Computer clubs for the visually impaired are opening in the Vitebsk region on White Cane Day

October 15, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. On the International White Cane Day, computer clubs for the blind will start operating in the Vitebsk region, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Branch of the public association "BelTIZ" Alexander Dubko told a BELTA correspondent. The grand opening of such clubs will take place simultaneously in Vitebsk, Lepel, Dokshitsy, Sharkovshchina, Orsha, and Polotsk. The signal that the opening has taken place will be the connection via Skype of visually impaired people from these settlements. As expected, people with disabilities from St. Petersburg and even Sweden will join their dialogue. Thus, without leaving their city, every blind person will have the opportunity to hear their friends and acquaintances in different parts of the world. In addition, these computer clubs are equipped with special programs that allow blind people to freely use computers and the Internet. Moreover, all this is free of charge. As Alexander Dubko noted, by the end of the current year, similar computer clubs will be created in all districts of the region. Previously, they operated only at four enterprises of the blind society, and only their staff could use them. Now the circle of blind Internet users will expand. Blind people are trained in the basics of computer use at the Vitebsk Rehabilitation Branch. About a dozen people with disabilities acquire knowledge about personal computers and master the skills of working on them every month, and in total, during the operation of the branch, almost 300 people have mastered computer literacy. Interestingly, pensioners are trying not to lag behind the youth. Computer clubs are created on the basis of territorial centers for social services, so access to them will be open to other categories of people with disabilities, Alexander Dubko emphasized. Today, the White Cane Month has started in the region, designed to draw public attention to the problems of blind people, to show their achievements and successes. Round tables with the participation of people with disabilities, medical professionals, trade workers, and social services will be held in the region to develop a barrier-free environment. Vitebsk athletes with disabilities will take part in a sports competition for the blind in Smolensk, and will also organize a chess and checkers tournament. -0-