RGD to Roll Out Braille Certificates on April 2

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) will introduce the first batch of Braille certificates on April 2,  marking a major achievement in ensuring equal access to essential documents for individuals with visual impairments.

The announcement was made by the entity’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charlton McFarlane, at a JIS Think Tank on March 21.

He shared that the move to provide virtual documents in Braille is part of the RGD’s ongoing commitment to foster inclusivity and accessibility by undertaking extensive efforts to enhance its services and accommodate the needs of all citizens.

“It will enable members from the visually impaired community to be able to access and actually read and interpret and know directly, the information that is contained on their vital [documents],” he noted.

The CEO, who also serves as the Deputy Keeper of Records, told JIS News that while “we do get requests, from time to time, to translate birth certificates, this is the first time that our certificates will be systematically produced in another written language”.

He noted that the initiative involves collaboration with the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), which is assisting with the language and the printing of the certificates.

“Based on consultations with the members of that community, it is something that they are looking forward to because it affords them the type of independence to be able to read and understand their document and fact check the information that is contained for them by the Registrar General’s Department,” Mr. McFarlane pointed out.

He told JIS News that the rollout of the Braille certificates on April 2 will mark a historic moment for the RGD and Jamaica.

“I believe that when this becomes a reality, Jamaica will be the only country in the Caribbean that actually has this option for its citizens,” he pointed out.

“I’ve got calls from other registrars in neighbouring Caribbean countries who have expressed an interest in going this route, but as usual, Jamaica continues to take leadership within the Caribbean,” he said.

“This is another initiative that we are extremely proud of and we are excited to be in a position to roll it out in April to align with the start of the new financial year,” Mr. McFarlane told JIS News.