Presenter
Dr. Lillian Rankel
Abstract
Kenya has five times more blind/low vision people than the USA. Some of our work in Kenya has been to prepare blind/low vision babies (0-5 years old) for Kiomiti Grammar School. A retired Teacher of the Blind is employed to visit the babies and their families and encourage families to continually talk to the babies and describe the world around them. Also, STEM begins here by showing textures, sizes, shapes, counting stones, large and small concepts, pouring water, floating and sinking, and learning to do household chores and selfcare.
At Kiomiti Grammar School there is a blind/low-vision program that includes learning Braille, cane skills, and mainstreaming with support for many classes. We helped the program by contributing Braillers, slates, and many tactile learning aids. Older students who can pass exams have an opportunity to attend Thika High School for the Blind. Our Hopewell Valley Lions Club financially supports these students.
At Thika High School for the Blind, Marilyn Winograd (Teacher of the Blind) and I held a week-long workshop to train teachers to use tactile methods to perform the labs in Chemistry and Physics. Talking thermometers and balances were donated. Marilyn Winograd and I had used these tactile methods in a New Jersey high school with a blind student. Some of the blind/low-vision students from Thika are supported in college or trade schools by the Hopewell Valley Lions Club.
Vision is not needed to succeed in STEM when tactile methods, auditory methods, and appropriate assistance technology are used.