Assistive Technology for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons

Persons who are blind or visually impaired will benefit from assistive technology to help them access the Internet.

This is being facilitated by the Government under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP), which is aimed at contributing to the deepening of the regional integration process.

“This is an exciting development partnership and I thank the CARICOM Secretariat in Barbados for this kind donation and look forward to its implementation in the coming weeks,” said Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson.

She was addressing the opening of the Regional Disability Studies Conference at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies on March 16.

The assistive software will be available through the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD).

Mrs. Robinson noted that modern technologies have the capacity to level the playing field and provide independence, equality and integration for persons with disabilities.

Turning to other initiatives to assist the disabled community, Mrs. Robinson informed that later this week, the JCPD will be participating in a strategic planning workshop for the development of a virtual relay interpreting system to enhance communication for deaf persons.

The workshop is being organised by the Jamaica Association for the Deaf through its ‘Advancing Deaf Kids Jamaica’ project.

The initiative aims to advance the rights and protection of deaf children and young people through a nationwide programme of communication, safe behaviour and positive parenting by utilising sports and dance as channels for engagement.

Mrs. Robinson noted that the Ministry, through the JCPD, will continue to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure that they are included in Government’s plans and policies.

“Through the determined efforts of the JCPD, the Ministry is advancing its inclusive framework to ensure greater empowerment, inclusion and integration of the disabled sector in societal processes, both locally and regionally,” she said.

The Minister also pointed out that the JCPD continues to provide grants to persons with disabilities to support the purchase of assistive aids and entrepreneurial grants to enable persons to establish their own small businesses.

She urged the business community to partner with the Government “in developing modalities, initiatives and techniques for persons with disabilities” and commended those partners, who have been providing support in this area.

These include Digicel Foundation, Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF), Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), Spanish Foundation of Jamaica; and International partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank (WB), which provide funding and technical assistance.

Organised by the UWI Centre for Disability Studies, the two-day conference seeks to advance dialogue on various issues relating to persons with disabilities including the use of technology as a tool for transformation and empowerment.