Make braille available to visually impaired students, NGOs urge institutions

A coalition of non-governmental organisations working to provide services to blind people have urged public and private academic institutions to make braille devices available to blind students.

The group made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos organised to mark the World International Braille Day.

Supreme reports that Braille is a system that makes use of raised dots, combined in patterns to form alphabets, numerals and other symbols.

It was invented as means of reading and writing for the blind by a blind Frenchman Louis Braille whose birthday is marked on January 4.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Lukman Salami, Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind Lagos State, said that the major assignment of the association was advocacy.

Salami added that the association was working to ensure the rights of persons with visual impairment were protected.

Also, Mr Danlami Bashir, Chairman, Anglo- Nigerian Welfare Association of the Blind, said that the group had the mandate of getting blind persons adjusted to life.

Bashir said that the association train persons with visual impairment to become independent.

Some other members of the coalition included Tbliss General Services, Amiti General Services LTD., and Disability Awareness Initiative and the Nigerian Copyrights Commission.

NAN reports that the conference showcased the exhibition of games brailles and general tools used by the visually impaired for education, sports and relaxation.