RGD Partners with JSB to Print Braille Certificates
By: , May 13, 2024
Photo: Contributed
Chairman of the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), Daemion McLean (left), displays a copy of one of the first printed Braille birth certificates that were presented to the Society on May 1, 2024. Also sharing the moment are the JSB’s Executive Director, Conrad Harris (centre) and former Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Keeper of Records at the Registrar General’s Department, Charlton McFarlane.The Full Story
The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) has partnered with the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) to facilitate the printing of Braille certificates.
Through this innovative collaboration, the JSB will handle the Braille printing process, thereby generating economic activity within the visually impaired community.
During a recent interview with JIS News, the Department’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Deputy Keeper of Records, Charlton McFarlane, pointed out that one of the primary challenges faced with making the essential documents available in Braille was the absence of a Braille printer at the RGD.
However, with a firm belief in the philosophy that opportunities are abundant, the RGD fortified its collaboration with the Jamaica Society for the Blind.
“We entrenched the partnership further by including in the arrangement, that the Braille printing be done by the Jamaica Society for the Blind, allowing for further economic activity to be brought to the members of that community,” Mr. McFarlane explained.
Quality assurance also emerged as another crucial aspect of this endeavour, as ensuring the accuracy of the printed Braille text on certificates was paramount.
To address this issue, the former CEO said that after printing, each Braille certificate undergoes meticulous scrutiny using Baille character recognition software to ensure accuracy.
Since issuing the first officially printed Braille birth certificate on May 1, the initiative has yielded nothing but positive feedback.
“The members of the visually impaired community are very appreciative of it because for them this means a new level of independence. They also now have a certain level of dignity in being able to read their own document without relying on someone else for assistance,” Mr. McFarlane said.
As the RGD continues to champion inclusivity and accessibility, the implementation of Braille certification printing stands as a shining example of how collaborative efforts can bring about tangible and transformative change in the lives of persons with disabilities.