2021 Jan Articles Archives

Back to School is Not What it Used To Be

When you had kids you didn’t think you’d be sending them back to school in January 2021 in the midst of a pandemic. It’s not exactly something you could prepare for. Normally the start of a school year is met with eagerness and anticipation of what is to come. This year is different. According to UNICEF, at the height of world-wide lockdowns in April 2020, about 91% of the world’s students were not attending classes at school. That’s mind-blowing. That level of interruption to a generation’s education is unprecedented and the effects thereof are still to be understood in time to come. So going back to school this year is going to be unlike it was in the past for a lot of school going kids. We’re still reeling from the disruption of 2020 and at the same time concerned about what is to come in 2021. Here are some tips to assist you at the start of the new school year:

Safety and hygiene measures are still critically important. Just because we are in a new year doesn’t mean the virus is less dangerous or has gone away. Talk to our kids and emphasise the importance of continuing to hand-washing, wearing a mask, and social distancing.
“Normal” behaviours like hugging a friend hello and sharing food are still a no-no. Communicate this to your kids and explain why.
Communication with and from the school is critical. Look out for and or find out about important information like changes to the curriculum and updated COVID-19 protocols.
Don’t underestimate how your anxiety and stress impact your children. Your mental health plays an important role in their mental health. Be careful what you say about going back to school in front of them and choose an appropriate outlet to manage your anxieties.
Be mindful of their anxieties. Talk to them about any concerns they have about going back to school and watch out for unusual behaviour that might indicate that they are not coping with the stress. A healthy mindset at the beginning of a school year has never been more important.

Just because you are blind, does not mean that you do not see

Have you ever been to a public place such as a restaurant or bank that offers braille versions of the information that they display on screens or in pamphlets? Probably not. That means that blind people don’t always enjoy the same freedoms that the rest of us do. On January 4 we celebrate World Braille Day, highlighting the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind and visually impaired.

The World Health Organisation estimates that blindness and vision impairment affects at least 2.2 billion people around the world. That’s an astounding number! Unfortunately, barriers such as ignorance and stereotypes have contributed towards blind people to be unfairly discriminated against in the workplace as well as in society. The reality, however, is that blind people are successful in a wide variety of jobs and have positively contributed to their workplaces. Many people who are blind have the same skills and education as people who aren’t visually impaired and can perform the same tasks. Fortunately, technological advances such as screen-reading software and braille displays have removed some of the obstacles, and with a few small changes, we can make the environment a whole lot more accommodating for people with the disability. Removing physical barriers, re-organising workstations, and introducing assistive technology can make for a far more inclusive workplace.

In celebration of World Braille Day, take a look around your office and consider what you could change to make it more accommodating for blind people!

Sources:

https://ptapathways.co.za/index.php/information-01/17-info-article-one

https://blindsa.org.za/

https://fitforwork.org/blog/supporting-people-with-sight-loss-in-employment-rnib-good-practice-guide/