what Do we offer?
There are two major departments are welfare/rehabilitation department and workshop.
Welfare Services
The welfare rehabilitation department is part of the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association (TTBWA) that provides rehabilitation / rehabilitative services to persons who are blind and visually impaired. We provide support and other types of intervention services. See below welfare services available:
- Client Registration
- Provision of White Cane and Orientation & Mobility Training
- Adjustment to Blindness Training – Example: Daily living skills, orientation of ability, personal care and grooming etc.
- Communication Skills Training – Example: Braille literacy, ability to read etc.
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Providing Low Vision Aid Screening
- Provision of Accessible Books (large print, pdf, audio, braille)
- Lay Counselling
- Advocacy Services
- Blindness Awareness
This department also host events for all clienteles to socialise and promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
For information on our welfare services contact us via WhatsApp 1(868)395-3086 . All the services above are to ensure persons can be independent as possible. Being blind or visually impaired is not a bad thing. Participating in our services will ensure that you are more succesful with your everyday activities.
how cAN YOU REGISTER AS A CLIENT?
Simply visit any branch of the Blind Welfare Association. Provide a referral letter from an Ophthalmologist or a Certificate of Blindness, a form of identification (picture), a birth certificate and proof of address. Before you know it, you’ll become a client!
Workshop
history
The Workshop department of the Association would have started a long time ago. The workshop started in St. Ann Street in San Fernando. Many persons know it as the old Rum Bun Building. This is where craft started in San Fernando and it was more associated with socializing and situations where persons would attend, and the craft occurs. It was all about socializing and doing craft. Generating an income for the association. In the beginning, it had approximately over 60 -80 persons at that time. Eventually, in 1997, it decreases to approximately 40 persons.
What is done at the workshop?
Only available in San Fernando and Port of Spain. Currently there are 7 instructors that deals with the handling of the craft, the issuing of work to workers/ employees. When work comes into the association, especially when the public brings work to repair, and products to be made for customers. The instructors will give it to the workers/ employees to get it done. There are currently 12 workers right now.
What products are made?
Handicraft: Chair repairs, Sea Grass, and Rattan Basketry. Creation of handmade baskets such as market baskets, vender baskets, picnic baskets, fruit baskets, baskets for babies (basinets). We do repairs to rattan furniture and chairs, chair caning, and basically anything a customer wants. It can be done. The workers are very skilled to do that sort of craft. The material we use is a very expensive material called rattan cane, and it is imported from Asia. We use water to make it more flexible to craft and prevent it from breaking or cracking.
Skills developed at the workshop
Skills developed at the workshop are hands on where visually impaired or blind can use their hands and learn how to do things like weaving. Weaving is one of the main skills. There are different turn downs that is done on items and baskets such as two pair chain, three pair chain, four pair chain, basinet turndown etc. Those are other skills a person will learn besides weaving.
See below two of the many items which are created at the workshop department:
For more information on our products, see the WhatsApp link https://wa.me/c/18683160311.
Also, contact us via WhatsApp 1(868)316-0311 for more info on workshop, products, and purchase of products etc.