Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Ebsar Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the visually challenged, has asked the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) to conduct training programs to qualify the visually impaired members of society for the job market and issue them accredited certificates.

Aisha Natto, a board member of Ebsar Foundation, said they raised a number of issues during a recent meeting with the TVTC.

She said the meeting came at the request of Ebsar to discuss technical and vocational services that can be provided to visually impaired people and ways of cooperation to develop training programs for them.

Natto was speaking on the sidelines of the meeting between Ebsar Foundation's board members and Faisal Kadasa, general manager of TVTC in Makkah province.

“We have requested the TVTC to give approvals to our training programs and the curriculum. We want to issue our members accredited certificates signed by the TVTC,” she said, adding that Ebsar has allowed the TVTC to modify its training programs and curriculum if needed.

Another initiative they sought the support of TVTC was to maintain the houses of visually impaired individuals, Natto said.

Asked about the jobs that visually impaired individuals can perform, Natto said they could work as data entry clerks and foot masseurs.

Ebsar Foundation has 3,000 registered members, she added.

According to her, the TVTC does not have any special training programs tailored to the needs of the visually impaired individuals unlike people who suffer from hearing impairment.

Kadasa stressed TVTC's keenness to support all disabled people, regardless of the nature of their disabilities.

“Through our social responsibility we aim to engage people with special needs in society in a positive and effective way through vocational training,” he said. He added that the organization would support visually impaired people to obtain administrative and vocational jobs that can help them to become independent.

Sami Al-Saati, general secretary of Ebsar Foundation, said it was essential to provide suitable training to the visually impaired people to help them become independent and make them active members of society.