Assistive Devices for the Blind
Wed, 26 January 2011
‘I am very grateful for the help given to us blind people’ - - Kahlolo Mvimbe, beneficiary
The South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) identified 96 visually impaired people living in the Free State Province who were in need of assistive devices. Through this SASIX-funded project, the council was able to distribute walking canes, signature guides, money sticks and liquid level indicators to the identified beneficiaries and provide them with the training to get full use out of the devices.
Impact
The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Practitioner trained the 96 visually impaired clients in cane skills and how to use the liquid level indicators, money templates and signatures guides. The following assistive devices were distributed: * 96 people received folding mobility canes * 42 received liquid level indicators * 15 received money templates * 10 received signatures guides
These devices and the accompanying training have had an immediate impact in helping these individuals live more independently. The SANCB reported that the beneficiaries had become more mobile and were, in general, taking a more active role in their families and in their communities.
Indirect beneficiaries of this project include the families and friends of the direct beneficiaries. More often than not, family and friends are relied upon to assist people with disabilities; with these devices this duty can be slightly eased.
While the effect of this project on the perceptions of visually impaired people has not been measured, it is hoped that these individuals will become a source of inspiration for the communities where they live and especially for other people with disabilities. By showing that they are capable of being active citizens and looking after themselves, it is hoped that this will go some way in combating the stigma that is often attached to disability in these communities.
Expenditure
| Description | Total Budget (as per budget approved by SASIX) | Total Expenditure |
| Mobility folding white canes | 19 200 | 19 200 |
| Signature guides | 250 | 250 |
| Liquid Level Indicators | 7 500 | 7 500 |
| Money templates | 600 | 600 |
| TOTAL | 27 550 | 27 550 |
Challenges
- Some initial difficulties with transport and venue arrangements led to some minor delays. All of the devices have been distributed and the beneficiaries received the appropriate training.
- The numbers of devices initially indicated in the proposal has changed, due to the increase of the cost of the devices which is dictated by exchange rates. SANCB originally proposed distributing 50 liquid level indicators, 25 signature guides and 30 money templates, but were only able to buy 42 liquid level indicators, 10 signature guides and 10 money templates. They were still able to buy the 96 mobility canes as planned.
- Some of the initial candidates had either already received assistive devices from another source, or contact had been lost with them. In these cases, other suitable candidates were identified.
Monitoring and evaluation
Records are kept on all the beneficiaries who have received assistive devices. SANCB conducted a follow-up visit to each of the beneficiaries three months after the distribution of the devices, and an impact evaluation another three months later.
Conclusions
The SANCB proved adaptable enough to overcome the challenges that arose during the implementation of this project, and while there were slightly fewer devices distributed than initially planned, the escalation in cost was beyond their control.
These simple devices have the potential to have already had a noticeable impact on the beneficiaries’ lives by relieving them of the indignity of being a burden on their families and by giving them the independence to do day-to-day tasks on their own.
