As far as we have come as a nation, there is always someone who can remind you that we have so much more work to do. This week, Visually Impaired People CEO William Bowman was that someone.

An in-depth interview with Bowman about VIP’s upcoming workshop taught me that America should work harder to improve the ways we accommodate and treat visually impaired and blind people.

The reason behind the group scheduling a workshop for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Dallas County Health Department, which was to expose people to Freedom Scientifics’ assistive technology, revealed to me that even as technology advanced and brilliant our country is, we still don’t provide enough affordable assistive technology.

Bowman said finding devices that provide audio readings or enlarge the text to make it easy for a visually impaired or blind individual to navigate through everyday products, such as cell phones, often come at costly price that several cannot afford.

Companies are well aware of this, but they choose to focus on gaining a profit more than supplying devices that will be easy for every one of their potential customers to use.

Not only do big corporations fail visually impaired people, but the general public also has a tendency to mistreat them.

Bowman mentioned how difficult it is to find a true friend as a visually impaired individual. For Bowman, something as simple as going to the movie theater or a sports event with a friend often requires some form of hourly payment.

That should stand as evidence that some of us also would rather search for the personal financial gain we could get from sharing time with a disabled person rather than appreciating the benefits of being in another individual’s presence.

We’re all human, and we all deserve and desire the love, respect and true companionship of another.

This nation has access to the resources necessary to ensure that every person leads a normal life.

I can only hope that you’ll see the benefits it can have for the general public. It’s a great chance to mingle with people that are often taken advantage of and grasp a better understanding how you can help to eliminate some of the mistreatment of visually impaired and blind people.

The workshop is 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30 at the Dallas County Health Department. The organization will offer free lunch and educational brochures during the workshop.

West Alabama Public Transportation is offering free transportation from and to the workshop. Anyone interested in getting a ride, should contact 289-5789.

For more information about the workshop, call Bowman at 354-4015.