Remove socioeconomic barriers impeding progress - Blind Union to govt

Put measures in place to remove socioeconomic barriers for persons with disabilities, particularly those with vision impairments, the Executive Director of Ghana Blind Union, Dr Peter Obeng Asamoa, has urged the government.

He said with the right set of policies in sectors such as education, employment, health and others, persons with disabilities could contribute their quota towards national development.

“I want you to remember the white cane is also symbolic of the barriers that must be removed so that we can prosper; the barriers in education so we can take part in opportunities; barriers that must be removed in employment of blind persons so we can gain meaningful employment, barriers in social organisations so that some of us can go places, get married, become chiefs and rise to whatever level we want to,” Dr Asamoa added. 

Event

The executive director was speaking at an event to commemorate the White Cane Day in Accra, on Tuesday, on the theme: “Promoting inclusion: Celebrating abilities and advocating access.”

The day is observed annually on October 15, to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired.

The white cane is an important symbol of blindness and a tool of independence.

Also at the event, a family  presented a number of items to the GBU to support its members. 

Symbol

Dr Asamoa said the white cane was more than a navigation instrument, “it is a symbol of independence, diversity and inclusiveness in society”.

“The white cane helps blind persons to move, navigate and avoid obstacles so that we don't hurt ourselves, we don't fall into ditches. But ladies and gentlemen, I want you to understand that it is not only physical obstacles or barriers that prohibit our progress,” he said.

Dr Asamoa further said that as a nation, ensuring the independent movement and full participation in the daily life of the visually impaired would strengthen the social fabric, while inclusiveness would promote diversity and encourage the contributions of all citizens.

He reinforced the idea that nation-building requires the input and support of every individual, regardless of their abilities.

Projects

The Manager of GBU, Theodora Apotsi, also said that with donor support, the union had embarked on an Assistive Technology Project, which trains visually impaired persons to use the computer to do their normal and daily activities.

“It's there so that persons who have lost their sight and lost their life's journey can go back to school, can go back to work, can go back to where they left off so that they can also lead lives, independent lives like all of us,” she explained.

The manager added that it had also instituted an Educational Support Project, which would help the visually impaired through school.