A Gunawardana
Sri Lanka Council for the Blind, Noord, Sector Onderzoek en Revalidatie, Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
The absence of reliable statistics on visual disability in most developing countries obscures the magnitude of the problem. Assuming that 1% of the population in developing countries is visually impaired and 65% of these persons suffer form low vision, Sri Lanka has an estimated 117,000 persons who fall under this category. The next national census, has already made provision for a very detailed analysis as a result of our persistent requests. Most blind and low vision seniors have had basic education in one of the 13 schools for the blind in Sri Lanka. There are nearly 200 visually handicapped university graduates, 20 of whom are low vision seniors. These graduates are mostly teachers, though some are practicing lawyers. It is an interesting phenomenon that the national problem since the 1960s is not about total blindness but about low vision. This may be due to increased health conditions in the country. Retinitis pigmentoria has nonetheless been identified as being prevalent. From their youth, low vision children are schooled with totally blind students and treated the same way. Only one in 13 schools has a separate class and separate teachers for low vision students. All visually impaired children sit the open national examinations along with normal children. Until recently, Braille was the only accepted method of education to low vision students. The general lack of equipment, facilities and specially trained instructors is a main obstacle. No special facilities, programs or consideration are provided by the state for low vision adults, nor are there special training or rehabilitation centers. The visually impaired are sometimes found self-employed, in the handloom industry, weaving rattan, or in retail. Some graduates are teachers and some are trained as telephone operators by our council. It is high time that the state considered the low vision community as a separate group which deserves continual attention in rehabilitation, training and employment.
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