Spain Supports Virtual Classroom for Blind Latin Americans

The ONCE Foundation for Latin America (Fundación ONCE para América Latina, FOAL) is working to create a virtual classroom to provide easier access to learning and information to blind students.

This initiative, called Solidarity Network with the Blind of America (Red Solidaria con los Ciegos) will provide a virtual library including a document center, an information Web Page and a virtual classroom where we can even have complete lectures and courses.

The Solidarity Network with the Blind of America will have a Web Page with an accessible data base with data in and for blind persons of the region and their organizations, and up to date information on the new Network. It will also have a Documentation Center that can be accessed virtually in several formats (digital, large type, Braille for reading, printing, and sound) and all types of books from universal literature.

In order to operate the whole project, started with Fundosa Teleservicios, the ONCE Foundation is coordinating support of 14 other entities like the Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, the Linz University of Linz, Austria, the La Salle University, Mexico, and the Organization of American States. The "@lis" program was presented to the European Union.

Project contributors are the Once Foundation for Latin America, providing 450000 Euros and the European Union, providing 2350000 Euros.

The Solidarity Network is undergoing a 36-month testing period. The project seeks to improve education and training, particularly for Hispanic blind people. It really is an extension of the support activities already conducted by the ONCE Foundation with the governments of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay and their corresponding associations of the blind. As of this date, 288 persons have been able to obtain jobs at a wide variety of companies.

The Foundation has fostered the operation of the Solidarity Kiosks, where blind persons are able to sell refreshments, candy, news papers, tobacco, handicrafts or telephone cards. This project now operates in eight countries, and provides jobs for 391 persons.

The Foundation also distributes Braille large type materials for children with visual disabilities. These materials deal with education, mobility, and Independent Living skills.

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