SeeSaw Club

  On November 17th, the Seesaw Club had the chance to work with visually impaired individuals on a hands-on crafting activity. We started with learning to tie basic flat knots, a key skill for making worry dolls and phone bracelets. The worry dolls were especially meaningful—they're meant to "listen" to your worries, offering comfort and a sense of relief. Learning and teaching the knots required a focus on touch and patience as it was a particularly difficult task. However, it was incredible to see how quickly everyone picked up the techniques and made their works.  By the end, the joy in the room was evident. This experience reminded our club members of the power of connection and how small crafts can rather carry big meaning.

 When we encounter the word 'flat knot', most people would roll their eyes for how boring it would be. However, the experience Seesaw club had the past weekend totally disproves this, showing the power of flat knot; bonding with visually impaired individuals by helping with techniques, putting ourselves in their shoes. In the session, we created worry dolls and phone bracelets that were neatly created with flat knot. It was very heart warming to see the visually impaired individuals trying their best despite the limitations. Some of these individuals, like the lady that I was working with, showed even better perseverance and skills than most of us.  This experience as a whole was another stepping stone for me and our club members to learn more and bond with the visually impaired individuals.

  This past weekend, members of SeeSaw gathered together with visually impaired individuals to experience collaborating and learning art together. We learned the flat knot technique and applied it to create phone bracelets and worry dolls, where we could vent out all of our struggles and feel relieved. Throughout the experience, I both learned the technique and aided the visually impaired in feeling the knots and finding the sensory techniques to tie the knots themselves. I saw that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were delighted the entire time; one of the people even stated that they had stayed up all night for the experience! Ultimately, it was a fun experience where I bonded with numerous individuals and I felt accomplished at succeeding to collaborate with those who need our help.

     There are many challenges that visually impaired children face throughout their daily lives, but a significantly crucial struggle is the inability to experience many imaginative and educational experiences such as reading picture books. However, The Bookseller has revealed that a certain company, Simon & Schuster Children's, is working to adapt a picture book for blind and visually impaired children.       The said picture book is Supertato , an endearing book about the hero Supertato's fight against the malicious Evil Pea. Around 30 hand-crafted copies have been made so far, and they feature tactile, hand-painted versions of drawings for children to feel and enjoy. The book also features braille on clear sheets to encourage deeper understanding, as well as an audiobook recorded specifically for guiding the children throughout the book.       Simon & Schuster collaborated with Living Paintings, a charity providing many ...

 A recent event aimed at supporting people with vision loss is the "VisionWalk," organized by the Foundation Fighting Blindness. On September 28, 2024, VisionWalk events will take place across multiple U.S. cities, including Seattle and St. Louis. These walks bring communities together to raise awareness and funds for research into treatments and cures for blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. The walk is part of a broader effort to empower individuals with vision loss, fostering connection and advocacy. This initiative continues to gain traction, with additional VisionWalks and related events scheduled throughout the year​

Melanie Barratt, a Paralympian gold medallist from Leamington Spa, has become the first blind woman to swim across the English Channel. Completing the 21-mile journey in just 12 hours and 20 minutes—faster than the expected 14 hours—Barratt's impressive achievement was not only a personal triumph but also a significant moment of inspiration for others. Reflecting on the swim, Barratt expressed her hope that her accomplishment would encourage people to take on new challenges, no matter their limitations. Having previously won multiple medals at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Paralympics, Barratt is also known as the first blind person to swim across Lake Geneva. This Channel swim, which took place on 28 August, was part of a fundraising effort for British Blind Sport, a charity that helps visually-impaired individuals access sports across the UK. So far, Barratt's effort has raised £17,000 for the organization, which played a vital role in her own journey to the Paralympics. S...