About Us
The Society of Professionals with Visual Disabilities (SOPVID) was founded in 2003 by Reginald M.J. Oduor and James Gichuhi. Currently, the membership of SOPVID includes school teachers, university lecturers, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and ICT practitioners as well as other professionals with visual disabilities.
SOPVID welcomes professionals with visual disabilities to be full members, and their friends and families to be associate members. It also welcomes students in middle level colleges and universities to be associate members.
Objectives
- Promote professional excellence among its members.
- Advocate for the rights of its members and other professionals with visual disabilities.
- Raise awareness on the needs of professionals with visual disabilities.
- Enhance the participation of persons with visual disabilities in
recreational activities and in social life in general. - Lobby the government, non-governmental agencies and the private sector for the provision of facilities and equipment to enhance the effectiveness of professionals with visual disabilities.
- Work towards the diversification of professional opportunities for persons with visual disabilities.
- Work for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against
professionals with visual disabilities. - Work with other organisations in the visual disability sector, and in the disability sector generally.
Activities
- Professionals Days for sharpening skills through talks
- Training in ICT
- Mentoring for inspiration
- Social days for informal interaction
- Participating in the activities of the disability movement in Kenya and beyond
Aspirations of Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities are bearers of rights, not recipients of charity
- We want opportunity, not pity
- Nothing for us without us
- We are fully human, so treat us as such
- We are fully human, so refer to us as such
Steps Towards Greater Disability Inclusion
- Advocacy through face to face meetings, print and electronic media.
- Legal and policy Reforms through amendment of existing laws and policies, as well as through new laws and policies.
- Education through formal schooling, co-curricular activities, and
continuing education. - Livelihood through employment and self-employment.