Amman -

"The idea of ​​marriage was never in my calculations... but fate decided a young man's desire to be associated with me... and when I agreed and felt safe towards this person... in a moment dreams were scattered and evaporated by the rejection of this marriage by the young man's family." This is a summary of the experience of the thirty-year-old Randa, which is A blind employee, one of her colleagues in her previous job, who is also blind, has proposed to her.

The closing of the phone and the young man's flight from interpretation and confrontation put Randa in a narrow circle of questions, most notably why his family rejected the idea of ​​their association, and that put her in a "difficult" psychological and health condition.

Randa told Al Jazeera Net, "I recovered after a few days, but I felt the cruelty of life as if I had lost sight again due to the dark souls of some people, especially when I learned from a friend that the young man's family intends to marry him to a sighted girl."

It did not take long, and the young man married the girl only two months after he proposed to her, and Randa commented, "The marriage is like switching chess pieces...a piece to be exchanged for another."

The blind or blind family's rejection of the idea of ​​their association puts them in a difficult psychological and health condition (Getty Images)

Blind marriage is not a "scourge" but!

The blind feels disappointed with his family members when he faces rejection of the decision of his association with the “blind” girl of his dreams, believing that they are ignoring his desire and psychological needs, despite justifying their refusal by fears and future possibilities from their point of view.

Speaking about the Jordanian society, psychologist Ali Al-Ghaz says, "Blind marriage is not a scourge and becomes a scourge when fighting it. Unfortunately, there is still a negative view of blind marriage in our Jordanian society, and here comes the role of blind care institutions, governmental and private organizations, and the media, with the need to broadcast Positive thoughts on this side.

Psychologist Ali Al-Ghazwa: Unfortunately, our society's view of blind marriage is still negative (Al-Jazeera)

Al-Ghaz added, "We do not deny the medical aspect regarding this issue...and the fears of parents about their blind son's association with a blind child and the possibility of having blind children, and here comes the importance of conducting the necessary genetic tests."

As for the parents’ fear in this aspect, the specialist explains that marrying a blind person with a visionary is better, because one of them helps the other at home and travelling.

Al-Ghazwa says, "To be fair, this view has begun to change, and if it is accompanied by anxiety, it can be a little if there is care. Therefore, we must encourage the marriage of the blind, because the blind have mental abilities that the sighted may not have."

Ali Al-Ghaz: It is important to conduct genetic testing before marrying the blind because of the possibility of having blind children (Getty Images)

The effect of refusing to marry the blind

Regarding the effects of rejection from the psychological aspect, the invasion specialist indicates that “the side of feelings may prevail over the mind of the blind or blind, and push them to harm themselves, as the young man may not adapt to the girl he married based on the desire of the parents, and he may resort to some Behaviors that make the sighted wife not adapt to him.

He says, "Not accepting the marriage of the blind puts them in a difficult psychological situation, so we must respect their wishes. If the blind live in a nurturing and conscious environment, the family will accept the son's desire and decision and proceed with them. As for problems and disputes, they often arise in poor environments that do not have awareness and culture." .

Self-reliance

Rasmi is a young employee in a company, who has a visual impairment, and was associated with a blind teacher as well. The two parties’ families did not object to their marriage;

Because they are convinced of their right to choose a life partner.

Rasmi and his wife responded to his parents' desire to live in the family home, and after the passage of time and the couple feeling that they could rely on themselves, they decided to rent a house and live on their own.

The spouses do not deny some of the difficulties they faced in the beginning, such as buying the needs of the house, getting used to the place and neighbors, and some situations that require help from others.

Their marriage passed 5 years ago, and the fruit of it was a boy and a girl, and the wife became able to manage the affairs of the house and take care of the two young ones.

Rasmi confirms that technology has contributed a lot to overcoming the difficulties, as speaking programs can be downloaded to mobile phones and computers to facilitate life's affairs, as he goes to work by requesting delivery applications, while the wife resorts to some programs for the blind to prepare food, drinks and others.

Both spouses agree that self-reliance is a key feature of a successful marriage experience among the blind.

Raafat Al-Zitawi: All obstacles facing persons with disabilities must be removed to form a family (Al-Jazeera)

Assistive Technology for the Blind

The media spokesperson for the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Raafat Al-Zitawi, confirms that the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stipulates their right to form a family.

He explained to Al Jazeera Net that this requires removing all obstacles facing people with disabilities to form a family, noting that these obstacles may be behavioral represented in society's acceptance or rejection of the right of people with disabilities to marry, in addition to the "resistance" factor, such as the father's refusal to marry his daughter to someone from People with disabilities, or society's rejection.

Al-Zitawi notes that the second problem is the insufficient knowledge of society, organizations and people with disabilities themselves about the means of supportive technology that should be available to blind couples, in order to facilitate their lives.

He points out that there are devices attached to talking programs to measure temperature and pressure, as well as gas ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, and others designed in Braille, in addition to programs that can be downloaded on mobile phones that provide services for the blind to carry out household tasks.

He says, "In the future, we are keen to remove the obstacles facing people with disabilities, and we seek to move from the stage of the pastoral approach to the human rights approach, which is (physical and environmental deficiencies), if we prepare all the requirements in all fields, whether in schools, universities or work insurance, so that people can become People with disabilities are a source of income with which they can support themselves and form families.

Dr. Faisal Gharaibeh: Parents are reluctant to marry off a blind or blind man, fearing that trouble will befall their son in his next married life (Al-Jazeera)

Trilogy: the blind and the blind..the parents..the society

Social consultant Dr. Faisal Gharaibeh says, "We are here in front of 3 positions: the position of the people of the blind, the position of the people of the other party opposite the blind, and the society's position on the issue of blind marriage."

Gharaibeh adds that the outlook for each of these situations differs, if the other is not blind, that is, he is sighted. In the first situation, the parents hesitate to marry the blind or the blind, fearing that they will cause trouble to their son in his next married life, whether the opposite party is blind or sighted. .

And he continues, "As for the second position, it is represented in the people of the other party's refusal to request the marriage of the blind, whatever his characteristics, qualifications and capabilities, despite the fact that blindness may not hinder the blind in his productive life, and does not reflect definitively on his daily living."

He concludes by saying, "We know that many blind people prove their ability to manage their lives completely and with complete peace of mind. As for the community's position, I see it has now moved towards appreciating the blind and their capabilities, and notes the satisfaction of those around them in dealing with them."