28 September 2018
CHAPTER 10
Picture: A visually impaired man is asking the bus driver, what the number of the bus is. The bus driver is angrily swearing at him, asking if he is blind.
False
People have the same attitude to visually impaired people and blind people.
Truth
People often don't see problems, associated with visual impairment. They think them snobby, when they don't greet back, or that they are joking around when asking for the number of the bus etc.
CHAPTER 9
Picture: A blind woman using a blind-adapted computer
False
A blind of visually impaired person cannot use a computer.
Truth
A computer with adapted hardware and software is a great assistive tool. There are enhancing an text-to-speech programmes, as well as a braille board. With these, they can create a number of documents, browse the web and use social media.
CHAPTER 8
Picture: A boy and a girl sit behind a schoolbench. The boy is visually impaired and using a magnifying glass to read the textbook.
False
Blind or visually impaired children cannot attend regular schools or kindergardens.
Truth
Of course they can! They just need adapted methods and tools to achieve the same goal as sighted people. Specially trained educators teach them skills, that help them reach as large a degree of independence as possible. Teachers and caretakers also need extra education to work with them.
CHAPTER 7
Picture: A man and a woman skiing. The woman is blind and overtaking her male guide-skiier.
False
A blind or visually impaired person cannot do sports.
Truth
Being active is very important, because most visually impaired people move less due to their condition. They can do almost any sort of sport: tandembiking, hiking, skiing, bowling, running with a partner; ballspart with a dingling ball. They can also watch movies and love the theater. There are even adapted movies for them!
CHAPTER 6
Picture: Three eyeballs doing sports and getting buff.
FALSE
If a visualy impaired person strains their eyes too much, their eyesight will get worse.
TRUTH
On the contrary! With systematical training, they can use their eyesight more efficiently.
CHAPTER 5
Picture: A man and woman sit on a couch, each with a book in hand. The woman has a large lamp beside her and light from it is unpleasant to the man
False
A visually impaired person needs more light to read.
Truth
The type of lighting depends on the individuals impairment. Some need better lighting, some find it distracting.
CHAPTER 4
Picture: A man in a coat is walking, only seeing a small, cone-shaped part of his surroundings.
FALSE
Visual impairment can be repaired through a higher diopter.
TRUTH
A doctor might prescribe a higher dioptre, but this does not cure visual impairment. If someone has a reduced visual range, glasses will not help.
CHAPTER 3
Picture: A man is looking at a very large book with large letters, not able to read it.
FALSE
A visually imparied person needs to have their text very enlarged.
TRUTH
Enlarging the text depends on the type of impairedment, but enlarging letters on an A3 sheet of paper brings about problems at sheet orientation. It is better to enlarge and choose suitable fonts (Arila, Calibri, Verdana) on an A4 sheet. The paper sheet should not be glossy.
CHAPTER 2
Picture: There are two people in the picture: a young boy reading a book under his covers with a flashlight and an angry looking dad lifting the covers.
FALSE
Reading under lower visibility damages your eyesight.
TRUE
While reading under lower visibility may strain your eyes, it does not damage your eyesight.
CHAPTER 1
Picture: There are three people in the picture: a young, smiling woman, holding her black sunglasses with her left hand; an older man with black sunglasses reading a newspaper; and a happy younger man, also wearing black sunglasses, watching football on the television.
FALSE
A person wearing glasses, is visually impaired.
TRUE
Spectacles can also be worn by those who are not visually impaired (nearsightedness, farsightedness ...). Visual impairment is when the vision in the better eye with the best possible glasses or lens correction is less than 30% of visual acuity, or the visual field is no greater than 20 degrees.
Authors of the text: Ingrid Žolgar in Aksinja Kermauner, Illustrated by Gašper Rus
Other participants:
Brane But, Sonja Pungertnik, Mateja Jerina Gubanc, dr. Manca Tekavčič Pompe, Aleksandra Surla (dog guide), Marinka Vičič, Diopta d.o.o., Abanka, Institut Integra, Printing house Povše in Alpa papir and Association of Friends of the Blind of Slovenia