00:00Executive Officer of the Blind Welfare Association, Kenneth Surat, wants immediate steps to ensure
00:07that blind and visually impaired students receive equitable access to education.
00:13He tells the TV6 Morning Edition children with visual impairments continue to face systemic
00:19barriers in the educational system, including limited access to assistive technology, a
00:26shortage of trained special education teachers and the absence of inclusive learning materials
00:32including laptops.
00:34Someone who is blind, and remember blindness as a spectrum, we start from total blindness
00:38like myself, I don't even have blind perception.
00:41So in order for I to use a computer, I need text-to-speech software.
00:46Text-to-speech software is like JAWS or NVDA or text-to-speech software.
00:51What it does, it takes text off the screen and converts it into synthesized speech that
00:56comes up onto my computer speakers and I can hear what's happening.
01:00He says blind and visually impaired students deserve the same opportunities to learn, thrive
01:06and contribute to society as any other child.
01:09We are hoping that universally across the board, children who are blind, whether adult or children,
01:15we want assistive technology to be at no cost to all of us.
01:19My Braille display fighter function in my office, Marlon, is $20,000.
01:23You know, just to get the software, the text-to-speech software is $800 U.S.
01:27And what we're saying, no child must be left behind and we mustn't put, that is too expensive
01:31for the child who is blind.
01:32According to Surat, inclusion in education is not just about access to classrooms, but access
01:38to meaningful participation, achievement and dignity.
01:43It is cheaper to educate a child who is blind and send them to school, let them get a good
01:48job functioning in the society than giving them disability grant.
01:52We saw the impact, especially with Baris Sagan marriage, when introduced school for East Indian
01:56women.
01:57Today we have a East Indian woman who is the Prime Minister.
01:59Just recently, TV6 did an interview at the Blind Welfare Association where we were given
02:05a demonstration of how the Braille laptop and assistive technologies work.
02:10In May, the Prime Minister said her government has approved the procurement of laptops and
02:16accessories like AI tutors and educational videos for students entering secondary schools
02:22in the academic year September 2025.
02:25She said it was a promise made and one she intends to keep.
02:30Nicole M Romany, TV6 News.
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