LALOVIĆ: SOCIAL PREJUDICES HOLD BACK MORE THAN PHYSICAL BARRIERS

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA/ – Vesna Lalović of Istočno Novo Sarajevo began losing her sight in childhood but has never allowed blindness to isolate her. As she noted, overcoming society's prejudices is often a greater challenge than overcoming physical barriers.

At the beginning of an interview with SRNA, Lalović stressed that blind people do not seek pity but equal opportunities in education, employment and the chance to live with dignity. However, many people do not know how to interact with them appropriately. Lalović heads the Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the Istočno Sarajevo Public Library. She said people with disabilities often have to fight harder in life and constantly prove what they are capable of because society is slow to accept them. "It is important to make an effort and work on yourself," said Lalović, who carries out most everyday tasks independently, both at home and outside. Although architectural and social barriers remain widespread, Lalović overcomes them every day with a positive attitude and an indomitable spirit. She emphasized that her parents had always been a tremendous source of support. From the age of seven, she lived at a boarding school for blind children and young people in Sarajevo, where she completed her primary and secondary education. There, she also learned to be independent, believe in herself and persevere through life's many challenges. Some people find it hard to imagine that blind people can sew, embroider, crochet and do other handicrafts independently. Lalović said these activities had never been an obstacle for her and that she learned them as a girl with her mother's help. "Unfortunately, some blind and visually impaired people do not want to learn Braille, pursue education or further their skills, or take advantage of technology and screen-reading software that could be of great help to them," Lalović said. She noted that blind people tend to receive public attention only on International White Cane Safety Day, while their rights and needs are often overlooked. This is particularly evident in the architectural barriers found in the communities where they live. "I get around independently using a white cane, but obstacles exist everywhere. People park where they shouldn't, and there are no audible traffic signals or tactile paving. So much could be done to help us, yet things are still being built as they were 50 years ago," Lalović stressed. She said people sometimes ask her extremely inappropriate questions about how she manages everyday tasks. She responds bluntly, she said, adding that much depends on what a person wants to achieve in life and how determined they are to achieve it. "For people with and without disabilities alike, the most important thing is to take charge of their own lives as much as possible. That does not mean I do not need help; on the contrary, there are people who support me. But when people see that you are making an effort, they are more likely to support you as well," Lalović said. Speaking about the work of the Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the Istočno Sarajevo Public Library, Lalović said it currently has 2,700 audiobooks, 40 books in Braille and 150 members. "Colleagues, volunteers and teachers record audiobooks, mostly at the library. Some authors also write books and then record them for us free of charge," she added. The department maintains excellent cooperation with the Library for the Blind of Montenegro, the Special Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired of Republika Srpska, and Serbia's Dr Milan Budimir Library for the Blind. The institutions exchange books and further enrich their collections. International White Cane Safety Day, marked on October 15, is one of the most important dates for raising awareness of the rights, abilities and challenges of blind and visually impaired people.