Spodnji zapis je Zavod za slepo in slabovidno mladino poslali na šole po Sloveniji.
Spoštovani
ravnatelj, ravnateljica!
Spoštovani
učitelj, učiteljica!
Spoštovana
učenec, učenka!
15. OKTOBER
je MEDNARODNI DAN BELE PALICE
dan, ki ga posebej namenjamo slepim in slabovidnim.
Naše vrtce in šole obiskuje veliko slepih in slabovidnih otrok in učencev.
Nekateri so mogoče prav na vaši šoli.
Pa smo seznanjeni s tem kako živijo, se učijo in
zabavajo?
Ob dnevu bele palice vas prosimo, da s svojimi
učenci na eni od razrednih ur spregovorite tudi o njihovem življenju, nujnih
prilagoditvah okolja in pripomočkih, ki jih uporabljajo.
BELA
PALICA
Bela palica se je kot simbol slepote med slepimi
uveljavila že v 20. letih preteklega stoletja.
Za "izumitelja" bele palice velja slepi britanski fotograf
in glasbenik James Biggs, ki je oslepel zaradi nesreče. Svojo palico je že leta
1921 pobarval z belo barvo, da bi ga motoristi med prečkanjem ceste hitreje
opazili.
Uporabo bele palice so izpopolnili v
Združenih državah Amerike pri delu s slepimi veterani iz druge svetovne vojne
in uveljavili metodo, po kateri se belo palico uporablja kot podaljšek roke za
zaznavanje predmetov in ovir, ki se nahajajo pod višino pasu.
Uporaba bele palice se je počasi razširila in postala mednarodno
priznana. Tako je 15. oktober leta 1964 razglasil ameriški predsednik Lyndon B.
Johnson za dan varnosti z belo palico.
Leta 1970 pa je mednarodna zveza slepih isti dan razglasila za mednarodni dan bele palice. Leta 1976 je
bela palica z rdečimi črtami postala tudi standardni pripomoček.
BELA PALICA
Je občutljiv in varen pripomoček, ki služi kot antena oz.
podaljšek roke za prepoznavanje in lociranje ključnih predmetov v okolju, ovir,
strukture tal, vzpetin in podobnega. Gre za pripomoček, ki simbolizira osebno
neodvisnost slepe osebe in sočasno opozarja druge, da je njen uporabnik slep in
ima zato posebne potrebe in pravice.
Razvoj
novih tehnologij je omogočil tudi izboljšave tega zelo enostavnega pripomočka.
Pričele so se uvajati tudi elektronske naprave, ki se vgrajujejo v belo palico ali
pa delujejo v kombinaciji z njo kot nov pripomoček. Take bele palice omogočajo zaznavanje
predmetov ne le pod višino pasu, temveč tudi v višini prsi in glave. Tovrstne
bele palice imenujemo ultrazvočne palice.
Zakon o varnosti cestnega prometa določa,
da morajo vozniki motornega vozila, kolesa ali pešec biti posebej pozorni na
uporabnika bele palice, četudi bi ta nehote kršil predpise. Zakon pa obvezuje
tudi slepo/slabovidno osebo, ki gre sama na cesto, da stori vse, da ne ogroža
varnosti v cestnem prometu. To pomeni, da je usposobljena za uporabo bele
palice, preden gre sama na cesto. Udeleženec v prometu mora na eni strani znati
uporabljati belo palico, po drugi strani pa mora poznati in upoštevati cestno
prometne predpise.
Slepi učenci z belo palico
Slepi otroci se
hoje z belo palico pričnejo učiti že v vrtcu. Takrat se z njo igrajo, omogoča
pa jim predvsem spoznavanje okolja in varnost. Ko pričnejo hoditi v osnovno
šolo je učenje že bolj zahtevno. Učijo se pravilnih tehnik, ki jih uporabljajo
v hodnikih šol, v razredu, pri hoji po stopnicah, pri hoji v urejenem zunanjem
okolju ali pa na stezicah in makadamskih poteh. Obstaja več vrst belih palic,
ki so oblikovane za različne namene. Posebno pozornost morajo nameniti hoji v
prometu, prečkanju cestišč, kolesarskim stezam, semaforiziranim križiščem. Zelo
dobro se morajo naučiti poslušati promet in oceniti hitrost vozil. Mnogi otroci
imajo tako okvaro vida, da v mraku ali zvečer ne vidijo, preko dneva pa nimajo
težav, zato belo palico uporabljajo le v prometu. Tako si pomagajo, da
samostojno in varno opravijo želeno pot.
