Orientation and Mobility Programme Launch for Persons who are Blind

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) in partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana, on Friday November 17 launched Phase 2 of their Orientation and Mobility Programme for persons who are blind and visually impaired. Ms. Lasawhna Prescott, Community Relations aAdvisor –ExxonMobil and Mr. Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager – GCOPD delivered remarks during the launch. In her remarks Ms. Prescott reiterated her company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable persons within our Guyanese society. She also spoke of the success of the first phase of the programme.

In his remarks, Mr. Singh underscored the importance of such a programme in supporting persons who are blind and visually impaired. Also speaking at the event was Ms. Lata Devie Jagmohan one of the orientation and mobility officers and who is also visually impaired. Ms. Jagmohan shared her experience working with the blind and visually impaired clients. Ms. Graceann Lewis, one of the beneficiaries of the first phase, spoke of the impact of the training on her life. She said that training was a blessing. She is now able to use her tablet computer as a blind person and use her white cane to move around.

The second phase of the orientation and mobility programme for persons who are blind and visually impaired will be implemented in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10. Through the programme approximately 300 persons who are blind and visually impaired will be taught independent living skills and how to use the “white cane”. They would also be taught to use the computer and tablet with different text to speech softwares.

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Additionally, 200 “white canes” will be distributed through this programme. The team providing the training for the 300 beneficiaries will include nine blind and visually impaired persons who are trained as orientation and mobility instructors.

The launch was held at the conference room of the National Library, Georgetown.