The following information has been provided by Belize Council for Visually Impaired.
About the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired | About Rowan, Juan Noel, and Jiyah
The Belize Council for the Visually Impaired’s Vision is of a Belize where no one is needlessly blind and those who are irrevocable blind are integrated as equal members in all aspects of society.
Our Comprehensive Eye Care Program targets all aspects of visual impairment and blindness, from correcting refractive errors to integrating children who are blind into the school system and providing rehabilitative services to people who are blind.
We are a non-profit, non governmental agency that has been providing Belizeans with a comprehensive eye care service since 1981. Working closely with the Ministries of Health and Education, our 24 employees cover the whole country and provide a full range of services to people in each of the six districts.
The main goals of BCVI are to:
Our first stage of operation is the Primary Eye Care system, in which patients are seen by the optometrist and given prescription glasses should they need it. If the doctor finds a deeper problem, the patient is then referred the National Eye Clinic (NEC), where the ophthalmologist examines him/her. At the NEC the patient can receive the appropriate medication as well as surgery, if necessary.
Through our Education and Rehabilitation Programs, based on the person’s age, a client can be placed in a local school with the appropriate support provided, trained in daily living skills and can be assisted with job placement. An annual highlight at BCVI is the children’s Summer Camp during which the younger clients are housed in Belize City for two weeks and take part in various activities and field trips throughout the country.
Whether a person is born blind or develops vision loss later on in life, whether they are visually impaired or blind, BCVI caters to all the needs of its clients and works to ensure that no one is left without an option or opportunity.
Don't forget to check out the portfolio for the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired.
Rowan, now 10 years old, has been a client in the BCVI Rehabilitation Program since he was a little over a year old. Since then, through the support of BCVI, teachers and family, he has completed preschool and is now in Standard Three (5th Grade) of primary school. He is very independent and is a real-life example that people who are blind can live meaningful lives and make full use of their talents and abilities.
Juan Noel has been with BCVI since he was three years old. Although he was diagnosed with Congenital Glaucoma before then, his mother was apprehensive about seeking assistance for Noel. Over the past three years, BCVI has integrated 6-year-old Noel into St. Joseph School where he is now in Infant 2 (2nd Grade). He is able to follow the lessons and complete his homework just like his sighted peers. Noel’s teachers say his performance is excellent, and no one is happier than his mother.
Jiyah was born blind due to her premature delivery at only 6 months gestation and was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity. BCVI began working with her one year ago when she was only a little over a year old. Jiyah is now part of the Early Stimulation Program and is steadily reaching her developmental milestones.
Don't forget to check out the portfolio for the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired.