Aboitiz, St. Joseph Foundation donate assistive devices to the visually-impaired
Aboitiz Group corporate social development arm Aboitiz Foundation and Cebu-based, education-oriented St. Joseph Foundation are helping the visually-impaired gain a new perspective in life through the help of an assistive technology device.
Last June 13, 25 OrCam MyEye 2.0 kits were turned over to six beneficiary foundations following the signing of a memorandum of agreement among the Aboitiz Foundation, St. Joseph Foundation, and OrCam to help uplift the lives of the blind and visually-impaired.
The beneficiaries were from the Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB); Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired; Luke Foundation; Northern Luzon School for the Visually Impaired; Low Vision Group of the Philippines; and the Ortigas Foundation.
“With this adaptation, we will now be able to give better education to our visually-impaired learners, who would be able to work side by side with sighted children,” said Corazon Salvador, PNSB Principal.
An OrCam MyEye 2.0 device, which has intuitive features that help a visually-impaired user read printed and digital text aloud, among other features.
OrCam MyEye is a breakthrough wearable artificial vision device that empowers the blind, visually-impaired, or those who have reading difficulties, allowing them to study, work, or go about their day-to-day activities.
The device, which is about the size of a finger, is wireless, lightweight, and has intuitive features that allow it to read printed and digital text aloud and recognize faces, products, and other things in real time.
“Today with this project, may you be reminded that you can absolutely do many things — that if you fix your path towards your full potential, no disability can stop you from achieving who you want to be,” Maribeth L. Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, told the foundation’s beneficiaries.
(From left) Corazon Salvador, Philippine National School for the Blind Principal; Emma Dacquigan, Luke Foundation Executive Director; Romel Gaoiran, St. Joseph Foundation Finance and Admin Officer; Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation First Vice President & Chief Operating Officer; Jon Wolff, OrCam Regional Director for Asia Pacific and China; John Silva, Ortigas Foundation Executive Director; Remir Romualdo, Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired Board Member, and Dr. Sheila Santos-Jimenez, Low Vision Group of the Philippines officer.
“Beyond these devices, we give you a helping hand that will assist you in pursuing your dreams. More importantly, we give you the gift of trust. May this project symbolize a strengthened belief in your selves from knowing that many of us believe in your capabilities to be special,” Marasigan added.
