👁️ Discovering the world without seeing
Did you know that millions of people around the world experience life through touch and hearing? Today you will learn what blindness is, its causes and how we can be more empathetic to those who live without sight.
⚫ What is blindness?
Blindness is the total or near-total loss of vision. Some people are born without sight(congenital blindness) and others acquire it through disease or accidents.
Those who are blind develop more of their other senses, such as hearing and touch, to understand and explore the world.
🤯 Did you know…?
The WHO estimates that there are more than 36 million blind people in the world.
🩺 Most common causes of blindness
Some reasons why a person may lose their sight are:
- Eye diseases: such as glaucoma or cataracts.
- Injuries: blows or wounds to the eyes.
- Genetic diseases: such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Protecting our eyes is essential to prevent vision problems.
🦯 Living with blindness: challenges and solutions
Blind people use special tools to be independent:
- 🦮 Guide dogs: they help to move around safely.
- 🦯 White cane: they detect obstacles and alert others to their presence.
- 💻 Technology: screen readers and apps that convert text to speech.
Each person finds their best way to adapt and follow their dreams.
💛 How do you support blind people?
- Offer help, but always ask first.
- Speak clearly and describe the environment if necessary.
- Respect their personal space.
Remember: blind people have many abilities! The key is inclusion and respect.
🤯 Did you know…?
There are adapted sports such as goalball or soccer for the blind.
▶️ Watch this video to learn more
🔗 Guide Techniques for people who are blind or visually impaired
💭 Your mind in action
💬 Reflect:
- How do you think the perception of the world changes when you lose your sight?
- Why is it important to create accessible spaces for everyone?
- What is the value of empathy in our relationship with people with disabilities?
- How do you think technology has improved the lives of blind people?
🗣️ Home discussion:
How can we make your community more inclusive for people with visual impairments?
🔍 Want to know more?
Other topics you may want to research:
- How does the Braille system work?
- What is goalball?
- Modern technologies for blind people.
- Great inventors or artists with visual impairment.
🛠️ Show what you know
Choose one or more activities to capture your learning:
📝 Write a short guide on how to properly assist a blind person on the street.
🎤 Record an audio describing your room as if someone who cannot see needs to find their way around.
🧑💻 Create a digital poster that promotes the inclusion of visually impaired people.
🎭 Act out a scene where you explain to a friend what blindness is and how to support those who have it.
📸 Document with photos or drawings the tools that blind people use in their daily lives.
You can include this lesson in the school portfolio if the student completes activities from "Your mind in action", "Want to know more?", or "Show what you know", and keeps evidence of the work done (photos, writings, recordings, etc.).
🎁 In addition, if you are a subscriber, you can evaluate and grade this lesson using the downloadable guide available in your account.