By Jenelle Willabus The Guyana Society for the Blind has been around for decades, and while it can be logically deduced that the name of the organization denotes who it essentially represents, one may still ponder what else the entity actually offers. Well, it has had and still has many important functions and the benefits of being a part of this noble and generous unit are quite uplifting.Ganesh Singh, Executive Member of the GSB, is the driving force behind the Information Technology programme.The Guyana Society for the Blind (GSB) was established on October 8, 1955. According to those au fait with its genesis, the Society was actually brought into existence in 1950 by a group which included several visually impaired individuals. The current President,[url=http://www.cheapestnfljerseys.us@#$%&/]Cheap NFL Jerseys China[/url], Cecil Morris, indicated that as far as he could recollect, the organization was founded by Jacob Moe, Ella Phillips, a gentleman who he only remembers being a Prison Officer, and a few others.Morris, who is also visually impaired, recounted that a building to house the GSB was erected in the early 1960s. The edifice was erected at a cost of $25 and was funded through a gift from the government of the day.?It was a simple structure with mesh around it with low concrete walls and it was small, but the members made the best of that very building which was just a fraction of the structure we now have. It also housed a workshop,? Morris said. Initially the building was opened to members three half-days a week and this was eventually changed to every day.?Back in the day we did pottery and basketry to maintain the organization, so as the demands for our products grew we were forced to open every day of the week.?According to Morris, from that small building abundant craftwork was produced, including manila rope mats, coconut fibre mats and mattresses and other creative products, made from scratch by visually impaired persons.In addition to self sustenance, the GSB was given a minimal subvention from the government. Fortunately, back then most of their products were sold to ministries and that kept much-needed funds coming in. However, as the years went by, the demand for these traditional items began to dwindle bringing pressure on the organization which by then was fully established and was serving not only visually impaired persons, but persons with other disability.In 1986, through a grant from Canadian International Development Agency, an addition was made to the initial structure. This is the very building that now stands at Lot 46 High Street, St. Phillip?s Green, Georgetown.  The extension was timely.?In the early 90s we were still running the workshop, and Guyanese were introduced to the foam mattress, so what we found was that there was not the demand for what we were making (fibre mattresses) so eventually we had to stop?but occasionally we would make stuff when we got an order.?In terms of basketry,[url=http://www.salecheapjerseys.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys China Wholesale[/url], Morris said products started coming out of the North West District at a cheaper cost, throwing ?a wet blanket? on the GSB?s efforts to sustain itself.President of the Guyana Society for the Blind, Cecil Morris.?We soon had to look for other stuff to keep our organization flowing, so we started doing stuffed toys and tie-dying,[url=http://www.wholesalejerseyssale.us@#$%&/]Cheap Jerseys Authentic[/url], but that too only lasted for a short while.?Despite all these challenges Morris said the entity kept its doors open with a renewed focus as its members were depending on the services. There was concerted capacity-building. The then members benefited from home economics classes, cookery, sewing and training in mobility skills. Further the inception, each member was trained to assist each other to cope with a life without sight.?While not all our members are blind,[url=http://www.salecheapjerseys.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap[/url], we place special focus on our blind members, since it is very difficult for a person who was once able to see but then goes blind. Going blind is a whole transition process and for many it?s not an easy adjustment, so we train each member to counsel new members.?Today,[url=http://www.nfljerseyscheaponline.us@#$%&/]Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online[/url], the Guyana Society for the Blind has changed in keeping with the new era. Over the past five years, the Society has re-shifted its focus in an attempt to make visually impaired persons more equipped to deal with advancing technology.To this end, one of the organization?s youngest members, Ganesh Singh, has been the driving force behind a number of initiatives for visually impaired members to come up to speed in what he describes as the ?information technology age?.Being visually impaired himself, Singh asserted that the GSB is currently doing a lot regarding the empowerment and development of blind persons.?The computer is important and over the years there has been a widening gap regarding information for blind people. They can?t read the newspaper, very few can read Braille, and very limited material is available for those who can read Braille. We see the computer as being a good way to bridge the gap.?According to Singh, so far they have been able to do some work with the computers, thanks to a special programme called ?JAWS? (Job Access With Speech). This software he explained ?talks out aloud allowing a visually impaired person to utilise every feature on a computer?.Among programmes which the Society has embarked upon include one for computer training, which began three years ago.?Since 2010 we have started computer training with blind persons, and ever since we have had an increase in population of visuallyThe organization?s High Street compoundimpaired persons who are using the computer. We now have members who are eager to access the Kaieteur News online, which is one of the most easily accessed papers online.?Singh said that the Society has collaborated with the One Laptop Per Family programme, where the GSB trains its members and the computers are made available.Most notably, Singh disclosed, a few months ago the Society started its first ever Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) programme.?We have embarked on this CXC programme where we started offering classes to blind and visually impaired persons in five subject areas – Human and Social Biology, English A, Mathematics, Social Studies and Office Administration.?Singh explained that the facilitators for this project will be using a different methodology,[url=http://www.wholesalesportsjerseys.us@#$%&/]Jerseys From China[/url], in that every session will be done electronically.?The tutors for this programme are being provided by the Ministry of Education and everything is done on computer. However the classroom sessions are mainly for queries, discussions and interaction. Everything is being done electronically and we are planning to have the session run via the internet so that students across the country can follow us or through some other conference facility.?Currently the CXC programme has 14 persons registered, three of whom are not visually impaired but suffer from other forms of disability.Singh, who can been seen as an inspiration to those students,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysfan.us@#$%&/]Jerseys From China[/url], has also recently completed two CXC subjects and gained Grade Ones. Ironically, when Singh first wrote CXC, he was a student of St. Rose?s High School and was diagnosed with glaucoma and was losing his sight rapidly. At his first sitting his Grades were nothing to shout about, but last year Singh gained a Grade One in English A and a Grade One in Social Studies. He is now a first-year Social Work student at the University of Guyana.Singh vows that he will now dedicate more of his time to assisting his fellow visually impaired friends in this endeavour since he feels he is a living example to them of what the unlimited possibilities.Three members practicing on the steel pans.In addition to the aforementioned, the organization in its aim to have its members well rounded, has them actively involved in other extracurricular activities including steel pan playing and cricket. The society has a very close relationship with the Blind Cricket Association.The 150 members to which the GSB caters enjoy free, routine medical check-ups by a doctor who is assigned to them by the Ministry of Health on a monthly basis – the second Wednesday of every month. Medication is also administered, if needed, free of cost. The members are also exposed to workshops through the National Commission of Disability and other organizations.Despite the need for funding – as there are some areas which need development – the organization?s President Cecil Morris says their doors are always open, not only to visually impaired persons but those who are genuinely willing to make a meaningful contribution to society.Further, it was emphasised that while some are of the opinion that the GSB only serves Georgetown and its environs this is not the case, as over the years, calls are being made for visually impaired persons from other regions to get involved in the activities which are being pursued and the elements for advancement on offer.Morris lauded the private sector – which he said has been ?one of our major supporters? – and asked for those with the means to ?bear us in mind as donations of any kind are always welcomed?.