Wheel Power: Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Blind

Thursday May 30, 2013

Animal farm up close

Wheel Power
By ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The blind participants were thrilled to have birds feeding off their palms.

An excursion to a farm proved to be a memorable experience for the blind and an eye-opener for a group of volunteers.

A REAL farm next to the city? No kidding!” This was the reaction of some members of a group of 26 blind people who took part in an excursion to an animal farm in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, late last month.
The trip was organised by the Adult Blind Association of Selangor (ABAS) and an international management consulting firm in Kuala Lumpur. The latter provided an equal number of employees as volunteers to ensure that each blind person was accompanied by a sighted person during the outing.

“The one-to-one pairing of participants was mutually beneficial,” said Yam Tong Woo, president of ABAS.
It presented a unique opportunity for the volunteers to guide the blind through many obstacles that the sighted often take for granted. For the blind, it was a lesson in trust and a chance to get to know more sighted people.

The meeting point for both groups was in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

“It was a perfect morning on the day of the outing. There was an air of anticipation and excitement as both parties met up for their blind dates, so to speak,” recalled Yam with a chuckle.

The volunteers were paired with the blind participants after a get-to-know-you session. The volunteers were required to describe what they saw along the route as the bus headed to their destination. They had to keep their charges informed, too, of what was happening at every stop along the journey.

However, the biggest challenge came when they reached the animal farm. The volunteers had to guide the blind through a tour of the farm. They had to give a description of the surroundings and the animals they came across as they moved along.

“Considering that most of our staff seldom interact with the blind, the event was quite a challenge for them,” said Melinda Loke from the firm. “Initially, they were a bit anxious but I must say the blind helped a lot to allay our anxieties. Once we met them, they simply melted our hearts!” Loke added.

Upon arrival at the farm, all the participants were briefed on the animals that they would see at the farm.
The participants met up close with the smallest monkey in the world, a miniature cow and pony, the second largest tortoise in the world, and a herd of deer.

The blind participants were presented with an opportunity to touch a host of animals, including a tortoise and a raccoon. Touching is important to the blind as it enables them to have an idea of what the animals look like. They also fed the animals with food provided by the farm.

There were swans, ducks and mallards in a large pond in the middle of the farm.

One of the most unforgettable moments was inside a big aviary. The blind were allowed to feed the birds which were flying over their heads. They were praying that the birds would not poop on their heads or clothes, and that nobody would accidentally step on the chicks that were running around.

It was an exciting experience, holding out their hands and waiting for the birds to land and peck food off their palms. They could feel the sharpness of the birds’ beaks and claws.

The outing was a big success for both the blind and their sighted guides. New friendships were formed and there were many happy memories to bring home for everyone involved.

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