Exhibition showcases how technology can ease disabled persons’ lives |19 December 2014

Different types of gadgets and accessories that could help make life easier for disabled persons were on show in an exhibition recently.

Organised by the National Council for the Disabled (NCFD), the exhibition was held on December 6 at the Orion Mall.

Present for its launch were the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, the principal secretary for social affairs Linda William Melanie, the chairperson of NCFD Patricia Rene, disabled persons, and parents.

In a small speech for the occasion Mrs Rene said: “We know that technology is very important for normal people nowadays but it could also change and ease the lives of disabled persons if they are given access to such technologies, some of which are specifically designed for them. It will help them to communicate, learn, interact and move about.”

Wheelchair bound Jaya Nair of Core Technologies received the attention of those present as he explained about the modification he had made to his automatic Hyundai Veloster car he had brought as part of the exhibition.

Mr Nair, whose lower half of the body was paralised after an accident while studying in the USA, had had his car fixed with the brake and the accelerator on the steering wheel which makes it easier for him to drive his car. He had been driving for the past 15 years and he recommended other disabled persons fit to drive to use this simple technology.

SPACE 95 had among its displays a robotic car fitted with a camera which a disabled person can activate via a mobile phone or a tablet without having to move, view any corners of a house or who is at the door.

The Planning Authority was also present showing the different measures it is implementing in the building sector for better access for disabled persons such as wider corridors for wheel chairs, elevators, special toilets, among others.

The Ministry of Health had on show health technological devices offered by the Rehabilitation Services.
 
The exhibition also saw the involvement of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports, Itech and the vocational unit of the NCFD which had various artisanal artifacts on sale.

The NCFD also organised a gala fun day at the Anse Royal fun park on that same day for the disabled along with their families.

Disabled persons on Praslin joined with their counterparts from La Digue the week before at the LANOUCHE discotheque at La Passe for a day of fun activities.
 All these were part of activities to commemorate the Day for the Disabled which was on December 3.