Training and educational aids
LVPEI's rehabilitation centres employ various training and educational aids to better understand and grasp the extent of vision loss and means by which such deficiencies can be taken care of. These devices go a long way in helping children adjust to their social settings as smoothly as possible.
Be-active Box
The 'be-active box' or the 'little room' is an ideal tool for both assessment and training. The be-active box comprises a resonance board, a fluorescent light, light emitting devices, brightly coloured, graspable toys, and musical toys hanging from the ceiling - all of which help to stimulate a visually impaired infant, encouraging him/her to use the residual vision as much as possible. By observing the child's response to various stimuli, professionals form an accurate assessment of the child's visual skills, as well as motor functions and communication abilities. This device is especially useful with very young children who are not yet able to communicate through language and whose blindness or low vision prevents them from being trained through expressions and gestures. A toy depository at the children's rehabilitation centre has a collection of toys for visually impaired infants to help them improve their motor, cognitive and visual skills. Furthermore, The centre organizes activities and programmes like summer camps, parent meets and parental workshops. Supporting all our efforts are a large group of volunteers who assist us in the promotion and organization of these events.
Rehabilitation for Parents and Children
This includes training both children and their parents in the use of special educational devices such as
- A Brailler,
- Slate and stylus,
- Mathematical devices such as Taylor's frame and the Abacus,
- Geographical devices, and
- Material preparations like tactual maps and embossed drawings.
Children are also trained in daily living and mobility skills, facilitating their integration into regular schools as early and smoothly as possible. Students with low vision are trained in the use of optical and non-optical devices (low vision resources). Commonly used optical devices for students include:
- Distance vision telescopes
- Stand and spectacle magnifiers
- Electronic devices like close circuit television
Non optical devices include:
- Reading stand
- Reading lamp
- Bold line notebooks
- Bold line papers
- Felt tipped pen
- Soft lead pencils
- Reading guide
- Letter writer
- Notex
- Talking watch
Audio Tapes
The programme at the children's rehabilitation centre attempts to provide for, as far as possible, the widest range of needs of visually impaired students whether at the pre-school, high school, or college level. Material prepared at The centre includes talking books in English and vernacular languages like Hindi, Telugu and Sanskrit, Braille storybooks and stories on audio tapes.
The centre also helps to identify and reach readers and scribes for students who need help in writing examinations.