KUCHING: A landmark step towards disability empowerment will be taken with the launch of a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at equipping visually impaired youth with tools for personal growth and societal engagement.
The “Modul Pemerkasaan Diri Belia OKU Penglihatan Sarawak” (Self-Empowerment Module for Visually Impaired Youth in Sarawak) will be unveiled at the Sarawak State Library’s Gallery during Visual Impairment Awareness Day.
The event is jointly organised by the Sarawak Society for the Blind (SSB) and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
According to project leader Dr Farah Zaini, the module was developed through close collaboration with the visually impaired community and social science experts.
It is designed to foster confidence, independence, and leadership among blind and low-vision youth by addressing key areas such as self-advocacy, communication skills, career planning, and navigating societal barriers.
“The launch of this module represents a crucial step towards a more inclusive Sarawak, where visually impaired youth are not only supported but empowered to thrive,” said Dr Farah.
She explained that the development of the module was guided by four main objectives: determining the necessary components for visually impaired youth empowerment, identifying the forms of support needed for their personal and community development, recommending suitable interventions for self-growth, and training young visually impaired individuals as trainers through a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme.
The event will be officiated by Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Datuk Rosey Yunus,who has expressed the state government’s full support for initiatives that involve the OKU community in social and economic development.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities conducted by visually impaired facilitators and explore various exhibition booths, including those from the Parents Support Group and the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which will provide an OKU card renewal service.
