Kingston, Jamaica – October 2, 2023: In celebration of Blind Awareness Month this October, award-winning Media and Communications practitioner and author of ‘My Brand Compass: The 13C’s to Building Your Personal Brand’, Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid, has teamed up with the Digicel Foundation to launch a campaign aimed at improving the educational prospects of Blind and visually impaired students in Jamaica.

Dubbed “Follow the Trail and Invest in Braille”, the focus of the partnership is to address the severe shortage of Braille machines at the Salvation Army School for the Blind, Jamaica’s only school for the Blind and visually impaired. Currently, there are only 26 Braille machines available to serve the over 130 students enrolled at the institution.

Dr. Reid, who is known for her dedication to inclusion and has recently launched her book on Audible for greater accessibility stated, "While we as a society discuss the importance of literacy and numeracy, we often overlook entire communities with special needs that require specialized resources to achieve literacy. Every child, whether blind or otherwise, must have access to equitable education. We are committed to ensuring that no one gets left behind."

Meanwhile, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels said, “It is a fundamental right for every child to have access to quality education and we must ensure that this right is upheld for our Blind and visually impaired students as well. We want to bridge the gap and empower these students with the tools they need to succeed.”

Miss Daniels further shared that she is excited about partnering with Dr. Reid in this endeavour. “We believe in the power of partnerships to drive positive change. Our collaboration with Terri-Karelle exemplifies our commitment to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for all."

Together, Dr. Reid and the Digicel Foundation aim to secure funding from Corporate Jamaica to purchase additional Braille machines for the School for the Blind.

Miss Daniels emphasized, "The goal is to provide 50 Braille to the school. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of these extraordinary young individuals."

Corporate Jamaica is encouraged to participate by purchasing or contributing to the purchase of Braille machines. The donation drive will run until February, 2024. The donated machines are expected to be handed over to the school on February 14, which marks the second anniversary of when the Disabilities Act came into effect in Jamaica.

For more information on how to get involved, please email Digicel Foundation at digicelfoundationja@digicelgroup.com.