National United Society of the Blind Barbados

National United Society of the Blind Barbados The National United Society of The Blind Barbados is a charitable organisation which caters to the e

Our organisation comprises of two main types of members; ordinary members who are blind or visually impaired, and associate members who are sighted. We meet every fourth Saturday at the Centre for the Blind (Blind Workshop): however, due to the pandemic we have been meeting via Zoom. Contact us if you wish to volunteer or for the Zoom link if you or someone you know wishes to join.

07/05/2025

The Benefits of Bump Dot Stickers for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Bump dot stickers are a small but powerful tool that can make everyday tasks more accessible for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

These raised tactile markers can be placed on household appliances, keyboards, remote controls, and more, making it easy to identify specific buttons or settings by touch alone. Whether it’s marking the power button on a microwave or the volume controls on a TV remote, bump dots support greater independence and efficiency at home, work, or on the go.

Affordable, easy to apply, and incredibly versatile, bump dots are a great example of how simple adaptations can make a big difference in accessibility.

02/05/2025

Helpful Tips for Interacting with Individuals using a White Cane or Guide Dog.

When you see someone with a white or white/red cane, or a guide dog with a rigid harness, it's a sign that we have low or no vision. Our mobility devices are freedom to us and grant us independence. Keep in mind, vision loss exists on a spectrum, so don’t assume what someone can or cannot see.

Here are some helpful tips:

Say "Hello"
Since we may not see your smile, nod, or gestures, a simple verbal “hello” is incredibly appreciated. Your greeting is as friendly to us as a smile is to someone who can see.

Use Clear Verbal Cues.
Saying something like “Good morning” or “I’m passing on your left” lets us know you’re nearby. This also gives us a chance to ask for assistance if needed. Including us in a friendly exchange is all anyone wants.

Alert Us to Hazards.
If you notice something like low hanging branches, please let us know so we can avoid them. Our canes help us detect objects below our waist, but we may not sense obstacles above. “Look out” or “watch out” aren’t helpful because we won’t know what to look out for or where to direct our attention.

Be Mindful When Passing.
If you see us approaching, please make room for us to pass. If you have a pet with you, keep it away, especially if we’re with our guide dog. Service animals need to stay focused on assisting us.

Speak Up.
Silence can make it difficult for us to gauge our surroundings.
When communicating, remember we have good hearing, so speaking clearly and at a normal volume is appreciated.
When giving directions, please use specific locations like 'to your right' or 'to your left' instead of 'over there'
A quick hello ensures we know you’re there, helping us stay aware and avoid tripping over anyone by mistake. Never jump over our cane! If it breaks, it affects our safety and independence.

Never Grab or Touch Without Consent.
Avoid grabbing us, our cane, or our guide dog’s harness. Doing so without warning can be frightening and even dangerous. No one appreciates being touched by strangers especially when you cannot see someones intentions. (This happens more often than you might think.)

Your kindness, awareness, and respect are key in creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone.

Gina Martin

Diverse Abilities Programs and Training offers Staff Training, as well as Youth, senior’s and community programs. When we know what to say and do when interacting with people who are living with disabilities, it takes the guess work out and disability is no longer an uncomfortable topic.
Check out our website to learn more about our services and book your training, today!
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
A lady is walking on a sidewalk next to some bushes with her long white cane.

The workshop, a colaboration between the National United Society Of The Blind Barbados and the Catholic Diocese of Bridg...
01/05/2025

The workshop, a colaboration between the National United Society Of The Blind Barbados and the Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown, was held on Saturday April 26 2025. The theme Visions Of Hope, was chosen because of the church. 2025 Jubilee celebration: theme Pilgrims Of Hope. The three main objectives of the workshop included: 1. Identifying the challenges of sight loss, 2. Its impact on the home and family and 3. Developing coping strategies. The four presenters were: Ms. Janelle Skinner, an employee of Massy stores and a trained psychologist, Mrs. Patricia Padmore/Blackman, president of the Barbados Council f the disabled, Mrs. Eudalie Wickham/Ashby a social worker and Ms. Alinda Brathwaite, a member of the executive of the National United Society of the Blind Barbados. Participants were encouraged not to remain at the grieving stage for too long, but seek professional help if they do. Where ever possible, work with family members to do household chores independently; and finally, work with the adjustment to blindness officer, to regain their self confidence to travel and do their things on their own.

