Bringing Independence and Hope to Visually Impaired Residents

The City of Johannesburg’s Social Development Department is changing lives one home at a time through its Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Training Programme, implemented in partnership with South African Mobility for the Blind Trust (SAMBT).

The O&M training for some visually impaired trainees was conducted in Region C and Region D as part of the City’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusion, dignity and independence for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The visits took place at beneficiaries’ homes in Braamfischerville in Region C and Mofolo in Region D, where practitioners worked directly with four visually impaired beneficiaries. Two of the beneficiaries were born blind, while two became blind later in life.

Through grant funding from the MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ennie Makhafola, aimed at empowering NPOs, SAMBT was contracted to implement mobility training for visually impaired residents across the City.

The mobility training programme is divided into two components: O&M training, as well as Skills of Daily Living training. Beneficiaries receive intensive three-month training within their own home environments, enabling them to develop confidence and independence in the spaces they navigate daily.

Beneficiaries who were totally blind and partially sighted were prioritised, especially those who had never previously received O&M training and who were heavily dependent on others for daily activities. About 12 beneficiaries are trained per programme over three months.

Acting Director in the Targeted Beneficiaries Unit Nare Kubyane said the programme reflects the City’s commitment to building an inclusive society. “Inclusion is not just about access, it is about empowerment. By training blind people in orientation and mobility, the City is restoring independence, dignity, confidence and the freedom to navigate the world without limitations.”

As part of the training, beneficiaries are taught white cane utilisation skills, including techniques for safe road crossing and obstacle detection. They are also trained in activities of daily living such as cooking, pouring liquids safely, money identification and the use of assistive devices, including talking watches.

Helen Vosloo from SAMBT highlighted the transformative impact that independence training has on visually impaired persons. She said the organisation’s approach is community-based and personalised, ensuring that training takes place within each beneficiary’s daily environment rather than in a training centre.

“Many untrained blind people must have someone to walk with them to the shop or clinic and compensate the person for accompanying them. By the second or third month of training, many beneficiaries tell us it is the first time their grant money lasts the entire month because they no longer need to depend on others to accompany them,” she said.

Written by Dr Farhin Delawala