GEORGE NEWS - Local visually impaired residents recently received a boost when a braille training workshop was hosted in George, a significant contribution to promoting inclusion and accessibility for the visually impaired.

Hosted at the Premier Express Inn Hotel, the five-day workshop was attended by patrons of George libraries who are visually impaired. 

The initiative was led by Nomsa Mukwevho of the South African Library for the Blind, a braille quality control officer and qualified librarian. 

Mukwevho, who is herself visually impaired, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science at the University of the Western Cape and is proficient in reading braille in all South African languages.

Mukwevho was supported by Patricia Magabie, as well as workshop co-ordinator Thembelani Dzedze and assistant co-ordinator Amgelica Zass, all of whom are affiliated with the South African Library for the Blind.

The workshop, also attended by George Libraries manager Rachel Williams, addressed the challenges that visually impaired individuals commonly face, including limited access to information, a shortage of library materials in braille, and the difficulties of adapting to everyday life after sight loss.

Participants were introduced to the history of braille, a tactile writing system invented by Louis Braille in 1809. The training covered fundamental braille concepts, including letters of the alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks, and word and sentence formation using the Perkins Brailler. 

Yolanda Freeks uses the perkins braille machine.

Attendees also had the opportunity to experience tactile reading and were guided through the process of writing their own names in braille.

Williams said this landmark workshop is a meaningful step towards making public library services more inclusive and accessible to all members of the community.

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