Giving the visually impaired independence

After two years of hard work and studies, six young professionals will now go out to the communities of South Africa to help the visually impaired lead independent lives.

The College of Orientation and Mobility held a special graduation on 6 April when six students became qualified to work as orientation and mobility practitioners. These professionals will go out into South Africa’s communities to train the visually impaired to lead full and independent lives.

“Think of it like we are training the trainers,” explained Elizabeth Louw, head of the college, which forms part of the South African Guide Dog Association. “They will train visually impaired people how to use a long cane and skills for daily living, such as sweeping the floor, being able to prepare and cook a meal, ironing and even how to match clothes when getting dressed in the morning.

“The reality is that there are a lot of people who aren’t born blind but develop visual impairments later on in life. In these cases, people need to learn how to live again.”

The practitioners learned how to do this work over a two-year full-time and accredited course, which included both theoretical and practical work. Three of the students were sponsored by the South African Guide Dogs Association, while the other three were sponsored by the Mpumalanga Department of Health. All six will now be employed by their sponsors to work throughout the country, and each practitioner will work with about 50 people in a year.

The six graduates were: Florence Mampuru, Godfrey Magagula, Meggie Banda, Nape Mashiane, Phumzile Mhlabane and Sindisiwe Khoza.

“I’m so glad the day is finally here,” explained Khoza, from Mpumalanga. “The most interesting thing I’ve learned is how it feels to be visually impaired. We would have to wear blindfolds while trying to do things like fill up a glass or cook a meal.”

Khoza said she decided to complete the course because her grandmother is blind, and she wanted to learn how to help. During her studies, Khoza came to realise that it was a vocation that she felt passionate about.

“I especially love working with children.”

During the graduation ceremony, a special guest speaker was invited to address the graduates and their loved ones in the audience. Melette Els, who lost her sight when she was six years old due to cancer, spoke about how learning from her own orientation and mobility practitioner in primary school allowed her to change her life for the better.

This is a change that the college wants for every visually impaired person, said Louw, as it is important for them to feel empowered and to have lives full of meaning.

“A big problem is that people don’t know we’re here and that we can help. That’s why getting the word out is so important. If anyone needs help or knows of someone who needs help, they must know that they can call us,” Louw concluded.

Details: www.guidedog.org.za; 011 705 3512.