word Painting. What comes to our mind? The beauty of colors, the strokes, and a visual treat of creating a part of life around. In simple words, it's visual art that combines with soul to bring alive beautiful creations. But think of those who have blindness; can they enjoy this art form like a sighted person? You may say "No," but you may change your opinion once you read this article. A flashback to my life 12 years ago…. I see myself as a student aspiring to be a filmmaker.
Art has always fascinated me. But unfortunately, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and I lost my eyesight. The world fell apart in front of me. I couldn't do anything.
Back then, besides losing my vision, I also lost my sense of hearing, smell, taste. I was heading for paralysis in my right limb. In addition, my doctor said I might only have three months to live. Three months? That's all I've got to live this life? I used to lie down in bed thinking about what had become of me. But it is the fact that life gives us two choices; one is to sit and cry over your wound or get up despite the pain and walk ahead. Perhaps I took the second route, bringing me where I am today.

It wasn't an easy journey to rise after the fall; it certainly took time. Months passed until I recuperated as my other senses except for my eyesight. I had an urge to do something and not be wasted space. In 2012, I joined LV Prasad Eye Institute, wherein I was trained in Assistive Technology. Where I learned that when all doors close, one for you will open. I also realized that I am not the only one who is blind; but there' are many others like me. I became more confident, and my zeal to make my life more meaningful was sparked here.

In 2013, I got a call from LV Prasad Eye Institute to join there as a Rehabilitation Counselor. I have never looked back as life took a new turn. Besides having the best team to work with, I counseled people who were like me, hopeless and in a state of shock. I used to see my old self in them. I used to tell them that they needed to take that one step that would change their life for good and gave them all possible information that helped them become independent. I cannot forget the moments when those people I had counseled would come back to us with a big smile and narrate the stories of what they had achieved. It was simply a fantastic experience to sit there and listen to them.

There was so much I had given up when I lost my eyesight; my ambition to be a filmmaker and my passion for art. But I never thought these would come knocking at my door once again. Talking of filmmaking, I got opportunities to write scripts and direct awareness videos at my workplace. It certainly was impossible without my team, who trusted me and encouraged me to do more projects. One such project was an audio movie for persons with vision loss, titled "I'm Possible." What was different was that anyone with vision loss could listen to it and comprehend it without anyone's description. My happiness had no bounds when released on 8th March 2015.

I had no clue that I would get back to my passion for artwork. I was invited to a painting gallery in 2018, wherein, sadly, I could not enjoy all those beautiful paintings as they were all two-dimensional. That's when the idea of tactile Painting came to my mind. I started reading about this type of art and worked on it in a way that any person with vision loss will be able to do themselves. My first question was how they would perceive colors. I believe that every color has an emotion, just like music. For example, if I say "Red," one would either think of passion or anger. Similarly, if I say "Yellow," it could remind us of happiness. So the description of colors in my world of blindness was through their associated emotion.

My next step was how to make the paintings tactile. I thought of many household materials that one could use to add 3D effects to their artwork. So that's when I started using aluminum foil which could be shaped into any 3D object, layered with paper, and then colored. I also used other secondary materials such as paper, beads, tissue paper,
paper mash, etc., as and when required.

The 3rd step was how one could color the foreground on the canvas; for example, how will they differentiate the margin between the sky and the sea. The solution was quite simple when I started using a garbage bag to cover one area while I painted the other area. Then I glued all the tactile objects on the canvas, finally creating tactile paintings that everyone, including persons with blindness, could enjoy. So far, I have created 15 paintings, and my affair with Painting certainly doesn't seem to end there! It's only the beginning, I'd say. When I started doing tactile Painting, I got an opportunity to participate in art exhibitions; one such event was "Art for Inclusion." by India Inclusion Foundation displayed beautiful paintings of eight persons with disabilities from across India. The memories of it are still in my heart.

As I experimented and became bold with materials and colors in my paintings. I was keen that people like me who cannot see should also enjoy this branch of art. In my endeavor, I was able to train sixteen persons with vision loss with the help of my team at my workplace. The masterpieces these artists created were also displayed in an exhibition that was appreciated by many.

I am writing this down not intending to say, "See how good I am or see what I have achieved", but I want to give away a message saying that if you decide to take that one step. However difficult it might be. You will undoubtedly walk a long distance. When you stop by and look at your life; you will be surprised that you walked so far carrying a bundle of beautiful memories in your heart.

I believe that nothing is impossible once you set your heart on something, and everything after that will undoubtedly seemworkable. And it's Possible.

My journey would not have been what it is without the support of theInstitute for Vision Rehabilitation, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. First, it showed me how to be an independent person by rehabilitating me. I came here and met many like me. I felt I was not the only one fighting the world of blindness, but there are many, and their lives have indeed transformed into inspiring stories. The place changed me, too; that gave me a name and made me a confident woman.

Established in 1992, the Institute for Vision Rehabilitation, LV Prasad Eye Institute is a comprehensive rehabilitation center that has provided services to over 2,00,000 persons with visual impairment. These services include Counselling and Guidance, Early Intervention Unit, Low Vision Services, IT Training, Digital Library, Livelihood Skills Development program, Placement serves, Helpline services, Special Needs Vision Clinic,
Independent Living Skills Training, Community Based Rehabilitation, and much more. The best part of working here and being a beneficiary is that you don't feel like you have a disability and are like any other person. Moreover, it has been my personal experience working with Dr. Beula Christy, Head of- the Institute for Vision Rehabilitation is when she extends tremendous support in whatever you do. She never doubted me when I went to her and shared my ideas to direct an audio movie and create a painting. It has always been a green signal, and I will never be able to forget what this center has done to me. It is not my story alone, but I am sure many would reflect the same.