By Neto Baptiste
Often, when individuals make use of the phrase ‘put yourself in the shoes of others,’ it is often not taken literally. However, host of the popular Good Morning Jojo sports show, Joseph “Jo-Jo” Apparicio will be challenging members of the public to put themselves in the shoes of the visually impaired when he hosts the third instalment of the Good Morning Jo-Jo Birthday Walk slated for February 8.
Speaking on Observer AM, Apparicio explained why he chose to raise funds for the Antigua and Barbuda Society of and for the Blind.
“One day I was on my way to the credit union and I saw a gentleman with a cane walking from the gas station opposite King George [Keithley Sheppard Recreational Park] walking to what we call The Blind School … I didn’t even know it was called the Antigua and Barbuda Society of and for the Blind but we just know it as Blind School. He explained to me that he counts his steps so he knows when he is about to reach the corner or close to it, so if something is in the way the cane is used to alert him. I said ‘wow’ and instantaneously I said that would be a nice cause because we never really hear of doing anything for the blind,” he said.
The host also gave insights into what will happen on Saturday morning when participants gather at Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) from where the walk will commence at 6:30am and how members of the public could support the initiative.
“We’re asking everybody to come with a partner. We are selling the masks [eye masks] for $15 … That could be your contribution but you can give move and we’re asking people to give and give generously. For half of the walk you will be the blindfolded, or the visually impaired person, and in the other half the roles are reversed. So what we are saying to people is put yourself in their shoes for just an hour and a half and then somebody else puts themselves in their shoes for an hour and a half too,” Apparicio said.
Executive Director for the Industrial Workshop for the Blind, Jacqueline Tweed Harris, welcomed the initiative while sensitising the public of the work carried out by the workshop.
“The workshop for the blind offers services in commuting [traveling], independence and being on their own – because most of them do live on their own – and daily living skills. We do have a member also who travels from Pares village to the workshop daily on the bus and if he does not mention it, or you do not know him, you would not know he is legally blind; and he does not use a cane. The services that we also offer in welfare and all that includes looking about their wellbeing, care for and seeing to it that these persons live a meaningful and productive life,” she said.
Saturday’s route will take participants up Old Parham Road, right at YASCO, right at Factory Road, left unto Parliament Drive, right onto Queen Elizabeth Highway, right at Everyday Service Station and end at the ARG.
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