Open door school for blind children in Guadalajara

At Helen Keller School, we are committed to continuous learning and exploring new ways to enhance our children’s abilities.

Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to visit the Guadalajara Zoo, an experience that enriched our entire educational community. Accompanied by our dedicated staff and some parents, we explored the zoo using our senses—discovering new scents and engaging in unique tactile experiences. We had the chance to touch aquatic animals, such as the doctor fish, and feel the icy surface of a wall while learning about the animals that inhabit Antarctica.

This visit was not only meaningful for our students but also had a broader impact on the institutions involved, fostering spaces for social inclusion. We were the first group of blind visitors to explore the zoo, and our presence highlighted the need for more accessible facilities.

Together, we are raising awareness and finding new ways to promote inclusion, dignity, and equal participation in society.

We are convinced that we can only grow, hand in hand with others.

This year, we conducted the “Punto y Cuento” workshop for 3rd and 4th grade students, which combined the students' Braille reading and writing skills with their creative abilities, guiding them in the creation of individual and collective stories.

In 12 sessions of the workshop, students listened to and analyzed stories, and with the help of specialists, constructed their own stories, the product of their imagination and topics of personal interest.

The objectives of the workshop were:

- Reinforce reading and writing skills: The children improved their competencies in common characters and the Braille System, vital for their academic and personal development.
- Stimulate literary production: Through the creation of stories, the students developed their ability to write and narrate stories.
- Encourage creativity and imagination: Using the story format, the children explored their imagination and creativity, producing unique and meaningful stories.

We are proud of each and every one of the students, and grateful to the specialists for facilitating thisspace for the children. 

Links:

• https://www.helenkelleracgdl.org/post/taller-punto-y-cuento-un-espacio-para-la-creatividad-y-la-lecto-escritura-en-sistema-brail