15/04/2025

Braille is more than just dots…it’s a powerful tool for literacy and independence in the blind and visually impaired community.

Here are some fascinating facts about Braille:

1. Braille is not a language it’s a tactile code that can be used to write almost any language, including English, Spanish, French, and even music and math!

2. Each character is made up of a cell of six raised dots, arranged in two columns of three.

3. There are two grades of Braille: Grade 1 is letter-for-letter transcription, while Grade 2 uses contractions to save space and increase reading speed.

4. Braille can be read by touch with the fingertips, and practiced using slate and stylus, a Braille typewriter, or modern electronic Braille displays.

5. Many public spaces include Braille on elevator buttons, room signs, ATMs, and packaging, making the world more accessible.

6. Only about 10% of blind individuals in the U.S. read Braille, but it remains a vital skill for those who use it daily in education, work, and life.

Braille opens doors to communication, independence, and equal access to information. Let’s continue to promote and support its use wherever we can.

16/03/2025

A white cane signifies that the person using it has low to no vision. Approximately 15% of people who use a white cane or a guide dog are totally blind, the rest of us have varying degrees of vision or light perception but that vision isn’t always useful or reliable.

When seeing us in the community please say “hello” as we miss out on the everyday friendly interactions with people because your smile, nod, wave goes unnoticed as we visually cannot see it. Using your voice is how you include us folks with low to no vision in your kind gestures.

Gina Martin
Diverse Abilities Programs Inc offers many programs that provide awareness about disabilities and disability related topics. Knowing basic people skills makes for a welcoming environment.
DiverseAbilities.ca
Photo description.
A stick person has its white cane extended.
Text reads  if you can see my cane, I can’t see you.

07/03/2025

When people who are sighted say “Hello” to someone who is blind or partially sighted, a few AWESOME and helpful things happen!


1. When you know our name, it is helpful when you use it to greet or address us. Saying “Hi Gina” lets me know for sure that you are talking to me. Often, many of us who have low to no vision don’t always know it is us that you are talking too.
2. When you introduce yourself to us and tell us your name, it allows us to make a connection with you that we cannot do visually. Example: “Hello, I am Shelly the store manager” or “Hello I am Brian your server this evening. This helps us identify who you are.
3. When you say “Hi Gina, I am Cory we met at the networking event.” you get my attention, I know for sure you are talking to me, and I know who I am talking with. We then have a normal interaction with each other.
4. It can often be difficult to identify someone by voice alone - even if we know you well. Surrounding sounds can interfere with our ability to recognize a voice -- even ones that are familiar to us. The sounds of daily life like traffic, kids playing, coffee brewing, photocopiers printing, people talking, or music playing in the background are distractions that can take away from identifying you by your voice.
5. Being quiet and not announcing your presence to those of us who are blind or partially sighted can feel very unsettling - even scary for some of us because we cannot visually see your intentions. Think of a foggy day when you can only see someones shadow and not any detail. Blindness is a spectrum.
Please use your voice and just say “Hello.” We take your Hello as that nod, smile, or acknowledgement people with sight give each other throughout the day. When you do this, you are treating us like everyone else and that is all we really want.
6. If you want to shake our hand, it is appreciated when you let us know, as many of us may not see your gesture. Saying something like "I'm extending my hand to shake yours" or "May I shake your hand" works just fine.
7. Please do say goodbye, see you later, or "I’ve got to go" when you leave so we don’t continue talking to someone who is no longer there.

So please when you notice us, say “Hello,” introduce yourself, and learn our name so the next time we meet we will know who you are and we can share a friendly acknowledgment together.

“Losing my sight has not changed who I am, it has changed my interactions with the world.” Gina Martin.

Diverse Abilities Programs Inc. offers Youth, Senior’s, Community and Workspace training in people skills, inclusion and accessibility.
www.DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo Description
A shadow silhouette of a person holding a cane off the sand at a beach.

04/03/2025

If you are a server, these tips will help you next time someone who is blind is seated in your section.

Introduce yourself when you approach the table. “Hi, I’m Allison, your server today.” This allows us (the person who is blind) to make a connection with you that we cannot do visually.

