The Institute for Blind and Partially Sighted Children is applying a €475,000 grant to improve its services and become a nation-wide resource centre for the visually impaired. The centre will be the first of its kind in Slovenia, housing a kindergarten, special education, and other services to prepare blind and visually impaired young people to live independently.
The project will cover the renovation of the existing institute in order to make it accessible and secure for the children using the centre. Thanks to the grant from Norway, the centre will also be equipped with Braille displays for computers, magnifiers and other helping aids. A new outdoor area simulating real life situations will also allow for safe and practical training in orientation skills. According to Marija Jerasa, who teaches at the institute, a comprehensive support system is one of the keys to success when it comes to integrating blind and visually impaired children.
The project is carried out in collaboration with the Slovenian Ministry of Education and Sport, and the Faculties of Medicine and Education. Huseby Resource Centre in Oslo is also an active partner in the project, and the Norwegian centre is planning a one week training course for their Slovenian counterparts.