2024-01-16 04:31:13
PM2.5 Team
Subject: Supranee Srisawat
Photo: Nattawadee Homkulap
When you walk on the street or use any form of public transportation, you may have seen some type of disabled person using a white cane to navigate or walk with a guide.
Yes, this group of people are visually impaired. Or simply called a blind person.
Did you know that until blind people can walk on the streets and live in society? What skills must they learn and how much encouragement will it take?
Today we will introduce you to one of the people who helped blind people get back on their feet again.
The beginning of the white cane teacher
“Step left, tap right. Step right, touch left. That’s correct. Walk slowly like this to get used to it.”
For more than 20 years, if anyone happened to walk by, they would see and hear the voice of Teacher Nuch who was watching over the students with care at the footbridge connecting the Rajasuda Institute. Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital with Mahidol University
Teacher Nuch – Nuchanat Todee said that when he was studying, he had to take the bus to study. When I looked out of the bus window and saw a blind person walking on the road, I thought in my heart.
“This group of people is so pathetic. How can he take care of himself?”
Until 1995 when Teacher Nuch came to work at Ratchasuda College. (name at that time) and was selected to attend a training course to become familiar with the environment. The agency invited Mr. Joseph F. Choffee, an expert from the United States, to be an instructor. After the training ends Teacher Nuch has used this knowledge to teach blind people with the aim that
“Blind people need to be able to walk safely, confidently and gracefully.”
When asking Teacher Nuch: During teaching, do you feel distressed? What are you sorrowful about? and how to put aside suffering The answer is
“The suffering comes from concern for the students. I’m afraid that they will graduate and not use it and will forget what we taught. The family does not accept the blind person using a cane or the blind person himself does not dare to travel to different places. As the days passed, the teacher came to terms with it and told himself: That’s all you can get.”
“What is the teacher’s impression of teaching?”
“There was a student who was sick with encephalitis. When he first recovered, he still couldn’t walk. It took 2 years to recover at home, but after studying with teachers until completing the course He has applied all of his skills in his daily life to the point where he is now a person working to provide technological rehabilitation to the blind at Ratchasuda,” Teacher Nuch says with pride.
“Can you tell me who he is? What is the origin?”
“Yes,” Teacher Nuch began to tell about the impressed students.
“Jane” Chaidet, a young tutor with a bright future Work life is going well. He works hard to make his family more stable. But then encephalitis came and put an end to all hope.
He lost his sight. Nose can’t smell Right ear can’t hear clearly have movement problems It took two years to recover and mentally adjust to accepting blindness. During that time, family and friends It is a very important encouragement to prepare the body to learn new lessons in a world without light.
Jane entered rehabilitation in 2006. The reason she chose this place was because she used short-term training, completing all courses in 3 months, whereas if she went to train elsewhere it would take 2 years and would require additional vocational training as well. which he doesn’t care about Because I want to be a chemistry and mathematics tutor, giving knowledge to students like before being blind.
After calling, contact to coordinate and make an appointment to meet Teacher Nuch, who is the main instructor. We talked about studying and what we should do. Including evaluating your vision and mental state, it’s time to really study.
“So, what did Brother Jane learn here?”
“Learn skills to become familiar with the environment or O&M (Orientation & Mobility)”
Teacher Nuch gives the meaning that It is a process or way of seeing. Learn to use the remaining senses, including partial sight (people with low vision), listening to sounds, touching, smelling, including previous experiences. To realize that Where are you? What is the surrounding environment like? And how do they relate to each other? To be able to travel to desired places conveniently, quickly, elegantly, safely, confidently and freely, which is called
“Efficient travel”
How to travel in a world without light
Jane slowly told what he had learned, one course at a time. Starting from the journey Walking practice Upper-lower protection Walking with a guide Finding dropped items Using a cane to walk in places such as markets and department stores. Use public transportation, etc.
Doing daily activities Studying computers with screen readers Practicing basic braille skills
During class, there are counselors who come in to talk with each other to adjust your mental state.
Jane described walking with a guide. The guide uses the back of his hand to touch the blind person’s arm to signal him to start walking. Blind people follow the guide about half a step. The follower’s hand is held above the leader’s elbow in the shape of a C, with the leader’s arms freed as usual. If you must walk through a narrow space, the guide will place the arm that the blind person is holding at the elbow behind. It is a signal to walk behind. The follower’s hand will move down to hold the leader’s wrist. At the end of the narrow path, the guide moves his arms to his sides as before. If you have to go up or down stairs, the guide will stop to signal the next step up or down.