No need to feel awkward about what to do with the menu. Do not say to my friend “what should I do with her menu?” Just place it on the table as you would any customer. Some of us may use magnification or technology to read our own menu. If you are ever unsure, just ask us. Having one large print menu, one Braille menu and a QR code to scan ensures accessibility for all customers.

Always ask me (the person who is blind) what I would like to eat. Do not ask the person I am with, it is rude. When you do this, you belittle me, treat me as less than and exclude me from normal daily interactions. Just say, “what would you like to eat?” If you are looking and speaking to us, we often can tell you are talking to us by the sound/direction of your voice. If we do not reply, just ask us again so we know you are talking to us. Sometimes it is hard to tell someone is speaking to us, especially if there is a lot of surrounding noise.

Because you told me your name when we sat down it allows me to get your attention if I need assistance as, I visually cannot connect with you by eye contact or waving. Knowing your name allows me to say, “Excuse me Allison, may I have the bill please?”

When you give me the bill it is helpful if you say, the total is $14.35. Scenario: I (person who is blind) gives you cash to pay the bill. You return and are holding out the change to me and I do not see this silent action. No need to feel awkward again, just Say, “I am passing you, your change straight out in front of you. This way I can collect it. It is helpful to give us the coins first, then hand us the bills. If there are multiple bills, please tell us the denomination. Do not hand my change to my friend, just use your words.

Treat people like you would like to be treated. If ever you are unsure, just ask. I promise we won’t bite unless it is into our sandwich.

Do you have any other helpful tips in a restaurant scenario that would be helpful for another post?

Gina Martin
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
A server is topping up wine at a table of friends. The server has the bill in her other hand getting ready to hand it over.

The youth were at sky Mall today encouraging persons to vote NUSB Youth Empowerment.
22/12/2024

The youth were at sky Mall today encouraging persons to vote NUSB Youth Empowerment.

The youth were at sky Mall today encouraging persons to vote NUSB Youth Empowerment
22/12/2024

The youth were at sky Mall today encouraging persons to vote NUSB Youth Empowerment

NUSB celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner at the accra Beach hotel and spa on the 16th of November 2024. At thi...
04/12/2024

NUSB celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner at the accra Beach hotel and spa on the 16th of November 2024. At this dinner, we awarded five persons who contributed to the growth of the organisation. Here are some highlights.

World Blind Union Press Release: Celebrating International White Cane Safety DayFOR RELEASE on October 15World Blind Uni...
26/10/2024

World Blind Union Press Release: Celebrating International White Cane Safety Day
FOR RELEASE on October 15
World Blind Union Marks International White Cane Safety Day, October 15: A Timeless Tool for Independence and Safety

October 15, 2024—The World Blind Union (WBU) proudly joins millions around the globe in celebrating International White Cane Safety Day. This day recognizes the significance of the white cane, a vital symbol of independence, safety, and mobility for people who are blind or partially sighted.
As technology advances with AI, smart phone applications, and digital navigation tools, the role of the white cane remains fundamental. It is a reliable tool that allows individuals to navigate their physical environment with confidence, even when technology falls short.

Martine Abel-Williamson, President of WBU, said: “No matter how many digital solutions become available, there is always a physical dimension to life. The white cane is just as important today as it was 50 years ago. It serves as a dependable companion, especially when technology cannot be relied upon, allowing people to move independently through their communities. On International White Cane Safety Day, we celebrate this tool of freedom and remind the world that we must continue to make our physical spaces navigable with a cane.”

Diana Stentoft, Secretary General of WBU, added “The white cane is more than a tool; it’s a symbol of resilience and independence. In times of crisis, such as floods or displacement, when digital tools may become inaccessible, the white cane remains a lifeline. As we celebrate this day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that our environments are inclusive, accessible, and safe for everyone, including those who rely on their white canes.”

International White Cane Safety Day serves as a reminder that while advancements in technology provide incredible support, the white cane remains an essential part of daily life for millions worldwide. It symbolizes the right to move freely and safely through our communities, and WBU will continue to advocate for accessibility in all aspects of life, both physical and digital.

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Bridgetown, Barbados
Bridgetown

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+12462343331

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