Are you familiar with Lake Balkhash, a renowned destination in Kazakhstan, situated at the heart of Asia? This picturesque locale boasts expansive fields and stunning mountains. When you stroll along its shores, you'll find a unique area with lots of salt. As Kazakhstan isn't near the ocean directly, this salt deposit holds very importance for the country, providing a vital resource. Thus, Lake Balkhash, with its breathtaking natural beauty, gives the people of Kazakhstan valuable gifts they really need.
When the Dot team received a warm invitation from Kazakhstan, known for its rich resources, and word spread about the tactile display, we were truly excited. We thought that we may have a chance to come across the opportunity to witness the breathtaking scenery in this beautiful country. Of course, before heading to, we did some research. It turns out there are about 700,000 people with disabilities in Kazakhstan, with roughly 86,000 of them having visual impairments. And there are a total of 133 blind schools across the country. Wow.
Picture 1: Displaying the Kazakh letter 'D' and its Braille
Picture 2: Map of Kazakhstan with the positions of Almaty and Astana
Picture 3: Shape of Kazakhstan's flag.
In September, the Dot Team paid a visit to a school for the blind in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Surprisingly, more people showed up to learn about the 'Dot Pad' than we had anticipated. Teachers emphasized how crucial visual information is, especially in subjects like math and science. Because they faced difficulty in explaining complex concepts like 'mathematical graphs' or 'maps of foreign countries' using only words when teaching their students. They were eager to explore ways to enhance students' learning experiences through tactile graphics.
The students seemed really happy to use the Dot Pad. As it quickly showed them pictures they could feel in Tactile as well as its Braille. They smiled when they touched the pictures drawn by hand. They were very curious about these new devices. Later, they wanted to see more pictures, like the sunset in Astana, Santa Claus, and some star patterns. We looked them up on Google and downloaded a few images. When we showed them one by one, they genuinely liked it!
After that, we attended a forum held under the theme of "Introducing New Technology for Improving the Learning Environment of Visually Impaired High School Students". The event was attended by officials from different government departments, including a member of the Kazakhstan Parliament who has a visual impairment. This included representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Labor, and Ministry of Justice.
Initially, teachers from the blind schools addressed the difficulties they faced, while parents expressed their worries regarding the scarcity of learning materials. Subsequently, our team had the opportunity to draw from our experiences in Astana's blind schools, offering insights on how Dot's technology could address these challenges. Overall, it was a great opportunity for everyone to reaffirm their commitment to improving the learning environment for visually impaired students.
Dot Pad may play a crucial role in the blind schools in Kazakhstan in the upcoming year. :D
We'll keep pushing forward until all the blind schools have had a chance to learn and use it. Stay tuned!