A partnership between SA Guide Dogs Association and Absa will enable the visually impaired to use an ATM

A partnership between the South African Guide-Dogs Association and Absa will allow for guide dogs to be trained to assist the visually impaired at an ATM that was recently installed at the association’s headquarters in Paulshof.

The unveiling of the ATM on 28 January, began with a word of thanks from Vernon Tutton, executive director of South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind, to everyone involved. “We started talking about this three years ago, about an opportunity for a training aid of guide dogs. That conversation went on a long time, but I guess it was not ready to happen.”

Tutton continued, “It was a unanimous decision by the board, with whom I met towards the end of last year. Today is the unveiling of a tool that has been worked on for such a long time.”

Being well aware of security concerns for visually impaired individuals, the organisation aims, ‘to enhance the mobility and independence’ of individuals impaired in some way – physically, visually or developmentally.

Tutton added that having access to their own ATM will allow those at the South African Guide-Dogs Association to aid their clients and their dogs without feeling rushed, in a setting which is controlled and relaxed.

“We can show our clients how to instruct their dogs and practice as much as they need to.”

Tshiwela Mhlantla, managing executive of physical channels, retail and business bank at Absa, said the bank is constantly looking for more ways to ‘make the experience more accessible to customers’. “From multiple languages on ATMs, braille to audio prompts, we have been on a constant journey to improve Absa’s self-service channels,” she said.

Mhlantla expressed her appreciation for what the association has done for general society. She continued that it makes sense for Absa to be a part of the journey travelled by the South African Guide-Dogs Association.

She hopes the introduction of this ATM will not be the first or the last, rather a training ground to be more aware of introducing more inclusive and relevant capabilities.

The association gives training directly to visually impaired individuals, as well as to student orientation and mobility practitioners.

Tutton explained that they will also receive training and skills needed to pass on their training on the use of an ATM. “Once they are working in the community, they are able to teach these skills to approximately 40 people with visual impairment a year. All our future students will also undergo this training.”

The dogs at the association are still undergoing the necessary training to improve the ability of a visually impaired individual’s use of an ATM.

Details: South African Guide-Dogs Association 011 705 3512.

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