Rotary Beefs Up Facilities at Naga's Center for the Blind

NAGA CITY (Nov. 12) -- Aiding the visually-challenged persons to enjoy the wonders of computers and information technology (IT), the Rotary Club of Naga-Camarines Sur and the Rotary International District 3820 donated an audio room where they can relax or conduct research works.

The facility, an air-conditioned room which is also equipped with recording apparatus, is housed at the city government run-Resource Center for the Blind. It is located at the ground floor of Raul S. Roco Library.

The direct benefactor of the donated facility is Rotarian Jose "Chingsan" Rañola, chairman and incoming president of the civic organization, whose visual impairment was caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa, a visual disorder that also runs in the Robredo family.

Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo thanked the Rotary for its philanthropic deeds, saying that its partnership with the city government will help clients of the Center to reach their highest potential by way of programs that promotes self-reliance.

In an interview, Rañola said he felt the urgency of making such facility available in the Center, saying that 90 percent of its clients are students who "should be given support in their studies through IT services.

Tim De Villa, Rotary Club of Naga-Camarines Sur president, said his group and the city government were also able to solicit computer units from other private organizations in Japan as part of their continuing effort to help the Center acquire the facilities it needs.

The computers including those donated by the Robredo family are also equipped with accessible software on the latest version of Job Access with Speech 10 (JAWS 10), a screen reading program.

The center, which is the first of its kind in Southern Luzon, provides a comprehensive program of specialized education and training which will optimize the blind or visually-impaired people's development.

It is also equipped with computers bearing software that allows a person with low vision to have the screen enlarged to 16 times and are usable for speech capability.

It has also a scanner in which a blind person can place their reading materials and have the items read allowed by the computer and displayed in large or on regular points.

Fulltime caring services with home environment are the center's mission statement for its clients who are mostly children.

For purposes of privacy, the center has headphones. A computer instructor/staff is available to provide guidance.

Visually impaired Franklin Ricafort of the Camarines Sur National High School said: "Our hearts are full of gratitude after knowing that there are people like the Rotarians who reach out for them to show their sympathy, attention, care and concern."

He also assured their benefactors that the assistance they are receiving will not go in vain, saying that whatever benefits they gained will also be shared to others.

Second year AB Psychology student Joseph Pabillo, 18, said: "I admire the kindheartedness of the Rotarians. The audio-recording room they donated will serve as important facility for us especially those who are studying and engaging in research works." (PNA)