Vision and Hearing for All
As a teacher working with children with disabilities, I realized that when a child struggles to listen, respond or participate, there may be a hearing or eyesight difficulty that has gone unnoticed. Families in Fiji, especially those living far from the main centers, can find screening difficult and costly to access. This inspired me to help bring screening closer to children through schools and community outreach.
We carried out the project by working with schools, Scout leaders, volunteers and allied health professionals to bring hearing and eyesight screening closer to children with disabilities. Teachers, Scout leaders and volunteers received training in inclusive practices, disability awareness and screening techniques.
We learned that a child’s difficulty listening, responding or learning may be linked to an unnoticed hearing or eyesight concern, so we must understand their needs before making assumptions. Bringing screening into communities showed us the value of making services easier for families to access. We also recognised the importance of practical training and cooperation between teachers, families, Scout leaders, volunteers and health professionals.
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