New Braille machines a game changer for students

Imagine students not having pens or pencils, the basic education tools, to complete their school tasks.

That has been the harsh reality for students of the Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, who, for years, have been forced to share their 'pen and paper' - Braille machines - as the complement of 26 was not sufficient for the 132 students.

"We are elated, we are happy. It is important because our teaching-learning experience is better and now that they have individual Braillers, because before they had to share, it is going to make the experience far better," declared Prudence Blackwood, head of the primary department at the Mannings Hill Road, St Andrew institution.

Blackwood wore a broad grin on Friday as she and other administrators received 100 Braille machines donated by the Digicel Foundation and the Open Door Jamaica Foundation. According to Charmaine Daniels, CEO of Digicel Foundation, the decision to invest in the machines arose during a visit to the school April 2023. Daniels said that her team was impressed by a profound statement by the school's principal, Iyeke Erharuyi, "A Braille machine to a blind child is like a pen or pencil to a sighted child."

"That statement was a wake-up call for us at the foundation and we immediately started to think what we can do to help. The goal initially was 50 Braille machines and in the first few days of the campaign being on Instagram, we surpassed that goal and started another campaign for 100," Daniels related. She added that the new goal was also surpassed with the assistance of 35 donors, and the surplus funds will be used to purchase a Braille embosser machine.

Blackwood and student volunteer Jason were the first to use to new Braille machines. Jason followed Blackwood's instructions to indent his margins and write his name to complete a lesson of social studies, which was focused on Black History Month. Jason speedily typed on the six-keyed machine, the silent hall echoing with each tap.

"Usain Bolt inspires the young students who aspire to be athletes like he once was. He has proven that with dedication, you can be successful," Jason read.

Erharuyi said Braille machines are the foundation of learning at the school.

"It is very expensive. You can buy it in Jamaica, and it couldn't be in our budget," he expressed.