Every year the CBB creates inclusive calendars for the Bible Society of Costa Rica. These are beautiful photo calendars with braille. For blind people in Costa Rica, this inclusive calendar means a lot. Gabriel Brais from Costa Rica let us know how the calendar was received by the users and we would like to share the story with you. The calendar with Braille was given to a blind teacher.
“When we gave the calendar to this teacher, the first thing she did was call each of her students over to get them to feel the little dots in the book. She explained that these dots are braille dots, and that this is how she communicates, reads and learns.
During the lesson, the children asked the blind teacher what she thought of their drawings. They asked her for help in selecting the right colors for coloring in the trees in their notebooks. The teacher shared something that touched us profoundly: “The children don’t notice my disability. Time and society are what teaches them that I am not normal and that I cannot do things the same way they would.”
This touched our hearts. It is society that over time corrupts concepts of disability and as a result can deprive people of a normal life. This calendar allowed the teacher to read alongside her students. In doing so, she taught the children that the only difference between them is the way they read. This is a true example of creating inclusivity. This teacher is an example to a new generation who will be better people in the future for knowing her.
Please know that we not only produced 1,000 inclusive calendars, but we planted 1,000 seeds that will grow into more inclusive children and adults and ultimately a better society. Thank you for helping us grow.”