by Alva Solomon
Royal Gazette
The creation of a work readiness program for people who are visually impaired is among key plans pursued by the head of a charity.
Erica Ingemann, who officially assumed the role of executive director of Vision Bermuda in May, also aims to use her creative skills to produce a national event that will recognize the charity’s cause and client community.
“I want to expand the mandate, to expand the services that we offer,” Ingemann said. “I would love nothing more than to find an entity, such as an organization like the Bermuda College, to collaborate with to introduce a work readiness program.”
“Just because our client lost their vision, it doesn’t mean that they can’t work,” Ingemann said. “That doesn’t mean that they do not have anything valuable to offer to an employer.”
To this end, she said, the charity intends to increase public education and awareness of the skill sets of people with vision loss.
Ingemann, a speech pathologist, said: “I am very committed to taking this organization to where it needs to go.”
She said she recognized that Vision Bermuda needed more visibility in the community.
“Increasing awareness is both a short and long-term goal because I don’t think enough people realize what Vision Bermuda is and how Vision Bermuda could be there for them,” Ingemann said. “My ultimate goal is to ensure that everybody with vision loss knows that we are here for them.”
She said regardless of age or status, the charity caters to everyone.
“We want to be able to accommodate everybody with vision loss, we want to be diverse, to be kind of that hub.”
She said while awareness would benefit potential clients, it would also benefit the charity’s ability to attract support from the donor community.
“I wouldn’t say that we do not have long-term sustainability. Every year, we get out there and say, well this is what we need to do, let’s get out there and do it,” Ingemann said. “But it would be so lovely to have some sort of a safety net, so that we know we have this amount of finance to work with every year.”
Ingemann said she is working on a strategic plan that in time will enable the charity to fully optimize its core values and wider mandate.
The charity will host several activities for World Sight Day on Oct. 9. They include a raffle, an open house and, for the first time, a charitable event called Funky Frames Friday on Oct. 10.
She said the goal of hosting the events “is twofold” since they create awareness and the charity will be able to raise funds.
In the long term, she said, an idea is being conceptualized by the charity to host an annual national event in recognition of the vision-impaired and the charity’s cause.
“It may be a walk or another activity, but when people hear of it they will know its Vision Bermuda’s activity,” Ingemann said. “It will benefit the cause we are fighting for, it’s something we are going to examine.”
Ingemann said the charity is in need of volunteers, and anyone who has creative skills, as well as students in need of volunteer hours, can visit the charity’s office on Dundonald Street.
Vision Bermuda needs drivers who are willing to take clients to and from its offices, in particular a meeting it hosts monthly which runs late into the evening. It is also working to improve its presence on social media and plans are in the making to create a newsletter to keep the public in tune with events and activities.
The charity dates back to 1954 when the Beacon Club was created as a social group for people who were blind and vision-impaired. It was established by the Bermuda Society for the Blind Act in 1957, operating a sheltered workshop out of the historic Beacon House.
After 50 years of operation, the need for a workshop diminished as sheltered employment was no longer sought.
A survey of the blind and vision-impaired population later led the society to develop the infrastructure to provide specialized professional vision rehabilitation services and promote public awareness, educational events and social activities.
In 2018, the society changed its name to Vision Bermuda to more accurately reflect its mission to serve anyone whose vision loss impacts their day-to-day activities, as well as their families, carers and also professionals with an interest in vision impairment.
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