Technological advances have greatly assisted blind people to take their place along with everyone else in society, says a representative of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) who was in Terrace earlier this month.
Ana Booth was in charge of a team from the CNIB who set up at the Happy Gang Centre July 10 to offer support, advice and aids to blind people in the area.
The CNIB has offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George but holds four to five regional events a year in an attempt to cover as much as the province as possible, she said.
“Technology has advanced so far,” said Booth in explaining the CNIB’s purpose in connecting with blind people. “iPhones, iPods, the programs available. It’s nothing like it was even just a few years ago.”
Booth herself can testify to the technological advances — while she has peripheral vision, a genetic condition is causing her to lose her sight of what is directly in front of her.
“I can work on my computer like anyone else. I can do anything now because of technology,” she added. “Technology has really levelled the playing field.”
Programs are now readily available that can convert written words into language and vice versa.
Screens on computers and handheld devices can now easily enlarge letters and numbers so that they become more visible.
Booth herself can testify to the technological advances — while she has peripheral vision, a genetic condition is causing her to lose her sight of what is directly in front of her.
If not advances in technology, Booth said there are plenty of low-tech examples of what is practical and feasible to assist blind people.
Her list ranges from Braille in elevators to sloping down sidewalk curbs at intersections or other places to remove tripping and falling hazards.
If automatically included in construction requirements, Booth said costs are negligible and allow blind people to participate in everyday life. Sidewalk construction in some areas includes rumble strips along the edges so that people using canes for guidance can tell if they are are veering off.
The strips are just what drivers encounter on roadways nowadays.
Most importantly, Booth said the CNIB works to connect blind people for support and advice.
“As people, we all need social interaction to talk things through and to help each other,” she said.
The CNIB is always looking for volunteers and more information is available on its website.