BPOs urged to offer jobs for the blind

The Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI) is urging companies, especially the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms to give opportunities for employment to the visually impaired individuals.

In an interview with RBI Cebu branch director Rustica Padasas, she said that her organization is now encouraging companies, and corporations to provide job openings for the educated blind people, to give them equal opportunity in the society.

With the availability of educational tools for the visually impaired individuals through the Braille system, and other technologically-aided gadgets, it is now easier for the blinds to get decent and high-paying jobs.

In this connection, RBI is initially partnering with universities and colleges to quantify the number of "educated" blind to immediately get employment, instead of landing to usual livelihood such as masseurs, artists, and others.

RBI also offers computer training program for the blinds to prepare them for employment especially in the BPO industry, she said.

 "We hope that call center firms will provide especial opportunity for the blinds to get employment. We encourage them [BPO firms] to reach out to these people, and coordinate with us," Padasas said.

Majority of the young generation of visually impaired individuals are able to write and read through the Braille system, others are even taking computer training using technologies that are designed for this kind of handicap.

RBI is an organization devoted to removing the obstacles that prevent visually-impaired Filipinos from reaching their full potential. The agency in Cebu is largely funded by a Netherland's based funding institution

Earlier, an outsourcing company based in Manila, announced its plan to open its first outlet in Cebu soon, providing employment specifically for visually impaired people.

Grayscale Business Management and Consultancy Services, founded by Marx Melencio, a visually impaired entrepreneur will start the trend in opening employment opportunity for the blinds, taking advantage of the booming outsourcing services.

Grayscale is providing offshore writing and research services for local and overseas companies, using the technologies or software that are friendly for the visual impaired individuals.

As of now, the company has employed 14 visually impaired people, and is hoping to employ more, as he is expanding his business in Cebu.

"There are now technologies that allow blind people to get writing or research services jobs, these are software designed for the blinds," Melencio said.

Grayscale, which was established in 2006, started as a home-based operation, now maintains a total of 89 people. It has satellite offices in other provinces, two in Davao, one in Tacloban, and one in Bicol.

Melencio said that through his company he hopes to provide hope for employment to the physically impaired people, specifically the visually impaired community. – Ehda M. Dagooc