Mini Scenes
These can be used as writing exercises or as group or class discussions.
- Your favourite cousin Lisa is coming to stay with you for the holidays. Although she wears glasses, Lisa can't see very well and sometimes knocks things over and seems clumsy. You are worried about how your friends will act towards her. What do you do?
- A new girl, Aroha, starts in your class. She is blind and uses a cane. How might you help her to find her way around your school? What sounds or smells could you point out as 'cues' to help her recognise where she was? (e.g. water fountains (water), basketball courts (bouncing balls), music rooms, computer rooms (keys clicking), road noise, grass vs concrete, asphalt, tiles etc (cane taps)
- Your friend Max who is blind goes with you to see a new movie. It's an action film, with very little talking in it. What would Max think of this movie? Would he understand everything that was going on without being able to see it? How could you make it easier for him to enjoy the movie? How could movie theatres make it going to the movies a more enjoyable experience for blind people? (e.g. asking him if he would like you to describe action scenes to him (quietly!) when there is no dialogue, think making headphones with descriptive dialogue for blind people available at movies/on TV)
- What sounds might be important for a blind person to listen out for when walking down a busy street, and why? (e.g. traffic, sirens, pedestrian crossing beeps, other people's footsteps, talking, music to identify certain shops, fountains or water trickling, buses stopping, different bird calls (ducks by ponds, pigeons in parks, seagulls etc)
- You're on the bus when you notice a blind man with a cane. You travel on this bus every day, and you haven't seen him on it before. He looks as though he is worried, and you think he might be worried about how to know which stop he is getting off at. What would you do? How could the bus company and bus driver make it easier for him to know where to get off the bus? (e.g. asking the man where he is going and if he would like you to tell him when his stop is, or if he needs any help, think bus driver announcing bus stops, think talking bus stops)
- Your friend Aroha tells you that some children at your school have been teasing her and calling her names. She is really upset. What would you do?
- Amber, who is vision-impaired, is in your Girl Guide/Boy Scout unit. You are all planning to go on a hike. What help do you think Amber might need? How can your unit help meet her needs?