When the Steel Will of Enlightened Minds Breaks Through the Darkness of Barriers

Mashhad – Despite their brilliant achievements, more than 500 blind students in Khorasan Razavi continue to struggle with urban barriers, a shortage of Braille resources and pitying attitudes from society.

Arjan Ambassador - Provinces Group, Atefeh Wefaian: In the alleys and back alleys of the city, blind students are taking firm steps in pursuit of a bright future; A group that, despite its brilliant talents and abundant intelligence, struggles daily with numerous structural and urban obstacles.

Incomplete adaptation of the passages, defects in the sound systems of public transportation and lack of educational resources and Braille books are only part of the concerns that have made the proud path of these students face serious challenges.

Despite these deficiencies, exceptional schools and the round-the-clock efforts of caring coaches and administrators have provided a suitable platform for the growth and flourishing of the capabilities of these loved ones in the fields of science, sports, and the Quran.

Honoring in Para-Asian competitions, scientific festivals and even making it to the world championships is a clear testimony to the fact that visual impairment has never been an obstacle against the steely will of today's able-bodied generation.

Education of more than 500 blind students in Razavi Khorasan

Reza Karimi, Director of Khorasan Razavi Special Education and Education, in a conversation with Mehr reporter, referring to the education status of visually impaired students, stated: "We have more than 500 blind students in Khorasan Razavi province, of which 460 are studying in Mashhad and in specialized schools for the blind." There is also a school for the blind in Neishabur, and we have a total of 6 specialized schools for the blind in the province.

Khorasan Special Education Director Razavi added: The rest of the visually impaired students in other cities of the province, which have lower population statistics, are enrolled and studying in special schools with different disabilities (mental retardation, deaf and blind) in one center. But in Mashhad, due to the high statistics, schools are managed in a specialized manner. In addition, about 100 students with less severe disabilities are studying in normal schools under the title of "integrated students".

Full educational coverage of blind students without demarcation of marginalization

In response to the way education is covered in underprivileged areas and the outskirts of the city, he clarified: the term "underprivileged" has no meaning for us in this sector; Because our specialized schools cover the entire city of Mashhad, both central and peripheral areas; As an example, our primary school for blind girls accepts all female students of the city, regardless of the residential area, and all students are covered by education.

Karimi said about the level of education and qualification of teachers in this area: The teachers who teach in these schools are generally graduates of the field of exceptional children from Farhangian University or previous teacher training courses and have completed academic education in all exceptional groups. After entering the system, these forces are separated and go through specialized training workshops in the schools themselves. Also, specialized in-service courses such as "Braille learning" are held once or twice a year, and in addition, weekly workshops and experience management programs are held continuously at the school level.

The favorable condition of the equipment and the serious challenge of the lack of rehabilitation staff

Referring to the status of standardization and equipment of schools for the blind, Khorasan Razavi, director of exceptional education, said: The security of our schools is almost complete and meets the necessary standards. There is no acute shortage in the field of educational aids and equipment, and devices such as "Perkins" (braille typewriter), magnifying glasses, and special glasses are prepared and provided to students.

The pitiful view of the society prevents blind students from flourishing

Elhamsadat Mohammadpour, one of the directors of schools for the blind in Khorasan Razavi province, in a conversation with Mehr reporter, explained the educational and educational status of visually impaired students in the only exceptional first and second secondary girls' boarding school in Khorasan Razavi province, stating: exceptional schools and blind students are struggling with many problems, the most important of which is the lack of adaptation of city roads. Although measures such as marking and highlighting the sidewalks have been done in some places such as Vakil Abad Boulevard and Farmarz Abbasi, these improvements are not continuous and in many areas of the city we are facing serious challenges for the movement of these loved ones.

Razavi, one of the directors of schools for the blind in Khorasan province, added: Another problem of the blind in the city is the defect in the sound and speaker systems of public transportation such as the subway, which sometimes gives incorrect information about the stations and causes confusion for the blind.

