Blindness Awareness month wraps-up, sensitization continues

Staff Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Rockliffe Bowen

The St. Kitts Society for the Blind, which was founded in 1982 and operates under the motto ‘blindness, a disability—not an inability,’ celebrated the month of May with a beach fun day, several discussions and by distributing food hampers to members who are unable to work due to their blindness.

While all of these activities helped the Society meet its mission of ‘making life more meaningful for persons who are blind or visually impaired living in our community,’ Bowen said his favorite activity of the month was visiting the classrooms of St. Kitts.

 “The response from the children is very good. They listen to us quite attentively. When we don’t go, they always come up to me and say, ‘Oh, Mr. Bowen, when are you going to visit us again?
“What I have noticed is that since we have started going to the schools the children have become more sensitized to the blind and visually impaired. Only on a very small scale do you see children tease us anymore, pull on our clothes or canes,” said Bowen.

The Society for the Blind President stated that while May was coming to an end, activities to bring aid and awareness to the community would continue.

“Our Annual Symposium for Disable Persons will be held on June 6th and 7th. Some of the topics we will be discussing are going to be HIV/AIDS and disabilities, advocacy, youth empowerment and team building,” he stated.
Unique to this year’s Symposium will be eight individuals from Antigua & Barbuda representing the Antigua Association of Disabled Persons, who are slated to provide their expertise during the event. ~~Adz:Right~~

Bowen stated that he could not thank the sponsors of the Society for the Blind enough, including National Bank, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis, for their continued support.

Though many improvements have been made for the rights of the blind and visually impaired over the past twenty-three years, Bowen said that there is much ground that still needs to be covered in the Federation.

“On May 3rd the United Nations ratified a new convention on the rights of the disabled. Unfortunately, our government in St. Kitts did not sign onto that convention, but we are still very happy anyway,” he said.

He also hoped that the public would take the time to become more involved in the Society.
“We have had three main projects over the past four years to help our members learn new skills so they can make a little money for themselves. We had a basket weaving project, some training in musical instruments and a computer training program, which has unfortunately run out of money.

“We’re out there trying to help ourselves. We don’t want to be seen as out there begging all the time, but it can be hard for us financially sometimes,” Bowen said.

Despite their efforts to organize, Bowen stated that education and expertise within the group add to their struggle.
“I lost my sight when I was eleven years old and, like many others, I was then discharged from school. I tried my best to pick up pieces here and there because I was determined not to be an illiterate. But that is why I appeal to the general public or businesses who have expertise to come out and help us in any way they can.”

Following the opening ceremony of the Symposium on June 6th, members from the public and business community are invited to join the St. Kitts Society for the Blind for a night of revelry starting around 7 p.m. at the McKnight Community Center. The members will be playing games, singing songs and displaying their various talents.

Persons interested in joining the Society, whether they be sighted, visually impaired or blind, may contact Bowen or join their meetings at 5:30 p.m., the second Monday of each month at the McKnight Community Center.