Bertie Ahern today marked the achievements of blind and vision impaired graduates from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland’s Rehabilitation Training Centre in Dublin.

The local TD and former Taoiseach presented eight students with FETAC certificates as a mark of acknowledgment for their qualifications in independent living that they received at the NCBI.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ahern said, “For many people, doing everyday tasks such as cooking, travelling, searching the internet and working are things that are taken for granted. But what do you do if you cannot see?”

“The National Council for the Blind of Ireland has been running rehabilitation programmes for over two decades at its centre on Whitworth Road, Dublin, to enable people who are blind and vision impaired to retain or regain their independence and to meet the challenges of sight loss.”

“I am delighted to have been invited here today to acknowledge the abilities and achievements of these students and I wish them all the very best with their next steps.”

The rehabilitation course provides training in a diverse range of skills including crafts and textiles, literacy, Braille, mobility, cookery and computer literacy and is designed to help people who are blind and vision impaired to develop the skills and confidence to live independently.

Des Kenny, Chief Executive of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland said, “In addition to learning these skills, trainees attending the Centre have the opportunity to obtain a FETAC qualification. This enables them to go on to further education and increases their prospects of employment and being economically independent as well.”

One such student is Dane Chan. Dane, a 30 year old student, originally from Malaysia, has been living in Dublin for over ten years. While in Ireland, Dane began to lose his vision and is now almost totally blind. After successfully completing the Training Centre’s course, Dane is now a full time student of Computer Applications at DCU.

Stuart Lawler, Rehabilitation Centre Manager explains, “Achievement can mean different things to different people, whether it is going on to third level education or being able to confidently navigate the busy streets of Dublin. We try through our course to equip students to achieve their own goals.

“Each step forward in terms of independent living is a success story for us. We take great pride in helping to empower people to do something, no matter how big or small.”

For more information please contact NCBI on Locall 1850 33 43 53.

Notes to editors

• The NCBI provides support and services to over 14,000 people in Ireland who are blind and vision impaired.
• NCBI’s Training Centre in Dublin runs courses for students of all ages who are blind or vision impaired.
• The centre provides a diverse range of courses including: computer literacy, customer care, daily living skills, literacy, numeracy, communications, Braille, pottery, mobility, career advice, job seeking and kitchen skills.
• The Training Centre is funded by the Rehabilitation Training and Guidance Service (RTGS) of the HSE.
• Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD opened the Rehabilitation Training Centre ten years ago in June 1998.