Educating young blind children for a better future

He was referred to our Early Intervention Program when he was one years old. Unlike other children, this cute and energetic child, whom we address as Rafi was discovered to have a cerebral visual impairment, where the primary vision problem lie not with his eyes, or even with his optic nerves, but with his brain. His cerebral palsy and low vision make it hard for him to move around freely.

Now three years old, Rafi who sees the world in his own unique way is more visually attuned to movement rather than objects that are stationary. When I visited him for the first time, I noticed that during the training session, he was really attracted to one of the games that we prepared for him. It is the “Bouncing Ball” game. Catch it if you can! He kept breaking into a toothy smile whenever we play this game with him.

He can be very sensitive to sound as well. When we were playing with him using the hand bell followed by singing the nursery rhymes, he was tremedously excitedly, waving both his hands and could not stop grinning. However, he will cry as soon as we started him on streching exercises. Often when he is frustrated by his obesity from steroid treatment and cerebral palsy, he would throw tantrum by throwing his body backward if things do not happen as he expected.

“There is hope!” That was what his mother said to me, when I was talking to her. With the Home’s Early Intervention program, she believes that Rafi will eventually be able to adapt better to his surrounding. We will continue to focus on physio exercises in the hope that Rafi will eventually be able walk by himself.

And yes, we believe there is hope and a future for little Rafi as we would continue to serve these children as long as they need us. With your support, we can continue to provide free education and training to individuals with visual impairments. Donate to our cause as we keep their hopes alive!