A call has been made for the government and private sectors to help develop the skills of people with visual disabilities and understand their needs so they can work more professionally and competitively. Secretary General of Ebsar Foundation Mohammed Tawfeeq Bellow made the appeal and said that the visually-disabled be helped to implement development programs of their own, as a key requirement for the improvement of work conditions and environment as per the needs and capabilities of disabled people. Bellow says the training of disabled people on the job will help to break down the psychological and social barriers between disabled people and their work colleagues. The society is supported by Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz, who is the Honorary President of the Society. This year the society is to spend SR400,000 on developing human resources by developing the skills of the visually-disabled so they can exercise their business efficiently and effectively through a series of training workshops. The first training course titled “The Professional Blind Employee” will run for five days, from Feb. 25-29, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. at Mohammed Redha center at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. The course will be delivered by Rashad Fakeeha, an international lecturer on development and Helmy Natto of JASSARAH Center. The course will examine the successes of a number of visually-disabled people Bellow says many visually-disabled people haven't received any developmental training since joining work. He has called on the companies that want to hire employees with visual disabilities to attend the course and choose the appropriate applicants for their vacancies. “The foundation is seeking to shed light on the importance of rehabilitation and employment of visually-disabled people, so they are included in career growth and development.” One of the ways it hopes to do this is by eradicating disabled illiteracy via the Means Braille Teacher. So far the Ebsar Foundation has worked on the development and rehabilitation of 8,856 men and women with visual disabilities. __
