Group, Bank donate hable one braille devices to 25 blind Nigerians

By Praise Chinecherem

Twenty five blind Nigerians have received the Hable One braille device through a partnership between the Disability Rights Protection Initiative (DRP Initiative) and Sterling Bank PLC.

Executive Director, DRP Initiative, Chikwado Chukwu said the distribution of the assistive technology was in commemoration of World Braille Day.

According to him, the Hable One is a portable braille keyboard that connects to a smartphone or tablet.

“It enables blind and low vision users who are both students and professionals navigate their mobile phones and computers independently as well as be more productive in their academics and work places.

“The distribution timed with World Braille Day, marked globally on January 4 in honour of Louis Braille, the Frenchman who created the braille reading and writing system,” he said.

Chikwado further revealed that Sterling Bank funded the procurement and donation of the tech devices, describing it as rare case of Nigerian bank backing disability inclusion work with money and inclusive opportunities, rather than statement.

“Sterling’s existing OneBank app assists blind customers navigate independently and to branches as well as wheelchair users and deaf customers to access without assistance.

“DRP Initiative is a Nigerian disability rights organisation which has pushed for disability rights ‘as rights, not favours’ for years, often without funding,” he added.