Programmes
Advocacy and legal aid
The advocacy service assists people who are blind or have low vision, to address barriers they are facing as individuals in the community due to visual impairment. Workshop and outreach activities about issues such as Blind Women’s right and United National Convention on Rights for People with Disability (UNCRPD) are some of the main drivers of this component.
Information, communication and technology (ICT)
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Braille Literacy and Production
BABPS production unit transcribes any print documents to Braille, large print, tactile graphics and audio accurately, biding by the copy rights act of Botswana and the international Braille standard notation. The programme further empowers those who are blind to use Braille as a primary mode of communication.
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ICT Skills Transfer
BABPS E-Library aims at equipping the VI with computer literacy, access to modern assistive technology devises, access to computers and internet as well as an independent use of technology to find information. This will serve as a skills transfer point where numbers will empower each other with the skills and techniques they have in regard to ICT.
Community Education and Outreach
BABPS reaches out of the VI through:
- Membership drive or recruitment
- Community awareness activities (workshop, events, commemorations etc...)
- Stakeholders partnership and involvement
Orientation and mobility (O & M)
People with vision impairment face serious challenges and risks in moving safely and independently. Orientation and Mobility techniques as well as aids and equipment like white canes are vital to assist in walking around. BABPS provide specialized O and M techniques training and advice to people with vision impairment before they are even allowed to use a white cane.
Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights: HIV/AIDS Education
BABPS strives to enhance sexual reproduction health right and HIV/AIDS education and information accessibility amongst the Blind and the Visually Impaired (VI) person in Botswana. This is due to the fact that this has been identified as a gap for the visually impaired in Botswana.
Monitoring and Evaluation
In Botswana, little research has been conducted to assist in informing quality an effective service provision of persons with vision impairment to inform proper programming. It is common knowledge that VI persons are exposed to risk of disadvantaged hence no proof or evidence to substantiate the designed programs. The study will improve in programming and quality service provision subsequently sustainable livelihoods for the VI.