Advancing the Labour, Training, and Development Center for the Blind to a New Level

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Labour, Training, and Development Center for the Blind, originally established in 1964 as the “Training Center for Blind Adults” under the Mongolian Red Cross Society.

 

The center was founded with the mission of improving the livelihoods of visually impaired individuals by providing vocational training and promoting employment opportunities. Currently, over 80% of its 100+ employees are visually impaired. The center engages in diverse activities, including the production of traditional Mongolian yurts, felt products, soft goods, cleaning tools, protective clothing, and paper and cloth bags.

 

Mongolia is home to approximately 12,000 visually impaired citizens. Over the years, successive governments have introduced numerous initiatives to enhance their social security. One notable effort, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, involved developing a program that converts text to audio, thereby improving information accessibility and facilitating seamless access to government services.

 

During the 60th-anniversary event, Minister for Family, Labour, and Social Protection Mr. L. Enkh-Amgalan highlighted the importance of tailored services for people with disabilities, stating:

“We must move away from a generalized view of disability and instead deliver services tailored to the specific needs of each type of disability. Moving forward, policies will be designed and implemented in this direction.

 

“The Labour, Training, and Development Center for the Blind serves as a cornerstone for the visually impaired to work, develop, and pursue education. Therefore, I will focus on improving the center’s operations, optimizing its organizational structure, and introducing new types of services.”

 

This milestone underscores Mongolia’s ongoing commitment to empowering its visually impaired citizens and enhancing their contributions to society.