The “I Want to Feel Free” initiative was organized by the Bolesławiec branch of the Polish Association of the Blind with the support of Bolesławiec County. Twelve beneficiaries from our county, together with their family members, were able to participate in sessions with a psychologist. The workshop participants learned how to move around safely with a white cane and also had the opportunity to sensitize their sense of touch by exploring sculptures made of ceramics, metal and other materials.
“We always try to support those most in need. Blind and visually impaired people are a group particularly vulnerable to isolation in our society. Certainly, our infrastructure is not yet as comfortable as it could be; there is no shortage of shortcomings and barriers, but the greatest barrier lies rather in our mentality. We rarely see people with white canes on our streets. And when we do, we do not really know how to behave,” says starost Cezary Przybylski. “The county wants to change this, including by supporting valuable initiatives such as this one.”
“The project of the Polish Association of the Blind deserved attention because of its innovative nature. Thanks to the training provided, blind or partially sighted people who may previously have hardly left their homes acquired the skills needed to move around outdoors. They will have a chance to become more independent and less reliant on others. That is why the Bolesławiec County Board recognized the importance of the project and granted financial assistance for its implementation,” adds Barbara Kostyra, head of the Civil, Social Affairs and Health Department of the District Office in Bolesławiec.
Almost PLN 1,500 was allocated for this purpose from the State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.
(information: Bolesławiec County/ii)