Berbicians were taught how to approach persons who are visually impaired and to allow them to participate fully in every sector of society, when the Guyana Society for the Blind hosted a sensitization campaign in New Amsterdam as part of observances for Blindness Awareness Month 2013.
The Berbice chapter collaborated with the Disabled People’s Network of Region Six and received technical support from their Georgetown counterparts on the initiative, which was held on Wednesday.
Blindness Awareness Ambassadors visited St Aloysius Primary, All Saints Primary and the New Amsterdam Primary as well as several car parks and other places frequented by visually impaired persons. The objective of this exercise was to show the public that visually impaired persons are valuable to the community and should be accepted, included and allowed to participate in society. During the visit, members of the delegation took turns detailing their individual experiences with blindness and how they cope with such a life altering condition. They also shared tips on how to care one’s eyes and distributed yellow rubber bracelets with the phrase “Blind Awareness” inscribed on it.
Before setting off to visit the said locations, the group assembled at Church View International Hotel in New Amsterdam for an address by President of the Georgetown chapter, Cecil Morris.
“We hope that today will be a fulfilling day in terms of experience for the members of the Berbice chapter in observing how we do things when we do outreaches,” Morris said, adding that since the Berbice chapter was only recently resuscitated the Georgetown branch had travelled to the area to provide guidance and support.
Newly appointed president of the Berbice chapter Dawn Benjamin expressed gratitude to the Georgetown group, the Disabled People’s Network of Region Six and others who collaborated on the venture. “I would like to welcome you to our region and thank you for your help,” she said.
The Berbice chapter’s observances will close with a special programme at the Vryman’s Erven Special Needs School in New Amsterdam today.
