What’s New

Schools to become more differently abled- friendly

Child-friendly toilets for differently abled, ramps and hand-rails in school buildings and strengthening resource centres for CWSN were given importance in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)’s activities under Inclusive Education for Differently Abled (IED) this year. An SSA report states that Coimbatore Education District excelled in providing facilities for differently abled children by conducting 148 surgeries and distributing assistive devices to 968 children, the highest across the State.

Helping children who are blind

Authored by Sandy Niemann and Namita Jacob
Illustrations by Heidi Broner and Ahin Kumar Dutta

A disabled child is an opportunity

After nine months of anxiety, patience, anticipation and dreaming, when your child is born blind, or visually impaired, it is but natural for you to feel disappointed, frustrated and, maybe, even a little cheated. This was perhaps the last thing you had expected or bargained for.

Role of parents

As soon as the baby is born, the mother and father become attached to their child through touch – through holding, carrying, and playing with their baby. The world of movement begins, and it is the parents who are the first educators of their child. This holds true for visually impaired children too.

Early intervention for children with visual impairments

The magical transformation of the helpless infant into the curious, assertive and capable little three-year-old, is fascinating to observe. To anyone who has watched an infant in the first three years of life, the important role of vision in leading, motivating and clarifying experiences and interactions will be evident.

Observation and testing visual skills

By Namita Jacob

Listed below is the normal visual development sequence of a child.
Is your child deviating from this sequence?

Signs of visual impairment

What signs do you watch out for to know that your child might be having a visual disability? Namita Jacob provides a checklist.

Self-care

Parenthood is all about nurturing and looking after your offspring. It is never too early to start helping your child toward eventual independent decision making, be it grooming, self-care or self-image.

Developing organisational skills in children - some tips

Parents have a big role to play in helping their child gain the organisational skills necessary for success, both at school and in later life.

Here are some suggestions for how to begin:

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Blues singer and guitarist

Visual impairment : Blind since birth

Date of Birth : July, 1897

Died : December, 1929

The youngest of seven children and son of Alec and Cassie Jefferson, Lemon was born in Coutchman, near Wortham in Freestone County, Texas, in July 1897 (an estimated date since no records are available. Although his birth has long been placed in July of 1897, research almost a century later uncovered a census record that listed his birth in September of 1893). He was born blind and was known all his life as Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Andrea Bocelli

Tenor Singer

Visual impairment : blind at twelve years

Born : September 22, 1958

Bocelli was born with an inherited form of glaucoma, which only got worse as he aged. When he was twelve years old, he was hit with a soccer ball and went completely blind. The traditions of the region, and the strong influence of his parents who taught their son never to simply accept defeat, rather to draw strength from it, have left indelible impressions on the man.

Alicia Alonso

Ballet Dancer

Visual impairment : Due to retinal detachment

Born : December 21, 1921

One of the most outstanding ballet dancers, Alicia Alonso from Cuba is a recipient of the Prix Benois de la Danse (Prize Benois of the Dance) lifetime achievement for devoting her entire life to artistic contributions. She may be well past her retirement age but is a much sought after dancer even today.

Alec Templeton

Composer / Pianist

Visual impairment : Blind since birth

Born : 4 July, 1909

Alec Templeton was born in Cardiff, Wales (UK) and was blessed with absolute pitch. He began his musical studies at an early age in his hometown and later studied at the London Academy of Music. At 18, he composed "Trio for flute, oboe and piano" for which he was complimented by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Al Hibbler

Blues singer

Visual impairment : Blind since birth

Date of Birth : August 16, 1915

Hibbler was a very popular baritone singer in the 40's and 50's who rose to fame with the Duke Ellington band. His deep tone, distinctive phrasing and inflections were readily identifiable.

Esref Armagan

Esref Armagan
Artist

“No one can call me blind. I can see more with my fingers than most sighted people do with their eyes” This is what Esref Armagan says about himself, and rightly so.

Lisa Fittipaldi

Artist

Visual impairment : Vasculitis

Born: 1948

The mind’s eye is something we have all heard of. Lisa Fittipaldi goes on to show us what it really is. Lisa is an incredible artist who began to paint only after she lost her sight.

It all started when her husband thrust a child’s watercolour box on her so she could get over her depression and stress that had overpowered her when she learnt her loss of sight was permanent.

Ved Mehta

Writer

Nature of visual impairment: Went blind at three years

Born: 21 March, 1934

Ved (Prakash) Mehta, the fifth of seven children and second son of Doctor Amolak Ram Mehta and Shanti (Mehra) Mehta, was born in Lahore, in the Punjab, then in British India, and now in Pakistan.

Tom Sullivan

Actor, singer, author, producer

Visual impairment: Blind due to oxygen oversupply during incubation at birth

Born: 27 March 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

"Any negative can be turned into positive." This is one of the many "Sullivan's Rules". As an actor, singer, author, producer and motivational speaker, he empowers those around him with his lifelong commitment to achieve.

Born prematurely, Tom was administered an over dose of oxygen while in the incubator. Tom lost his eyesight. But, he never allowed blindness to restrict his way of life.

Vikram Dalmia

Business and Entrepreneurship

Visual impairment: Retinitis pigmentosa

Born: April 4, 1969

"My struggle and impediments in life came more from my family than the outside world,” says Vikram Dalmia. A successful entrepreneur and cricketer, he had to fight attitudinal barriers within his family to make a mark for himself. His conviction proved him right.

Siddhartha Sharma

Entrepreneur

Visual impairment : Became blind at 28 years due to an accident

On December 28, 1990, Siddharth was 24-and-a-half-years old. Enthusiastic about a fast paced environment at Fascination India, he was enjoying every moment. His life changed forever that night in a motorcycle accident. He lost vision in both eyes. However, he did not let that come in the way of his growth as an individual.

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