He said about the state of providing educational resources: Braille textbooks and textbooks do not meet the needs of students. So that even the textbooks in all disciplines have not been translated into Braille, and many resources are inevitably provided to students in audio form. Also, the shortage of Braille books usually reaches the students with delay and after two months from the beginning of the school year.

Referring to the rich talent of blind students, Mohammadpour stated: the IQ of these students is normal, and if the conditions are right, they achieve significant success. A clear example of these abilities is obtaining the top national ranks in the Quranic, Para-Asian sports, hymn competitions, as well as being proud in the Khwarazmi Festival; But unfortunately, the pitiful view of society and families affects their motivation and self-confidence instead of a humane and supportive view.

Razavi, one of the directors of schools for the blind in Khorasan province, while emphasizing the need to pave the city roads for easy movement of the blind, noted that the necessary follow-ups for the improvement of the school's internal area with the help of donors and the municipality are being carried out, but the authorities should provide employment and effective presence of this capable group in the society beyond the administrative task.

Education of 40 visually impaired students in Neishabur

Shahresadat Hosseini, director of Neyshabur exceptional school, in a conversation with Mehr reporter, referring to his 27-year experience in exceptional education, said: I am currently in charge of the Haj Ali Akbar Shisatan Zindayad exceptional school, which was opened in May of this year, and before that, students were transferred to this place to use the new space.

The principal of Neyshabur Exceptional School, by distinguishing the educational status of visually impaired students, added: We define the status of students in two forms: low vision (progressive or specific for commuting) and total blindness; Currently, we have 14 totally blind and Braille students in preschool and elementary school, and 26 other students are visually impaired who are taught with large print books.

Implementation of a consolidated compensatory plan for secondary schools

He said about the situation of first and second high school students: After elementary school, students can enroll in normal schools and continue their studies as integrated or receptive students, while we, as a support, monitor and support them with books, educational and counseling problems until the twelfth year.

Hosseini added: Also, the base of the integrated compensation plan is active on Wednesday afternoons for the students of grades 7 to 12, so that if they have problems or lag in education in basic subjects such as Persian and math in normal schools, they can be trained and corrected in a specialized way by instructors who are familiar with the visual impairment group.

The challenge of lack of physical space and facilities

Referring to the structural deficiencies of this new educational space, the director of Neyshabur Exceptional School stated: Despite the fact that the school is newly established, its physical space is small and we do not have a separate consultation room, health room, colleagues' executive office, prayer room, and meeting hall; There is only one multi-sensory room to enhance the sense of touch and hearing of blind students, which is used for occupational therapy, speech therapy and smart education.

He added: The existing specialized equipment has been provided through the exceptional organization of the province, but we are facing shortages for things such as braille displays and we do not have direct purchases donated by donors to the school.

Problems of students' commuting service

Hosseini said about the provision of students' travel expenses: despite frequent correspondence and meetings with the municipality, unfortunately, the necessary cooperation has not been done and the costs of school services, which fortunately have covered even the most distant villages of the city, are covered annually by exceptional education and the rest by families.

The director of the exceptional school of Neyshabur, referring to the remarkable successes of the students of this group, said: Our students have provincial and national ranks in educational and cultural fields; Even in the UCMAS World Championships, we have students who have made it to the world stages in Malaysia and Pakistan, although it was not possible for families to be physically present due to the high cost of travel. Also, in the field of sports, a small grass field of 100 square meters has been prepared for children's sports hours, and we also use another sports hall that was built by the benevolence of Mr. Chasitan.

The necessity of increasing the awareness of families and timely recruitment of students

While expressing his concern about the educational path of children with special needs, he emphasized: unfortunately, due to some ignorance, some families refuse to accept the conditions due to their children's visual disabilities, or by removing the name of welfare, they enroll the student in crowded classes of normal schools, which causes him to drop academically. We request the families to refer to welfare and exceptional schools upon diagnosis of disability, so that with proper counseling and guidance, the educational path of their children will be in the right and standard cycle from the very beginning.