Week Eight: Day of Silence & Darkness Activities

  The last class period was my favorite one yet! We watched a few youtube videos about individuals with hearing or visual impairments. One video was about an artist who is blind.  He uses fabric paint for outlining on his paintings. I thought that was very innovative and interesting.  His paintings were unbelievable!! After watching the videos, we went over some sighted guide techniques. We then paired up with a partner and were to take turns being blind-folded and guide each other on a 15 minute route through campus.  We were to include various elements such as different textures(pavement, carpeting..) to walk on, stairs, doors, etc.  I really enjoyed this activity. I think it was challenging being both the individual who could not see and also the sighted guide.  When I was not able to see, the scariest part was open space. I felt like there was something that I should be almost running into or someone I should almost be bumping into.  I was able to tell where we were at the end because I knew we went up a slight ramp and there are not many on campus. When I was the sighted guide, my partner did note that I should describe the doors more and tell her which way they open. I realized as a guide you must include details about everything. I learned a lot from the activity and it made me realize aspects I would not have without actually experiencing it for myself.


  We then participated in activities practicing leading activities for individuals who are blind and deaf and also being the participant who is blind and deaf.  The first activity was tape art on the walls using "painter's tape".  I was a leader first. It was quite challenging because you could not tell the participant what you wanted them to make and they also could not see. I used the "hand-over-hand technique" for this activity. I would roll out the tape and stop and put her hands where I wanted her to rip the tape. We tried making a bird in a birdhouse and it turned out rather crazy looking. :)  We then switched roles. I think it was easier for me because I knew what the activity was all about, but it was also challenging because I did not know what she wanted me to make. It was frustrating at times because I just wanted to be able to see what I was making. After this activity, I was the participant who was blind and deaf first in the next activity. We were making different things out of play dough/clay. Our helper could not talk to us and we were unable to see.  My helper wrote the word with her finger on my hand of what I was supposed to make with the play dough. This method worked quite well. It was challenging to build something not being able to look at it. One time, I was making a person and because I could not see what I was doing I accidentally destroyed the person when my arm laid on it.  I figured out all of the things I was supposed to build and also was able to effectively communicate with my partner what she was supposed to build.  I really enjoyed both of these activities!


  I learned a lot from this class from being able to actually experience what it would be like to  participate in activities not being able to see or talk.  I learned that I am impatient sometimes and that when doing activities I just wanted to be able to see which made me frustrated.  I also learned that I am detail-oriented. I like the small touches, such as a hat for my clay person.  I also learned that it can be more frustrating as the helper/facilitator because you must be innovative and patient when teaching or helping with the activity for someone who is unable to communicate traditionally.


  This class period, I aimed for excellence through participating in discussion and the activities.  I tried to bring enthusiasm to the activities while also putting the activities into a real-life scenario for myself.


  I think these activities were very beneficial for my future career because I will be working with individuals with various communication abilities.  I think that it was helpful to practice facilitating activities one-on-one in order to experience what it would be like to independently teach/lead an activity such as the play dough one.  Another important aspect is learning how much help is necessary for different individuals.  It is important to remember to let the individual do as much as possible on their own. Sometimes as a facilitator, you may become impatient and just want to do a task of the activity for the invidividual .  I really noticed how patient you have to be and also willing to adapt to different outcomes of the projects because things will not always go as planned.


  Overall, I really enjoyed this class period.  I thought it was very helpful to be a facilitator and also a participant under the given circumstances. :)