Sunday school challenge

[dawn]

Hello, Ms. Kathy. I am the mom of a teen blogger that you are a follower of. (individuality). I am also the Children's Ministry Director at my church. We recently had a blind boy, age 5, start coming to our church and may be joining. I would appreciate any advice you may have to offer about how we can minister to him in a classroom full of seeing children. Our curriculum is visually based: color pages, crafts, fill in the blank sheets... The story is read aloud to the children, so he hears the story. But the activities leave him a little lost. He has been blind since birth, how do you ask him what color he wants to use? How do you tell him what he is coloring if he doesn't know what the item looks like? I don't know if we should try to treat him like he sees, or do we treat him differently, like the blind child that he is, and try to offer a different activity? This is a whole new aspect to my job that I have never encountered before. My daughter knew enough about you to direct me to your site. I appreciate what you have chosen to do with these kids. I know it is not without its challenges. Thank-you, Dawn

[Ms. Kathy]

HI! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here. I usually answer questions during my breaks but lately this site has been blocked by Groupwise at my job, and that is a pain!

Here are some things you can do for coloring:
1. Cut out figures rather than have print drawings for him.
2. Use Wikki Sticks to outline drawings.
3. Get a canvas board or some rough surface like window screening for a coloring surface. When a coloring sheet is placed on top of window screen it makes the crayon have texture on the paper and he can feel where he has colored.

He may not understand colors but he can make choices be cause he hears his sighted peers making color choices. So it is OK to teach him that the sky is blue and the grass is green. I used to tape braille flags at the top of a handful of crayons for one of my students.

You can also make raised line drawings by turning the paper over on the back and using a ball point pen to trace some of the lines. Use a rubber mat underneath the paper or a sheet corrugated box.

If you can treat him mostly the same but modify the activities for his lack of vision that would be great. In other words, try to have the same activity for him but think tactile.

[Ms. Kathy]

Another thought is to get in touch with his teacher at his school and ask for help from whomever produces braille and tactile graphics there. If you use a regularly published Sunday school lesson, his mom may have him registered at the state library where some materials can be ordered in advance.