innis_francis@yahoo.com
Many years after losing her eyesight to glaucoma, Jennifer Daulat-Araujo became certified in psychology and sociology and juggled many duties in and out of the Blind Welfare Association as a supervisor, acting executive officer, lecturer, and, columnist, and she is still committed to helping others in need.
Last month, when this paper highlighted the story of the Doul family who needed help to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, Daulat-Araujo heard of the family’s plight from her brother in Canada and decided to contribute in her own way.
The 64-year-old woman is also an author of the Braille Manual, which she recently revised and is now lobbying for NGOs to help her with selling 800 copies.
The Tunapuna woman said before the pandemic she was able to move around and sell the books but now with the restrictions, it is proving to be more of a challenge.
“I am the author of two books; Window to the World and Braille Manual. UTT used to train teachers using my books and this is all an effort to integrate the visually impaired into regular, mainstream schools. It was a combined project with the Blind Welfare and UTT. I am open to working with any service club to sell the books. The Blind Welfare already bought 120 books.”
Jennifer Daulat-Araujo shows how easy it has become for visually impaired persons to play a game of cards.
Innis Francis
Braille, she explained, “is not a language but a system that takes the place of print.”
Daulat-Araujo continued: “And part of the profits will be donated to the less fortunate children, like the Doul kids and others. So they can get help with textbooks, and uniforms for school. I realise the first thing people donate is food, I donate education, because it is important to go into the world and excel and to move from poverty and become more comfortable in life.”
She said the books are sold at $40 each and 50 per cent would go towards helping children.
Daulat-Araujo remembers the days when she had her eyesight and would visit places like Laventille, Sea Lots, Cedros, and Tobago when people were cordial with each other. She also recalled her time spent in Canada.
She said: “I always had eye problems. At 15, I went for a medical and the results came back that I had glaucoma. I had five surgeries done in one year, but glaucoma came back rapidly. I still think and dream in colour, I can still sign my name. I had sight so I have experience of two worlds.”
Daulat-Araujo is also writing a biography for a “well-known artiste” that takes her through the downtime.
She is also the proud mother of a son, the 2012 recipient of the Hummingbird Medal Silver for public service, and the awardee of the James Alves Award from the Caribbean Council for the Blind for outstanding achievement.
Jennifer shows the certification for being awarded the Hummingbird Medal Silver for public service.
Innis Francis
