Meet the Team IAB
December 19, 2013 was a fateful day for IAB as our Founder, Mr.S.M.A.Jinnah reached the abode of God. It is indeed a huge loss for us, as we really miss his guidance and support. But we can still feel him amidst us as he is and will always be our guiding light and lead us in the right path. IAB continues to empower the visually challenged by providing the required skills needed to lead self-reliant, dignified lives.
Everything conspired against Jinnah right from the start. Coming from a low income family, his father deserted them and soon his mother passed away when Jinnah was just five years old. When he was 13 years, a road accident resulted in Jinnah losing his vision in both eyes, due to irreversible damage to the optic nerve. He spent the next five years in futile search for native cures. Ultimately, however, he accepted that henceforth he would never again be able to see. “At that time I was studying in the seventh standard and was forced to discontinue my studies,” rues Jinnah.
Late S.M.A Jinnah
The Founder of the Indian Association for the Blind
People were more likely to give alms to a blind person. There was no awareness of the potentialities of such people and their need to be treated with dignity and respect
In 1981, Jinnah went to Boston University on a Rotary International scholarship. He did a one-year postgraduate diploma in teaching the visually impaired at the Perkins Institute for the Blind, Boston, USA.
IAB was the culmination of Jinnah’s dream of comprehensive rehabilitation services for the visually impaired through skill training, create access to education and generate employment opportunities for economic independence.
My goal has always been equality of opportunities and experience for people with visual disabilities. People need to be sensitized to the potentials and problems. of the visually impaired. They are no different from others. Typically society tends to overestimate the disability and underestimate the potentials of people with disabilities
IAB is governed by 9 board members who bring in variety of expertise from each field. Among the 9 members 5 are visually challenged persons and 6 are women.
Everything conspired against Jinnah right from the start. Coming from a low income family, his father deserted them and soon his mother passed away when Jinnah was just five years old. When he was 13 years, a road accident resulted in Jinnah losing his vision in both eyes, due to irreversible damage to the optic nerve. He spent the next five years in futile search for native cures. Ultimately, however, he accepted that henceforth he would never again be able to see. “At that time I was studying in the seventh standard and was forced to discontinue my studies,” rues Jinnah.
Dr.C.Ramasubramaniam
M.D., D.P.M.,
President IAB
Since its inception in 1985 he is been associated with the institution. He was professor of psychiatric (Rettired) Madurai, Medical college. Passionate about community based psychiatry, he is the founder of M.S.Chellamuthu Trust an NGO in Madurai, that serves people with mental disabilitis.
M.Roshan Fathima
M.Com, B.Ed. (Spl)., PGPDM
General Secretary IAB
She holds a Bachelors degree in Special Education for Visually Challenged and a Masters degree in Commerce. She has specialised in NGO Management and has been associated with education and rehabilitation of the visually challenged right from her younger days.
Dr. R.Surendranathan
M.B.B.S., M.S.,
Treasurer IAB
He is associated with the institution since 1985. He has an independent surgical practice at Laxmi nursing home in Madurai,.
M.Abdul Raheem
B.E., M.B.A.,
Vice President IAB,
He is an Engineering Graduate and also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration. He started his career in Engineering sector and has worked at various capacities in Wipro Technologies and Honeywell.
S.Manjula
M.A. B.Ed.
Secretary IAB
A visually challenged person and has a masters degree in Tamil and Masters in education. She also holds a Senior Diplomo in Teaching for the Blind. She is teacher at Palamedu Higher Secondary School. She is an alumnae of IAB and has been associated with the institution since 1985.
Members of Governing Council IAB
A.Chermathai
M.A. B.Ed.
Member-Governing Council IAB
A visually challenged person with a masters in History and Masters in education. She is among the first batch of IAB students and has thought for 12 years in government school.
S.Marimuthu
M.A. B.Ed.
Member-Governing Council IAB
She is a visually challenged person and has done masters in Tamil and Masters in education. Since 2000 she teaches in government school for the Blind. A former student of IAB she is very well experienced in teaching visually challenged children.
S.Anjali
M.A. B.Ed.
Member-Governing Council IAB
She is a visually challenged person and has done masters in Tamil and Masters in education. Since 2000 she teaches in government school for the Blind. A former student of IAB she is very well experienced in teaching visually challenged children.
R.Balasaraswathy
M.A. B.Ed.
Member-Governing Council IAB
She is a visually challenged person and has done masters in Tamil and bachelors in education. She is employed as Assistance Manager with central bank of India, Madurai, from 1989 where she repeatedly proves no different to sighted individuals. She is an alumnae of IAB.
How do you want to help IAB today?
Donate to IAB to give visually challenged a confidence in them for their future. Your small contribution will make a big difference in their lives.