4. What have been the results?
4.1 Consolidation of national education programs for children with blindness and visual impairments in ten countries. A new program is just being established in Dominica and explorations are taking place in St. Kitts Nevis.
Training, certification and deployment of 55 teachers of children with visual impairments (We have lost some to the brain drain, however most are still in place).
Education of 450 children with blindness or visual impairment over the past 15 years
Establishment of a methodology for negotiating with tertiary institutions re establishment of specialized courses.
Transfer of production techniques re Braille, large print and tactile literature-material.
Establishment of a regional service for the maintenance of specialized equipment, used in the education of children with blindness or visual impairments.
Creation of a professional cadre of teachers, from which to introduce the next level of post graduate qualifications. This is most important, since that will produce the technical basis on which to develop strong national and sub-regional training programs.
4.2 We need to pay more attention to quality assurance issues in all our national programs; While expanding our offerings re children with low vision.
4.3 Even though we have done much, a recent evaluation of our education programs in: Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica found that more than 60% of children with blindness or visual impairment are not receiving formal education services.