Sight loss Awareness for the children.
Teachers are often tempted to use simulation exercises to raise awareness and to show children what it is like to be blind. In these exercises, children put on a blindfold and then attempt to perform various tasks or walk around a room being guided by a friend to build trust.
What are the goals of such exercises?
Sighted children will probably have trouble performing tasks under blindfold that they are accustomed to doing with their eyesight.
Is the goal to show them how hard it is to be blind?
Before you embark on such an activity, think about what you want the children to learn.
Wearing a blindfold for a little while might show what it would be like to suddenly lose vision, but it certainly does not show what it is like to be blind.
People with a visual impairment learn a series of skills that enable them to perform tasks without or with very little eye sight. If children are blindfolded but are not taught any of the skills that real blind/VI people use, they are likely to emerge from a simulation experience feeling that blindness, visual impairment is scary, sad, and difficult.
A Better Way.
A better way to understanding sight loss as a disability and promote acceptance is through a friendly presentation.
We can help with that.
Our Sight loss awareness for children is a fun and interactive presentation visit that will give the children the information they need to understand the disability.
•All about me,
• What jobs do blind/VI people do?
• How might blind, VI people use their other senses?
• What skills and tools do blind, VI people learn in order to do their daily tasks?
print-Braille and large print books, Braille and large print rulers and tape measures, a Braillewriter or slate and stylus, a talking and large print calculator, a talking dictionary, a colouring screen, Braille and large print playing cards, a bell ball, etc.
Cane Travel Discussion and Demonstration.
A brief Insight in to the white cane, how it works and how it helps, this is good as it effective in helping children understand techniques that enable people that use a white cane to move about safely and independently
Discussion topics include the following:
• How does the cane work?
•How do blind/VI people move about independently?
• How can a person get information without eyesight?
In addition to demonstrating basic cane use, we will show children how a person using a white cane gets information through the cane, identifies different surfaces, gets around obstacles.
Trying it out.
Hands-on experiences with the tools and techniques of blindness.
Guiding a blind person,
Using a white cane,
Using your telephone,
Using a computer,
Making a drink?
What’s in the bag?
Q and A.
The final part of the presentation is the Q and A session.
Ask any question you like, no question is out of bounds.
Children just want to know.
Our presentation and interactive activities teach skills and help broaden awareness.
The Children will enjoy the success they experienced and the understanding they gained and will feel empowered to interact with people with a visual impairment.
If you would like to book a visit of one of our Sight loss awareness presenters, then please contact the Helping hands for the blind office on: 01256 – 463966, or email us: email@example.com
This service is free, however a donation would be welcomed.