“During school, when did Jane impress you the most?”
“Probably when Teacher Nuch sent him home. Before coming to study, I didn’t leave the house at all. Or if you go out, people around you always ask why people in the house don’t bring you. When Teacher Nuch asked him to try going home. It’s like I got wings. Teacher Nuch will give you a brief description of how to travel. Then rehearse the travel plan.
“Teacher Nuch helped build confidence for me to dare to go home on my own. There was one time when I walked up to the front of the house. Mom asked a lot about how I got here.” Mom looked very excited. P’Jane said with a smile.
Teacher Nuch, who secretly followed Jane’s journey, said that she followed Jane from a distance on the bus all the way to her house and after revealing herself. Jane then took Teacher Nuch to eat at her regular restaurant in the market. The shop owner’s uncle saw Jane walking with a cane and said with great joy,
“Oh, Jane, have you seen it? To be able to walk all the way here.”
Jane smiled and Teacher Nuch smiled happily. And is proud that Jane is not ashamed to use a cane to guide her.
How to live your daily life in a dark world
In addition to practicing using the white cane to familiarize yourself with the environment. Doing activities daily living is another lesson that is just as important as the first lesson. Because it allows students to help themselves from basic things such as cleaning the house. Choose clothes, pour water, cook food, plug in an electrical outlet, or even check the value of a banknote. Picking up a banknote, he handed it to Jane and asked,
“What banknote is this?” Jane took the banknote and folded it in half. Then insert it between the index and middle fingers. Measure the edge of the banknote against your fingertip and answer.
“A hundred baht.”
Out of doubt, he asked further:
“How do you know?”
“Because each banknote has different lengths. Twenty-eight bills are the shortest and thousand-thousand notes are the longest. The teacher teaches you to use this method for checking.”
For basic braille skills Jane said that she wanted to study. Because I want to know how blind people read and write. But Braille is difficult to read. It might be because Jane’s hand was numb due to illness, so she was not successful in reading. Yet he is good at remembering and using braille, math and science.
As for studying computers with a screen reading program At first, Jane thought that if she was blind, how would she use a computer? But when learning to touch type and use commands from the keyboard buttons Plus he studies and expands on his knowledge in this area. This allows Jane to use the computer like before she was blind. and also worked as an assistive technology technician for the disabled at Rajasuda Institute There is a duty to recommend the use of computers and smartphones. For blind people or the general public who are interested Including being invited as a speaker from the Department of Promotion and Development of Quality of Life for Persons with Disabilities. Ministry of Social Development and Human Security in the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) camp together with international network partners. To open a platform for disabled youth to showcase their IT skills.
Jane also uses her previous knowledge in chemistry and mathematics to volunteer to teach blind students at Thammikwitthaya School. Phetchaburi Province and is a lecturer at a science camp for blind students. in collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and networks
Where is the happiness in the teacher’s teaching?
One time, Teacher Nuch saw Jane holding a white cane with the tip so worn that the rubber lines and the wooden body were bent. She was very happy that the students were able to apply their knowledge in their daily lives and travel gracefully on their own. And it was from this cane that it was the starting point for Jane to build his family back up again.
Teacher Nuch said that When are you tired from work or discouraged? Seeing Jane intending to walk wherever she was. It gives her the courage to stand up and face the obstacles that always come her way. Also, experiences from Jane and other students. He is also like a teacher to Teacher Nuch.
Currently, Teachers Nuch and Jane are considered important forces of Rajasuda Institute in sending light to blind people to be able to live their own lives again under the darkness they have to face.
Every time the couple heard news that the students they taught were putting their knowledge to full use, and pass on knowledge and skills to others The happy smile of the teacher shone brightly.
And what about you? How do you feel when you meet a blind person walking on the street or doing your daily routine in various places?
thank you
- Jane Chaidet, Assistive Technologist for the Disabled Rajasuda Institute Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University
- Nuchanat Todee, Educational Specialist (Specialist) Department of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Disabled Rajasuda Institute Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University
- Teacher Chalam Yaemiam
- Manual for operating procedures for organizing services, skills to be familiar with the environment and movement For the visually impaired
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