New Blind Society Called ABA

Thursday October 18, 2012

Meeting needs of the blind

WHEEL POWER By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

Out and about: Some of the blind participants at the World White Cane Day celebrations held at Kota Damansara Community Forest Park in Petaling Jaya, Selangor last Saturday.

The Adult Blind Association of Selangor aims to raise awareness of a special group of visually impaired individuals.

THERE’S a new disability organisation in town to cater to the needs of persons with adult blindness.
The Adult Blind Association of Selangor (ABA) which was set up last month, aims to raise awareness of a special group of visually challenged individuals. These are elderly adults who have lost their sight or are progressively losing their vision as they get older.

“Not many of us realise that these people do not get the special care and attention they need for full rehabilitation,” said Yam Tong Woo, pro-tem president of ABA.

“Most of them do not get the vital emotional support that they require or counselling on how to cope with blindness, especially when one is older,” said Yam, 59, who became blind four years ago.
Yam was speaking to Wheel Power during the World White Cane Day celebrations at the Kota Damansara Community Forest Park in Petaling Jaya, last Saturday.

The event, observed annually on Oct 15, witnessed close to 200 people – most of whom are blind – trekking through the oldest secondary forest in Peninsular Malaysia.
Yam was organising chairman of the event which was supported by the Petaling Jaya City Council and Friends of Kota Damansara. The oldest participant was a woman in her eighties.
“Despite her age and blindness, she insisted on having a piece of the action,” said Yam with a smile on his face. Then he turned solemn and pointed out that not many opportunities are given to older folks who are blind.

“People often assume that the blind don’t want to participate in events because of their age. However, the reverse is true in most cases. Caregivers of the adult blind – who are often their children – also require special support.

“They need a support platform where they can come together and meet other blind people and their caregivers to share and learn from one another. We hope to create such opportunities through ABA’s activities.”

It is often much harder to accept and cope with blindness when one is older. The experience can be traumatising for such individuals. Adult blindness can be caused by various factors, such as glaucoma or diabetes. Vision loss can happen suddenly through an accident. In Yam’s case, he lost his sight following an infection.

“Even though Hong, my wife, was a trained nurse, it was not easy. Despite the existence of several organisations for the blind, we couldn’t find the help I needed as a blind person and the support Hong needed as a caregiver. This is why we decided to form ABA,” Yam explained.

“We hope ABA will be able to offer support to anyone with blindness, especially the adult blind, based on our experiences as well as that of other individuals and their caregivers.
Yam hopes that anyone who becomes blind will be able to seek counselling from ABA on how to live with blindness.

Persons who have recently lost their sight should be able to receive encouragement and hope on how to get through the initial period and find rehabilitative care from medical professionals.

ABA will also help them to acquire independent living skills as they learn to find their way around the house.

The Adult Blind Association of Selangor is looking for financial support to carry out its programmes.
It is also in need of assistive and adaptive devices or gadgets to help improve the quality of life of the blind.

Those who would like to help can call 012-305 3853 or e-mail yamtw05@gmail.com.

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