The rehabilitation center for the blind is located in the building of the American University of Central Asia, at 7/1 Aaly Tokombaev Street. The center was opened in 2017 thanks to the initiative of the Federation of the Blind of Kyrgyzstan and the support of the university. AUCA provided several classrooms where courses and training sessions are held.
The instructors at the center are members of the Federation themselves, who have adapted to life without sight. Gulnaz Juzbaeva, the founder of the federation, noted that their goal is to help blind people embark on a path to a full and independent life.
Training at the center lasts six months and is free of charge. Groups are formed through announcements in the media and social networks, with priority given to those who have never had the opportunity to study. Unfortunately, there are young people who did not attend school due to a lack of opportunities; some parents did not allow them to go far from home, and others simply lacked information about such educational institutions. As a result, many blind people remain without a basic education, and our center becomes their first school. We teach them to read in Braille and writing skills. We also assist those who lost their sight in adulthood, as adapting is more challenging for them. Psychologically, it is very difficult—when a person who lived a full life suddenly loses their sight and believes that their life is over. For six months, they must live in the conditions we provide, which helps them step out of their comfort zone and learn to be independent,” explained Gulnaz.
The apartment for student accommodation is located near AUCA. From 9 AM to 6 PM, they study six subjects: reading and writing in Braille, working on computers and smartphones using special programs, self-care skills, English language, and orientation with a white cane. Classes are taught by blind instructors, while the basics of theology are taught by instructors from the Islamic University. Self-care practice takes place in the apartment where they live. They are taught to cook, do household chores, and use household appliances without assistance. Orientation lessons with a white cane are held outdoors in busy areas, where they learn to move safely and cross the street.
Gulnaz noted that classes are held every day from 9 AM to 6 PM—this is almost an eight-hour work schedule necessary for building discipline. When studying at home, blind people lose track of time and discipline. Some sleep until noon and confuse day with night. We instill a routine in them so that after training, they can work and adapt to a normal daily schedule,” she added.
According to Gulnaz, the main challenge in rehabilitation is working on the psychological state of the participants.
“Psychological work is the most challenging part. It is necessary to help people overcome fears and doubts, as blind individuals often have low self-esteem. Society tells them that they cannot do anything. When a person accepts themselves and realizes their condition, then learning becomes significantly easier,” Juzbaeva confidently asserts.
She also shared her experience:
“I also went through the stage of accepting myself as a blind person. Once I was visually impaired and tried to behave like a sighted person. I thought I could hide my blindness and live independently, but it turned out to be extremely difficult.”“Now I understand that I need to live as a blind person, accept it, and develop the skills necessary for life without sight. This has significantly simplified my life. Thanks to my persistence, I received an education both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad and brought this model of education to my country starting in 2012,” she noted.
Gulnaz emphasized that despite the lack of a systematic state policy, help comes from patrons and businesses.
“AUCA provides us with a space where we change the lives of blind people. We are also supported by many patrons from both Kyrgyzstan and abroad. For example, recently, thanks to Asanbek Toroев, we were able to acquire apartments for our students. These individuals significantly ease our work and help blind people change their lives,” expressed gratitude the founder of the Federation.
However, she regrettably noted that the system for adapting blind citizens to society is outdated.
“Unfortunately, societal attitudes and the education system are not changing. Everything remains at the level of the Soviet Union—an old system, a medical approach rather than a social one. We are considered disabled, and a disabled person is an incapable person, so we are told that we cannot do anything without help. Instead of making people helpless, it is necessary to change the system and ensure quality rehabilitation for blind people from an early age.
The education system is not ready for this. We cannot study in a regular school because there are no specialists trained to work with blind children.
“There is also no rehabilitation system. In the country, there are only two specialized schools for the blind and visually impaired, where they teach general knowledge and life skills. But this is not enough for a full independent life. Children live in boarding schools, separated from their parents, which implies a certain independence, but they are not taught the skills necessary for life outside the boarding school.”“Moreover, they rarely leave the boarding school and have little interaction with others, which is an important aspect of socialization. As a result, after training, they still remain dependent on others. All these issues can be resolved through a quality and comprehensive rehabilitation approach. Unfortunately, we are currently only working with adults, although similar rehabilitation could also be conducted for children,” Gulnaz lamented.
“We have many state rehabilitation centers, but their focus is narrow and aimed only at one category of people with disabilities. For blind adults, our center is the only one that offers a comprehensive program,” she concluded.
