Abu Dhabi: Around 60 pupils with visual impairment will benefit from Braille books for the 2014-15 academic year, the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO) announced on Sunday.
The Blind Printing Press and ZHO have printed and distributed school curriculums in Braille for visually challenged children in all of the school districts in the country.
The Braille school curriculum was distributed to around 60 pupils who are enrolled in the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year.
“There has been an increase in the number of pupils benefiting from Braille books compared to the previous academic year. We have conducted several training sessions for teachers to ensure that blind and visually impaired pupils receive adequate educational services. Also, parents have attended several workshops to ensure that they are knowledgeable about their children’s rights, including their right to study in an environment appropriate to their unique needs and disabilities, as sighted children do,” Mariam Saif Al Qubaisi, head of the special needs department in ZHO, said.
“The Blind Printing Press is highly specialised in re-printing documents and curriculums with Braille for the blind and books for individuals with low vision since 2006,” she added.
Hard and online Braille books are now available to make reading material in digital format accessible to visually impaired people.
A.S., an Egyptian mother with a visually impaired son, spoke to Gulf News about right attitudes that should be practised towards the blind.
“At first I got overwhelmed and thought that my son would lead a pathetic life. However, I decided to read more about blindness and engage in different workshops to learn about the tremendous task ahead of parents to build a sense of security and happiness in the visually impaired child. The child should feel that there is nothing to be ashamed of.”
