Acting president of National Society of and for the Blind disappointed with turn out at rally

The acting president of the National Association of and for the Blind (NSOFB), Daniel ‘Danny’ Chambers said that he wants to debunk the stigmatisation that disability equals inability, as the association hosted the Blindness Awareness March and Rally for the first time in over a decade.

Chambers spoke to SEARCHLIGHT on Monday, days after the rally which was held on Friday, May 12, and he expressed disappointment at the turn out of persons who are visually impaired.

However, Chambers said he aims to continue to increase awareness about blindness and the causes of blindness, and the Blindness Awareness March was a start.

“We decided to try and start it back this year but one of the things is that we found we didn’t have a lot of visually impaired persons coming out. One of the things why is because there’s still a stigma in regards to blindness, and when persons have developed blindness in whatever way, they don’t want to be categorized as visually impaired or blind and they don’t want persons to know.”

Chambers said that there was strong support however, from persons who went to the march to act as guides. Between 70-80 volunteers attended, while there were 25 blind or visually impaired persons.

He said this suggests that there is much educating to do.

“We were hoping to get an ophthalmologist at the rally but that didn’t happen … we’re going to try and see if that can happen so that information can be disseminated to the public because we do have a problem with getting persons out whether it be the actual visually impaired persons themselves or the caregivers, caretakers, or loved ones, family, whatever….”

Chambers said that being able to locate persons in St Vincent and the Grenadines who have visual problems requires close collaboration of the different ministries in government with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Mobilization. This will ensure that necessary information is obtained. He pointed to the need for a field officer to help in the rehabilitation of persons who are blind or visually impaired to help them better function in the society.

“Disability is not inability. Just because you are visually impaired, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. There’s so much you can do. We as an organization …. We need to step out as well and be out there in the community and sharing information and do training and workshops, and writing projects and seeing how we can help.” Chambers, who stepped into the role as acting president of the NAOFB following the death of Stanley Richards a year ago said they need to revive the organization, “so there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to get it back where it should be.”

He has also made an appeal to the public for assistance for a food basket project where up to 22 persons receive a food basket from the association monthly. Chambers said he would love to see that number increase and to see some upgrading of the office from which the Association operates.

“Blindness can happen to anyone. It’s not a disease. Some people like to think of it as a disease like … let’s say for instance, you get married to a blind person, that their children would be blind or something like that. It’s not a disease, it doesn’t work like that,” Chambers said.

He pointed out that a lot of people do not realize that diabetes, which is quite prevalent in SVG, is one of the leading causes of blindness, and that glaucoma, cataract, detachment of the retina and a host of problems can lead to blindness. Chambers said at the headquarters of the association, blind and visually impaired members continue to be productively engaged.

“We’re currently making … floor mops, and we also do repairing of cane chairs. Those are the two main things that we do here right now … we have the potential of doing so much more,” he added.

Chambers said he has learnt several things form the late president, adding that though his job may pose various challenges, it is rewarding to see the achievements that one can make through hard work.

“You visualize how it is now and where it can reach with more participation of members … and their family, and also the government …, the sky’s the limit for the organization, but without that support of members and so forth, you basically have nothing because you can’t write a project. If you don’t have any members, nobody will fund you.”