SA National Council for the Blind

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Many blind people are unable to afford the assistive devices that would enable them to function more effectively – especially essential items like the Perkins Brailler, white cane, slate & stylus.

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Optima College Situated in Pretoria, Optima College is the first tertiary (Further Education and Training) institute for blind and partially sighted people. It offers vocational training in the computer and call centre fields, to people of all groups and areas of South Africa, and beyond. Students have access to a low vision specialist, while the Goldfields Resource Centre – situated in the adjacent building – offers them the opportunity to discover and test a wide range of assistive devices. Click here for more about Optima College. Goldfields Resource Centre Situated at our head office in Pretoria, the Resource Centre carries a wide range of assistive devices for blind and partially sighted people – ranging from small, inexpensive items like liquid level indicators and self-threading needles to electronic talking scales. Mini Resource Centres have also been established in Worcester, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban and the Northern Province. Click here to browse our catalogue and order online. Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness Aimed at making eye care accessible to all South Africans, particularly disadvantaged township and rural people, the Bureau performs cataract and other surgery, treats various eye conditions such as glaucoma, and prescribes spectacles. Over the past 50 years, in collaboration with the various government, provincial and local health authorities, we have developed a comprehensive national eye service. Our programme includes Sight Saver tours – where teams of ophthalmologists, nursing and admin staff visit rural hospitals; permanent Eye Care Centres, where a full stock of equipment, drugs and dressings is maintained; and weekend urban tours, providing a service mainly to people from informal settlements. Since its inception, the bureau has screened close on a million people, and performed countless sight-restoring operations. Contact: Letty Mabena Tel. (012) 452-3811 Low Vision Centre For those with a visual acuity of 6/18 or worse for distance tasks, and whose vision cannot be corrected through ordinary spectacles, medication or surgery, our Low Vision Centre provides assessment and services aimed at enhancing visual performance. We assist individuals with low vision to understand and utilise their remaining vision more effectively – through the use of special optical devices such as magnifiers, telescopes and electronic CCTV readers, by using specific eye movement techniques, and by making adjustments to their environment regarding lighting, colour and contrast. Counselling to the individual and family forms part of the service and is aimed at assisting those affected by low vision to come to terms with their loss and make the necessary adjustments to retain quality of life. The Low Vision Centre provides consultative services to eye care professionals. Optima Optics, a division of the centre, is the official distributor of Schweizer low vision devices to Optometrists and Ophthalmologists. Contact: Preeth Ramlal or Low Vision Department Tel. +27 (12) 452-3811 Access Our information section, which includes the Motswedi Information Centre [see below], runs an extensive public relations programme – which encompasses presenting talks to the public, organising special events and awareness campaigns, media liaison and dealing with queries. In addition, three times a year we publish a magazine, Imfama (in print, braille and tape) which carries news and stories of interest to visually disabled people. Contact: Madalein Greyling Tel. +27 (0) 12 452-3811 Motswedi Information Centre on Blindness Prevention and Eye Health We develop and distribute educational material relating to eye health, eye disease and blindness – and offer a walk-in and distance enquiry service. Books, pamphlets and audiovisual materials are available on loan free of charge. Photocopies of articles from ophthalmic and eye health journals are provided at a minimal fee. Information can also be accessed through subject files covering all aspects of blindness and eye health. Tel. (012) 452-3811 Entrepreneurial Development The overriding aim of this department is to identify blind people in rural and township areas, to provide them with essential independence skills and capacity building to enable them to set up informal income-generating projects. Contact: Mr P Molala/Mr C Budeli Tel. (012) 452-3811 South African Blind Youth Organisation (SABYO) The South African Blind Youth Organisation (SABYO) aims to mobilise blind and partially sighted South Africans in the 14 - 35 year age bracket, to empower them to take responsibility for their lives and future wellbeing. Priority areas are promoting access to all levels of education, promoting social integration, access to employment, HIV/Aids awareness, fostering personal development and leadership and facilitating participation in sport and recreational activities. The organisation also serves as a consultative body on issues that concern blind and partially sighted youth. Operating at national, provincial and regional level, SABYO is involved in developing and implementing training and action programmes, serves as an advocacy and lobbying forum and liaises with government departments, service organisations, disabled people's organisation and the corporate sector. For more information, please contact: The Youth Coordinator SABYO P O Box 11149 Hatfield 0028 Tel +27 (0)12 452 3811 email: admin@sancb.org.za	Vision A network of organisations which collaborate towards securing the full participation and inclusion of blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of a diverse South African society.

	RESEARCH STUDY: PARTICIPANTS NEEDED 20 hearing impaired, 20 visually impaired and 20 physically disabled persons required for a research study entitled ‘Perceptions of Disabled Persons with regards to Communication in the Work Place’, being conducted by Annalise Minnaar from the Tshwane University of Technology. The research will investigate formal structures of communication in the workplace and will focus on the manner in which blind and hearing disabled persons are accommodated in terms of interpersonal communication. Annalise hopes that the information will be used to empower disabled persons in the workplace. People who would like to participate can contact Annalise at 012 382 6115 or 0845120715, e-mail minnaara@tut.ac.za Blind runners: sponsorship available If you are a blind runner heading for the Comrades Marathon, you may be eligible to receive a sponsorship covering transport and accommodation costs. Email ethembeni@mweb.co.za NEED ASSISTIVE DEVICES SPONSORED? The Thabo Mbeki Development Trust is now accepting applications for funding of assistive devices. This includes Perkins braillers, magnifiers and other low vision reading devices, computer software and braille printers up to the value of R15 000. An additional 10% may be added for training. Only employed visually impaired people qualify, including those who are self-employed. Application forms and advice can be obtained from Lindie Sutherland-Coetzee at 012 452 3811.