Lucknow: Story of Sarah Moin’s success in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is not one of just her determination but also of the support she received from advocate Amar Jain, blind by birth, dedicated to fighting for accessibility and disability rights.Born to jeweller Anil Jain and homemaker Anita Jain, Amar studied at a blind school in Jodhpur, where many expected visually impaired students to pursue only conventional careers. He chose a different path.“I discovered my determination early. I remember wearing my elder brother’s skating shoes and learning to skate while holding a wall for support and it taught my family that blindness did not define ability,” Amar said.He used scribes in school and joined an institute of management, law and fine arts for disabled students. He excelled there, earning Best Student Award. His academic journey took a decisive turn in Class XI when he chose law, preparing for CLAT with his father scanning books and converting them into audio notes.After clearing CLAT, Amar joined Govt Law College, Mumbai, where he battled inaccessible academic systems and campaigned for assistive software. “Once I got parity in tools, my performance spoke for itself and I began topping semesters,” he said.Amar has since worked with leading law firms, argued cases in high courts and Supreme Court and now runs his own firm while assisting disabled students through NGOs.He helped deaf and blind Sarah Moin, referred to as Lucknow’s Helen Keller, secure assistive technology required to appear for CUET and cleared it with good scores in English, history, mass media and mass communication, psychology and the general aptitude test.“Access is a right, not charity. Every week I receive around 500 queries through NGOs and take up matters in court,” Amar said. He prepares for legal battles using screen readers, audio notes, Braille and human assistance.Sarah’s father, Moin Ahmad Idrisi, said Amar’s support was crucial in enabling her to access the technology needed to take the examination.
