Kenya: Experiencing a World of the Visually Impaired

By Peter Omondi

Nairobi, Kenya---Sighted Kenyans this morning had an opportunity to experience for themselves what it means to be visually impaired. Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo lead a team of journalists and participants in workshops dubbed ‘Dialogue in the Dark’ whose mission is to empower the blind and visually impaired in Africa through ICT.  The workshops were held at the Fairview Hotel in Nairobi.

As the name applies, these leadership workshops are run in complete darkness for two and a half hours by blind trainers, who guide the sighted participants, armed with only white canes through a dark room.  The participants learn to dare, share and care, through a uniquely designed programme involving communication and cooperation among participants. It was a humdbling experience as participants had to fumble in total darkness to find tables, chairs and eventually serve themselves breakfast. Participants were then escorted out of the darkness by the three visually impaired individuals for one and a half hours of reflection and debriefing. 

Dr Ndemo described the experience as humbling and requiring a lot of trust.

“By entering a world without sight, we learn new abilities from those whom we perceive to be disabled. As we shift into an ever more globalised community, a visit into a world we thought was limiting actually helps us to break free of our own limitations”, Dr Ndemo said after leading a team of journalists and other participants at the workshop held at Nairobi’s Fairview Hotel. “This encounter brings us new virtues, values, skills, gratitude, humility and appreciation for those different from us. It fosters greater effectiveness in the business context and increased awareness of human diversity”. 

These workshops are aimed at Board of Directors, business leaders and senior and middle managers and are facilitated by inABLE and Dialogue Social Enterprise (DSE).

InABLE is a charitable organization in Kenya and the USA focusing on empowering the blind and visually impaired in Africa through bringing technology into their classrooms.  They have a computer program based at the Thika School for the Blind and are launching others in 8 schools for the blind in Kenya and across Africa.  

The computer lab program has opened new doors for the blind and visually impaired by empowering them with the power of technology. They envision a world where Disability is NOT Inability; a community where individuals with disabilities have access to the same educational, technological and employment opportunities as non-disabled.

Also participating at the workshop were representatives from Google, Safaricom, Accesskenya and PriceWaterHouseCoopers.

Funds raised from the workshops will be used to launch seven new computer labs across Kenya. The launching of the  seven new computer labs is part of vision 2030’s aim of achievement of ‘Education for All’. Integration of ICT in Education will go a long way in making this a reality by enhancing quality, equity and access to educational and training opportunities.