Blind and Deaf Society unveils two ‘life-changing’ centres
By opening two facilities, the KZN Blind and Deaf Society will address the needs of those who are often overlooked.
On Friday, October 23, the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society (KZNBDS) celebrated a significant milestone as it unveiled two spaces for those who need them most, ahead of its 90th anniversary.
The Society welcomed the IBV-Sarah Foundation Therapy Room for Children with Multiple Disabilities, and the HBZ Bank Recreation Centre for Blind and Deaf Adults.
KZNBDS President, Veetha Sewkuran, acknowledged that the opening of the two centres was about creating spaces where people could belong.
“Today, we are not simply opening two new services; today, we are opening doors to possibility. We are creating opportunities where there were very few. And, most importantly, we are saying to some of the most vulnerable members of our society: ‘You are seen. You are valued. You have not been forgotten.
“And what better way to celebrate 90 years of service than by opening centres that respond to needs that are so often overlooked? What better way to honour our past than by investing in the future?” shared Sewkuran.
The IBV-Sarah Foundation Therapy Room for Children with Multiple Disabilities aims to address the needs of children who live with a combination of visual or hearing impairment together with physical, developmental, intellectual or other disabilities. And the second facility, HBZ Bank Recreation Centre for Blind and Deaf Adults, addresses another group whose needs can be overlooked: the blind and deaf adults, particularly those who are tired or who have limited opportunities for social interaction.
On behalf of the KZNBDS Board of Trustees, Raven Harkoo said, “We are celebrating more than the opening of the two facilities; we are celebrating compassion, generousity, and our shared commitment to creating a more inclusive society.”
He added that the children’s centre would go a long way in assisting through proving families with guidance, therapeutic support, transport, and meals. Also highlight, “The recreation centre will provide the blind and deaf with a sense of belonging. Recreation is not a luxury, it is an essential part of a dignified life.”
The two centres were donated by the IBV and the Sarah Foundation, and HBZ Bank.
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