FOR visually impaired students in Saint Lucia, access to assistive technology can mean the difference between struggling in class and thriving academically. On March 19th the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) officially handed over a set of specialised learning devices to the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA), fulfilling a request made through the Ministry of Education. Craig Henry is the CEO of SLUNCF.
“I am happy that we are able to do this today, the official handover of the equipment. We are hoping that it’s going to make a marked difference in the lives of the students who are going to be using them. The devices that were requested were to provide the extra support for remote learning for students who would have had challenges in attending in-person classes but also who had limited access to computers that would allow them to do their classes online,” Henry said.
The donation includes high-tech Braille devices and magnifiers, which will enable students to engage more effectively in their studies whether at the primary, secondary, or tertiary level. Raymond Thompson, National Coordinator for the Vision Education Services Programme of the SLBWA said the devices will positively impact the lives of the students and teachers.
“It is always good when we can find the technology that will assist our students in their learning and enable them to be the best that they can be,” Thompson said.
The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund is best known for its work in environmental conservation, but as part of its broader mission, it also supports marginalized communities. The organization raises funds through international donors and local partnerships to drive impactful initiatives.
“The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund is an entity that was created by Saint Lucia for Saint Lucians.”
With assistive technology in hand, these students now have a better chance at academic success. The Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association hopes this initiative will inspire more organizations to step forward and support the visually impaired community.
“But because the market is not so large for these devices they are very costly. I would imagine having one of these devices would be in the region of about US$5, 000. So it’s not something that is easily accessible.”
The presentation was made at the offices of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association.