The fourth and final day of the Workshop included presentations by Senator Kerryann Ifill, Senator Andre Worrell, and Mr. Curtis Padmore, a local Entrepreneur; a session looking at some technologies that can aid persons with visual impairments; the setting up of a three-man Executive to ensure continuity after Delegates went back to their daily routine; and a summary of the week’s events.
Although the day was shortened and the Workshop ended at lunch time, the presentations were very good. Mr. Padmore delivered a presentation on professionalism, highlighting that we need to make it a way of life – integrating it into everything we do. He also told us of his movement into entrepreneurship as a Software Developer; and being that we are in the age of ideas and information, for those present, the sky can be the limit, in this regard.
Senator Worrell spoke of his work as a Human Resource Consultant and provided the session with some of the current trends in the labour market, such as renewable energy, manufacturing, etc.
Senator Ifill charted her path from when she worked in the NGO Sector to her appointment to the Senate. She told us of some of the changes she had to make in order to become more independent and accepted, and in order to change the perception of those around her – things as simple as learning to do her own make-up and stop relying on others to go about with her. She also told us of how she has been able to improve her functionality through the use of technology – although she cautioned about some of its drawbacks.
These presentations were followed by a brief interactive session, where the Presenters answered questions from the Delegates.
The presentations were followed by an examination of some of the available technologies developed to improve the functionality and independence of persons who are blind or visually impaired, including:
1. A variety of Assistive Software
2. The Pen Friend – used for labeling items
3. The Victor Reader Stream—a Talking Book Playback Device and
4. A Money Identifier etc.
We were also told of some other devices such as Trekker – used to navigate the physical environment, among other things.
After the excitement generated by the exposure of the Delegates to the various technological innovations for persons who are blind and visually impaired, attention was turned to effecting the recommendations made by Mr. Grant before his departure.
Three persons (Felicia Balgobin (Barbados) – Chairperson; Vivian Blake (Jamaica) – Secretary; and Antoine Munroe (Bahamas) – Communications Person, were elected to keep a network going after the activities of the week ended.
The Acronym decided upon for the Youth Network was YNEAA—Youth Network for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Action. Delegates from the different countries identified specific issues which they would champion on their return home:
• For Jamaica, the issue was Braille Literacy;
• For Barbados, a lobby for the School for the Blind to start making CXC available to all the students;
• For Dominica, it was the identification and documenting of all the youth who are blind or visually impaired; and
• For the Bahamas and St. Lucia, it was various Advocacy Initiatives.
Regarding the E-group, Mr. Blake, the Secretary, promised to send some information on setting up a Yahoo Group to Mr. Munroe; while he himself would be responsible for the drafting of a final report with the input of one page reports from all the Delegates.
The Workshop closed with a summary by Dr. Webson, the Facilitator.
Delegates and Facilitators left the Campus on Friday July 30th, 2010.