All smiles as Blind SA presents new Tatrapoint Brailler

Children, teachers, and parents enthusiastically welcome this valuable new educational aid.

That was the reponse from two excited pupils after Blind SA donated a special Tatrapoint Brailler to private school Ad Laudem in Bloemfontein recently.

Henrikus Henning (6) and Isabelle Beukes (11), both of whom were born blind, could hardly contain their excitement as Jace Nair, CEO of Blind SA, and other colleagues of the organisation handed them the machine. Henrikus and Isabelle immediately wanted to start writing a letter on the easy-to-use and modern new brailler.

Henrikus says as soon as he knows how to type his name he’ll also compose a letter for his mother, Leshana. Isabelle is going to type a letter to her favourite teacher, Miss Walmari du Pisanie.

Nair says the donation was in line with Blind SA’s mission to give blind citizens an equal chance of a full and proper education. “I hope the donation will help you discover a treasure of knowledge and experience”, he said to those who gathered for the presentation of the brailler.

Susan Bam of Blind SA’s education department says the lack of such a machine is like taking away the pens of sighted children. “The machine is a basic necessity for every blind child,” she says.
School principal Lizette Kotzé is grateful and very excited about the donation, acknowledging the immense value the new device will add to the school and its teaching methods.

Du Pisanie is also excited about the prospect of drawing up activities and lessons for Henrikus and Isabelle. The two are in the Rainbow class in Ad Laudem, amongst other children with hearing, cerebral, and cognitive impairment.