Health Day: What Do We Know About Living in the Dark?
5. March 2024“Could anything be worse than blindness? Oh yes… the most pitiable person is the one who has sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller
The main idea behind the most recent Health Day for the children of TBU employees was to provide an insight into the lives and challenges of people with disabilities, specifically those of visually impaired individuals.
On 22 August 2023, an interactive experiential day full of educational activities and prevention was held in collaboration with Tyfloservis, o.p.s.
The children participated in drama games, simulations, and learned how to interact appropriately with visually impaired individuals. They practised assisting a visually impaired person in various everyday situations and explored a range of aids indispensable for their lives, even trying them out while experiencing the world without sight.
The morning programme included three activities: The children, with blindfolds on, attempted to paint watercolour portraits. Despite the challenge, they tackled the task with enthusiasm, and laughter echoed as they removed their blindfolds to see their creations. This involved walking in pairs using a white cane and blindfolds, navigating stairs and a student club. Before starting, the children acting as guides were instructed on how to safely lead a visually impaired person to avoid accidents. It was heartwarming to see how considerate and careful the children were with each other.
The last activity of the morning was a personal experience with an embossed tactile map, a tactile map with different nature motifs and they were also given puzzles for tactile exercise.
They also learned Braille and tried typing on a Picht Braille typewriter. During these activities, the children wore blindfolds as they examined aids for the visually impaired. They guessed tactile images, successfully identified coin values, and played tactile versions of board games like Ludo, puzzles, memory games, dominoes, and cards.
They also explored tools such as a light detector, colour, and banknote recogniser, talking clocks, and wristwatches.
Even lunchtime was an opportunity to learn, as the children experienced eating while blindfolded The afternoon began with a MERKUR construction contest. Blindfolded, the children competed to assemble a chair in the fastest time, cheered on by enthusiastic chants and applause.
This was followed by a test of dexterity: transferring water from one cup to another while using a level detector, all while blindfolded. Those who succeeded in avoiding spills received praise, while a few playful “water sprites” emerged in the student club.
In the sunshine, the final part of the programme took place outdoors. Paired up, the children took on the role of a visually impaired person with a white cane, guided by their partner, as they crossed a pedestrian crossing using audio signals from traffic lights.
In the park, they attempted to walk to a designated point, often expressing surprise upon removing their blindfolds to find themselves far from their intended destination—prompting repeated attempts. Before returning to the faculty, the children engaged in discussions about vision care and prevention of eye damage.
The much-anticipated finale featured an awards ceremony for winners of the various competitions and activities. No one left empty-handed; each participant received a diploma and a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR HEALTH DAY with their name written in Braille.