A SERIES of cultural competitions have been organised for visually impaired performers in the coming days to commemorate International Day for Disabled Persons, which falls on December 3, said Daw Yu Yu Swe, the principal of Kyeemyindaing School for the Blind in Yangon.

“We want the public to know that visually impaired people have the same abilities as ordinary people,” she said, adding that the contests would also help change negative perceptions held by the community about the blind.

U Dai Do Dal, the deputy principal at the school, said a cane spinning and weaving contest is scheduled to be held at the Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind in Insein township on November 26.

He said contestants will compete under two categories, for simple and more advanced weaving styles.

Meanwhile, a singing contest will be held on November 28 for contestants from Myanmar’s seven schools for the blind – two in Yangon and one each in Pyin Oo Lwin, Pakkoku and Meikhtila in Mandalay Division; Sagaing in Sagaing Division; and Myitkyina in Kachin State – and any other visually impaired people who wish to take part, U Dai Do Dal said.

He also said that musicians from three schools for the blind – Kyeemyindaing township in Yangon, and Pyin Oo Lwin and Meikhtila – have been invited to take part in a traditional Myanmar orchestra competition at the Kyeemyindaing school on November 30.

The contest will be open to teams consisting of two males and two females in three categories: over the age of 15, under 15 and open.

U Dai Do Dal said the awards for all three contests will be handed out at the International Day for Disabled Persons ceremony at International Business Centre in Yangon on December 3.