Visually impaired association attends meeting in US

Six members of the Macau People with Visually Impaired Right Promotion Association (MPVIRPA) have joined an exchange trip to the United States to learn about the country’s policies, education system and right protection for visually impaired people.
The group departed on July 8 to San Francisco for the 15-day trip. They attended the 2014 American Council of the Blind (ACM) Conference and Convention that took place between July 11 and 19.
Apart from delegates from Macau, there are also delegations from countries including the US, Germany, Australia, France, Spain, Japan, Canada and New Zealand.
MPVIRPA president Cheong Chi Pong said that people who participated in the meeting are very interested in and concerned with the services provided to visually impaired people in Macau. When they learnt of the current condition, Cheong said foreign participants were “very shocked, disappointed and frustrated” because, he alleges, “Macau’s services for visually impaired people are close to zero despite its high GDP.”
He added that other participants have encouraged MPVIRPA to continue its fight for the rights of visually impaired people, so that they can receive a proper education and choose a life that is suitable for them, instead of only relying on the service welfare to support their lives.
During the conference, there are also seminars, meetings and workshops relating to the day-to-day issues that visually impaired people encounter, such as education, information technology, transportation, healthcare and employment.
In addition, three members have received a certificate from the Audio Description Association after completing the audio description training.
Cheong Chi Pong hopes that the service, which has been promoted in the US for more than 30 years, can be brought to Macau as well enhancing visually impaired people’s ability to communicate with others. JPL