Tactile books and games for preschool kids

After Lynette Rudman struggled to find suitable tactile books for a blind child in her pre-school class, she decided to start her own series. Each book is handmade and includes uncontracted braille and large print on every page.

Lynette also makes educational games for preschool children in South Africa. View her catalogue and order products at www.tactilegraphics.co.za.

Join the Parent's network!

During a recent Education Think Tank, it was decided to establish a nationwide network of parents of blind and partially sighted children – including those with additional disabilities and those who are deafblind – to inform and support each other and to promote quality education for their children at every level, from infancy to university.

If you are the parent or guardian of such a child, receiving or requiring education – or if you know of such a child, please forward your contact details to Cathy Donaldson at 083 7014246 or 011 753-1607 or email mwcathdo@mweb.co.za.

Focus on education

There are more than 20 special needs schools in South Africa for visually impaired children – but many of these don't have access to Braille typewriters or printers, which means there is no reading material for the learners.

Despite this, many of these children manage to matriculate, and even move on to university.

The SA National Council for the Blind is working hard at bringing these issues to the attention of government, educators and society. Last October, we facilitated an education convention to address some of the issues and in June, we supported a workshop for grade 10 teachers from schools for the blind.

The workshop focused on the new curriculum, which has not yet been adequately adapted to meet the special needs of visually impaired children.

If there are other issues you feel need to be brought to the attention of the various role-players, please let us know.

Causes of blindness

Congenital or hereditary cataract is the cause of between 10-15% of childhood blindness. Surgery has a very high success rate.

Congenital Glaucoma, causing damage to eye tissue owing to increased intraocular pressure, causes 5-10% of blindness.

Retinopathy of Prematurity occurs when high levels of oxygen are administered to premature infants, causing scarring and retinal detachment.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) - a hereditary disease, causing degeneration of the retina.

Vitamin A deficiency.

Rubella virus, transmitted to the foetus by the mother during pregnancy, affects various parts of the eye.

Toxoplasmosis is an intraocular infection of the unborn child.