TQM report,
The Nigeria Association of the Blind, Plateau State Chapter with the support of OXFAM VOICE NIGERIA have after five months successfully completed the training of the first batch of ten visually impaired persons in computer application and the use of smart phones.
The ten visually impaired persons are part of the twenty visually impaired persons the programmer is set to trained in ICT by the end of the month of May, 2021.
In an interview with TQM, The instructor/Trainer, Mr. Timjul Samson, who is also a person with visual impairment said that the training of persons with visual impairment on how to operate the Computer and Smartphone is very important, especially, these days that the World have gone digital in almost all aspects of life, and if the visual impairment persons are to be carried along in today’s world, they have to be trained on how to effectively operate and utilize these devices which are common gateway to the digital world.
The Trainer also said, the knowledge gain in this training, would reduced the degree of dependency of the visual impairment persons on other members of the community to get certain things done, such as reading everyday conventional text materials for them.
The visual impaired persons with the skill of operating the computer and smartphone, have been equip to overcome the barrier that limit their access to information materials in the internet.
Mr. Samson also said that the operating of the computer and smartphone by the visual impaired persons is made possible by a software or apps that is called the “Screen Reader.” The screen reader, reads aloud all that is displayed on the screen of either a Computer or a Smartphone, which served as a guide for the visual impaired persons in operating the devices.
Asabe Grace Amaji, a trainee said that as a result of the training, she have been accessing the socially media like WhatsApp, telegram, Facebook and the rest, where she interact freely without any form of assistance in doing so.
Asabe added that she can now type text, format text and print text from a computer all by herself.
Victoria Kaze Adang, another trainee said that she have been accessing the internet for information, either on her Smartphone or the Computer. But, before the training, she have to depend on sighted people to make the research for her.
Emmanuel Musa Izeh, a visual impairment person and also a beneficiary of the training, said that the training have been very rewarding as he can now operate a computer and smartphone which he formally only knew about the theoretical aspect of taught to him in school.
Emmanuel, said that the training he received have increase his self worth.
Barr. Musa Davou said that as a lawyer with visual impairment, he used to relay heavily on his colleagues to draft his opinion, statement, and other processes. But with the training on how to operate computer and smartphone, he no longer does that. He does these things himself. Which have enhance his professional work privacy as a lawyer.
The trainees, took time to express their appreciation to God Almighty and OXFAM VOICE NIGERIA, their instructor/Trainer, The Nigeria Association of the Blind, Plateau State Chapter, The vocational School for the Blind zawan and everyone that made the training to be possible.
On their part, The Chairman and his Deputy, The Nigeria Association of the Blind, Plateau State chapter, Comrade Joshua Yenle and Comrade Ayiba lsa Waziri, both commended the trainees on their good conduct during the period of the training, charging them to continue in that light.
TQM learnt that the second set of another ten trainees are hoping to start their training in the second week of December, 2020. The training which is expected to last for five months. When a join graduation for the two set is expected to hold sometime in the month of May 2021.
Some pictures of the event:
