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October 19, 2005
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 11 October
Current situation of persons with visual impairments
in Japan (October 11, 2005)
Mr. Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, Executive Director of International
Association for the Visually Impaired and one of the planning
committee members lectured on the current situation of
persons with visual impairments in Japan. He gave us a brief
information on education, employment, Brail library, guide
helper service and present issues which persons with visual
impairments is facing.
He also performed us "Shakuhachi", a bamboo flute and one
of the famous Japanese traditional musical instrument.
Long time ago there used to have many Shakuhachi player
with visual impairments in Japan. So he showed us how to
play and how it looks like.
In the afternoon all the participants are requested to wear
eye-masks and experience how to obtain information by
utilizing their remaining senses of touch, smell, taste and
hearing.
Nine participants were asked to distinguish between
Japanese bank notes and coins, pour a drink into a cup
and guess what the contents are, tell us differentiate
between side A and side B of a cassette tape and
distinguish fruits and vegetables. It became a meaningful
experience for everyone.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at October 19, 2005 04:22 PM