Information technology - the "eyes" of the visually impaired

Teacher Nguyen Thi Mao, Vice President of the Provincial Association for the Blind, guides students in using computers.

Meeting the Vice President of the Provincial Association for the Blind, Nguyen Thi Mao, when she was enthusiastically instructing students on a computer that had been pre-installed with support software for the visually impaired. Looking at her fingers moving flexibly and precisely on the keyboard, few people would dare to believe that those were the hands of a person who no longer had eyesight. Ms. Mao shared: “Although the computer has installed software to support the visually impaired with sound, in the first days of using it, I myself had to struggle with the keyboard. Because, for normal people, they can use a mouse, but for blind people, they have to use all 10 fingers proficiently, and shape each letter, number, and mark on the keys. In the past, it took me a whole day, even several days, to compose a document, but after persevering, everything became proficient.”

Through conversation, I learned that in 1995, Ms. Mao had an accident that left her blind in both eyes. At the age of 17, with so many plans and ambitions and from being sighted to being blind, she was in a state of depression for a while. She locked herself in her room, did not meet or talk to anyone, and even avoided her parents. However, with the love and care of her relatives, she was able to "revive" her spirit. At the age of 18, she joined the Thieu Yen Association for the Blind (now the Thieu Hoa District Association for the Blind) and learned Braille, learned a trade, and attended basic computer training classes. With a spirit of learning and striving, Ms. Mao persevered and made efforts every day to learn and master the use of computers. With the support of screen reading software, such as Vietnamese reading software, Talkback, Raws (computer access support tool for the visually impaired), she can compose documents easily, access websites, search and read documents online. In particular, she can use zalo, facebook, gmail to communicate with friends and relatives like a normal person.

From her sympathy for the blind, Ms. Mao has spread her passion for learning about IT to officials, members and blind students at all levels of the association. While listening to the sound and pressing each letter on the computer keyboard, Le Van Thinh in Xuan Lam commune (Tho Xuan) said: “I was born without seeing the light, my childhood was spent in the love of my paternal family. When I was 10 years old, my grandparents took me to study at the Provincial Center for Education and Vocational Training for the Blind. I learned braille and how to use a computer. Since I started studying, it has helped me update a lot of useful knowledge, make new friends to exchange information and learn from. I will try to study to become an IT teacher in the future.”

Currently, the Provincial Blind Association has 3,026 members active at all levels in the province. Of which, the visually impaired who can use smartphones account for about 50%. Recognizing the importance of IT for the visually impaired, in recent years, the Provincial Blind Association has always paid attention to supporting, guiding, and opening IT training classes to help officials, members, and students easily access and use IT. From 2015 to present, the Provincial Blind Association has trained nearly 1,000 officials, members, and visually impaired students. At the same time, in coordination with charitable individuals and organizations inside and outside the province, many computers have been donated to all levels of the provincial association; 100 smartphones have been donated to members in difficult circumstances. After being trained, most of the trainees have mastered basic knowledge of information technology and are proficient in using computers and smartphones.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Blind, said: “In the current context of society focusing on digital transformation, IT has become an indispensable tool, especially for the visually impaired. Up to now, 100% of the association's staff can use computers and smartphones proficiently, proactively in drafting documents, storing and managing information for work. The good news is that the support of technological devices has helped the visually impaired to constantly improve their knowledge, foreign language skills or necessary skills in life. Technology has opened up a new world of knowledge, helping them to always strive, improve themselves, and become useful people for society.”

Article and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cong-nghe-thong-tin-doi-mat-nbsp-cua-nguoi-khiem-thi-246946.htm