Če slep učenec
uporablja belo palico v šoli, ponavadi hodi ob steni. Stena je zanj vodilna
linija, ob kateri pride do cilja, zato je prav, da se ostali učenci od stene
odmaknejo in ne prenehajo s pogovorom, saj se jim tako slep učenec lažje izogne
in se ne zaleti vanje. Vse poti se mora naučiti na pamet, pri tem pa si pomaga
z orientacijskimi točkami (cvetlično korito, klančina, vrata, različni
materiali). Če se na poti kaj spremeni, je to za slepega zopet nova pot, ki se
je mora naučiti.
Mnogi palice ne
želijo uporabljati, saj nočejo biti drugačni oz. slišijo mnogo zbadljivk. Raje
se v družbo ne vključujejo in žrtvujejo svojo samostojnost. Pa je to od nas, ki
vidimo, pošteno? Prav bi bilo, da bela palica postane nekaj vsakdanjega in ne
posebnega. To pa bo takrat, ko jo bo slep učenec uporabljal vsak dan (pri
prihodu v šolo, v šoli, na ekskurzij, na izletih, obiskih galerij,…), mi pa
tega sploh ne bomo opazili.
Katjuša
Koprivnikar, ravnateljica ZSSM LJ
_______________________________________________________________________
In ob bok postavim še besede predsednika ZDA, ki je 15, oktober poimenoval dan enakosti za slepe Američane.
The White House
Office of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release October 11, 2013 Presidential Proclamation -- Blind Americans Equality Day, 2013BLIND AMERICANS EQUALITY DAY, 2013
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
My Administration is committed to advancing opportunity for people with disabilities through the Americans with Disabilities Act and other important avenues. In June of this year, the United States joined with over 150 countries in approving a landmark treaty that aims to expand access for visually impaired persons and other persons with print disabilities to information, culture, and education. By facilitating access to books and other printed material, the treaty holds the potential to open up worlds of knowledge. If the United States becomes a party to this treaty, we can reduce the book famine that confronts the blind community while maintaining the integrity of the international copyright framework.
The United States was also proud to join 141 other countries in signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009, and we are working toward its ratification. Americans with Disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired, should have the same opportunities to work, study, and travel in other countries as any other American, and the Convention can help us realize that goal.
To create a more level playing field and ensure students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum, the Department of Education issued new guidance in June for the use of Braille as a literacy tool under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This guidance reaffirms my Administration's commitment to using Braille to open doors for students who are blind or visually impaired, so every student has a chance to succeed in the classroom and graduate from high school prepared for college and careers.
We have come a long way in our journey toward a more perfect Union, but we still have work ahead. We must fulfill the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and expand the freedom to make of our lives what we will. On this day, we celebrate the accomplishments of our blind and visually impaired citizens, and we recommit to building a Nation where all Americans, including those who are blind or visually impaired, live with the assurance of equal opportunity and equal respect.
By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress designated October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day" to recognize the contributions of Americans who are blind or have low vision. Today, let us recommit to ensuring we remain a Nation where all our people, including those with disabilities, have every opportunity to achieve their dreams.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2013, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon public officials, business and community leaders, educators, librarians, and Americans across the country to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
Blind and visually impaired persons have always played an important role in American life and culture, and today we recommit to our goals of full access and opportunity. Whether sprinting across finish lines, leading innovation in business and government, or creating powerful music and art, blind and visually impaired Americans imagine and pursue ideas and goals that move our country forward. As a Nation, it is our task to ensure they can always access the tools and support they need to turn those ideas and goals into realities.
