20 Oct 2013

Dada Foundation in partnership with Sefalana Holdings Group donated funds to support two visually impaired students from the University of Botswana (UB) disability unit to undergo training.

Mr Satar Dada and Mr Chandra Chauhan of Sefalana handed over a cheque worth P19 234 in Gaborone on October 18. The students would undergo access technology training known as Job Access with Speech (JAWS) in South Africa from October 23 to November 7. The deputy director of disability unit at UB, Ms Sesele Abram, said up-skilling students with  visual impairment in the use of JAWS enhances the students’ level of independence, creates access, enhances participation and increases the levels of productivity in the level of work.

JAWS training, she said eliminates barriers to information by equipping students who are visually impaired with requisite skills to use access information in an e-format. Ms Abram stated that the learning environment is made more accessible and contributes to the success in both their studies and quality of life.

The disability unit, she said, has registered six students with vision impairment acquired at a later stage of adulthood, and they would all undergo training in South Africa. The deputy vice chancellor, Student Affairs, Dr Lydia Nyathi-Saleshando noted that in the past those living with disability did not have any role to play in the society .

Dr Nyathi -Saleshando said UB currently focuses on technology as it would help those living with  disability to function without difficulties  as everybody else. The intention is to develop the laboratory so that it could be user-friendly to those living with disability. ENDS