Computer and Housekeeping Classes

The computer and housekeeping classes have been equipped in Liepaja Society of the Blind (LSB) this year. The computer class gives the blind equal opportunities. They can acquire computer skills and use internet, follow the training program on the computer sciences taught in comprehensive schools and fulfil the assignments during the studies in the institutions of higher education likewise average students.

With a help of the scanner and the Braille Display the blind can read any non-specially prepared text. The special computer was acquired in 2002 owing to the donation of 13.8 thousand Lats by the USA Embassy in Latvia. It is further supplied with the Braille Display and the sound card which helps even the completely blind people to work with in the Latvian, English or Russian languages, using hearing or touch.

Last year computer skills were acquired by 14 weak-eyed people, but this year - by 7 blind and 9 weak-eyed people. Applying the acquired abilities, a young man became the author of the newspaper "Pavards" ("Fireplace"), two visually impaired study now, three more are going to start their studies next year. According to the questionnaire, at least 30 visually impaired persons would like to study but one of the obstacles is lack of the appropriate equipment.

Many of the weak-eyed and blind people in Liepaja and its region are in the working age, but only few of them have jobs. In the end of the last year the housekeeping class was equipped in Liepaja in order to teach visually impaired cooking and housekeeping skills, so that they are self-sufficient and less dependent on help of others.

Liepaja is the first Lithuanian city where thanks to the financial support of the City Council 12 out of 19 street crossings with the traffic lights are equipped with sound signals, which make movement of visually impaired easier. The city buses are equipped with large-sized numbers of routes.

Liepaja branch of Latvia Society of the Blind with the support of the local government has also launched new projects: adjusting of the sports gym to the needs of the blind and establishing a hotel for the visually impaired in Liepaja.