- The T-Mobile Fund contributed CZK 100,000 for social rehabilitation of visually impaired persons
- Close cooperation with physicians is part of the project
Prague/Hradec Králové, 21 February 2007 - It is very difficult for those who are blind or visually impaired due to illness or injury to get back to normal life. They can get help from the selfless people around them and benefit from ingenious devices designed to assist them. Tyfloservis represents both. This beneficiary association has its seat in Prague and branch offices in every regional city. Last year, the branch in Hradec Králové prepared a project called "When strong glasses are not enough", which received a grant of CZK 100,000 from the T-Mobile Fund through the VIA foundation.
"Most of the money contributed by the T-Mobile Fund was used to purchase state-of-the-art aids that help the visually impaired enjoy a more independent lifestyle," says Martina Kemrová, Head of Corporate Communication at T-Mobile.
Tyfloservis has purchased for its clients a set of Auto Raylite magnifiers with LED light source for better illumination, handles for the Vario Plus System and other special optical as well as non-optical aids such as an electronic diary with the special Supernova software that can increase magnification of graphics and also offers speech features and a special feature for diagnosis of visual clarity.
"The grant from the T-Mobile Fund is a big help to us," says Martina Šonská, Head of the Tyfloservis branch in Hradec Králové. "During our clients' rehabilitation, we help them select the most appropriate aids with respect to the nature and extent of visual impairment, we teach them how to use such aids and advise them on how to obtain them." The Tyfloservis branch in Hradec Králové cooperates with an eye specialist who can prescribe a suitable aid. Whenever possible, clients can borrow the aids from Tyfloservis until they are able to acquire their own.
The remaining part of the financial resources from the T-Mobile Fund is intended for communication with eye specialists. "We prepare information materials for physicians about the activities of our association so that they can inform their patients of our association and how to find us," says Šonská, adding: "This part of the "When strong glasses are not enough" project will be implemented in the spring of this year."
The Tyfloservis branch in Hradec Králové is visited by approximately 240 visually impaired people per year. Most of them visit Tyfloservis for consultation and to try out special aids for the visually impaired. Approximately 25 clients each year take part in some of the special courses offered by Tyfloservis. Tyfloservis also offers lectures and seminars for physicians, social workers and the public, trainings for guides of the visually impaired, as well as cultural and social events.