On Thursday 14th May 2026 the National Assembly of Seychelles initiated a special training focused on ‘Guiding the Blind and Visually impaired’ for parliamentary service staff from different departments. The training was organised in collaboration with the Seychelles Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (SABVI) and took place at the National Assembly and is an initiative that aims to cultivate a more accessible, safe, and professional Parliamentary environment. The session was led by Mr. Edward Mullen who was accompanied by Ms. Rosabel Hoareau the Chairperson of SABVI and Mr. Norris Crouse.
The specialised training is a core part of the broader ‘A Parliament for All’ project being funded through a grant under the ‘Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Capital Investment Fund’ of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). The activities specifically align with Component One of the project, which involves disability awareness and sensitivity training for both parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament, equipping them with expert techniques and best practices; continuing the National Assembly’s proactive stride towards creating a more democratically inclusive and accessible institution.
The training session involved the participation of over 12 staff who were engaged with eye opening and interactive activities to help them better understand the challenges of the blind and visually impaired as well as learn the techniques required for guiding those individuals around the parliamentary building and in the public galleries.
As the National Assembly continues its journey to make parliament more accessible for minority groups that are differently-abled it has become increasingly important to train parliamentary staff on how to handle these groups when they visit Parliament but to also ensure that the work environment of the parliamentary service is inclusive. Mr. Mullen provided the group with hands on experience and highlighted that blindness, and serious visual impairment affects around 300 Seychellois.
The CPwD funded project will also involve further awareness and training sessions which will be aimed at ensuring that staff spearheading outreach work and parliamentary tours are equipped to handle groups that are differently-abled and may need additional or tailored assistance. This includes providing specialized online training on disability awareness/health and safety training for key staff to ensure a more inclusive risk assessment is carried out for the necessary improvements to be made at Parliament for Members, Staff and visitors.
