By Zach Johnson | Director of Development
The First Youth Forum of Tsinghua Institute
On June 28, 2023, the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee approved the barrier-free environment construction law, to be enacted on September 1. The law emphasizes the importance of accommodating the needs of the disabled and elderly, ensuring their equal participation and integration into society, and fostering an inclusive environment for all citizens to benefit from social and economic development. The law highlights the connection between accessibility and aging, recognizing that the combination of barrier-free and adaptive aging environment construction is crucial to achieving universal accessibility.
To celebrate the passing of this landmark law, the Tsinghua University Institute of Barrier-free Development organized the first Youth Forum. During this event, teachers and students gathered both online and offline to discuss the theme "Education and Employment for the Visually Impaired: Perspectives and Suggestions from Different Dimensions.” The forum, in which Bethel was invited, gave Susan Qu and Fang the opportunity to discuss V.I. resources in need, such as screen readers, mobility devices and much more. By fostering accessibility, the law and the Youth Forum work towards a more inclusive and supportive environment for all members of society, especially those with disabilities and the elderly.
The Importance of Tactile Learning
Tactile learning is essential for both blind and visually impaired children. In addition to blind children, those with low vision also rely on tactile learning to develop crucial skills like language learning, independent living, and understanding their environment. Tactile learning involves exploring objects through touch to gather information about their texture, shape, and composition. Unlike sighted children, visually impaired children cannot rely on continuous visual information and need hands-on experiences to enhance their understanding of the world.
Tactile learning requires time and systematic exploration of objects, building an understanding of each aspect before grasping the whole image. Visually impaired children may need more stimulation and motivation over an extended period to develop these skills. To foster tactile learning, it is crucial to encourage infants' tactile exploration from an early age, creating opportunities for movement and interaction with intriguing objects and people. However, some visually impaired students may lack sufficient instruction and experience in developing tactile skills, leading to challenges in their conceptual development and academic performance.
Understanding the unique needs of visually impaired children and promoting tactile learning will continue to be a priority for Bethel. In each of our centers, teachers have designed a variety of tactile learning activities to help visually impaired children become effective tactile learners.
Dragon Boat Festival and The Art of Making Zongzi
To make the Dragon Boat Festival memorable for the children, Bethel’s teachers and caretakers organized a traditional zongzi-making activity (zongzi is traditional sticky rice dumplings). The children not only learned how to make zongzi but also gained insights into its cultural significance and origin. By participating in this activity, they experienced the beauty of traditional crafts, developed practical skills, and fostered a sense of teamwork. The Dragon Boat Festival activities were filled with laughter and happiness, creating fun memories that build a foundation for their bright future.
Children’s Day
To commemorate this special day, Bethel prepared blessings and gifts for 100 visually impaired children. In selecting the gifts, we aimed to provide not just simple presents but also opportunities for fun and learning. One of the gifts we chose is a wooden block game, similar to Tetris, an entertaining game that enhances children's hands-on abilities through touch, stimulates their imagination, and improves problem-solving skills.
We hope this gift will spark their curiosity and encourage them to explore the unknown, fostering happiness and growth in the process. Another gift we prepared is a set of bowls, spoons, and forks, recognizing the significance of self-care abilities for visually impaired children. We believe that independent eating is a crucial step towards their overall independence, and this gift serves as a practical aid for parents and children to take those essential first steps together. We firmly believe that teaching children valuable skills will have a lasting impact, far beyond the momentary joy of receiving a gift.
As children represent the future and hope of our society, we are committed to providing them with the necessary resources and support to excel in various fields. On this Children's Day, our hope is that our small actions will draw attention to the needs and challenges faced by visually impaired children. We urge everyone to extend their care and support not only to visually impaired children but also to all children around us, acknowledging their uniqueness, limitless potential, and deserving of respect and attention.
Exporting Resources to the Philippines
Bethel is partnering with local institutions in the Philippines to export educational and medical resources to the Philippines. Bethel’s team is preparing to conduct both trainings and screenings in the 4th quarter of this year. The targeted area will be greater Cebu. If you would like to donate children’s eye glasses, or other needed materials please contact zach at zach@bethelchina.org.
Thank You
As Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Lets’ keep going together. We are all in this together. As always, thank you for your support. The stories above are only possible because of people like you. From all of us at Bethel, blessings this summer.
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By Guillaume Gauvain | Founder
By Zach Johnson | Director of Development
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