Stories and films to talk about visual impairment with children

Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Verna Myers

World Braille Day took place on January 4, a significant date on the calendar that has been celebrated since 2019 and aims to raise greater awareness about its importance as a means of communication for the full realization of human rights for blind and visually impaired people.

Providing knowledge and shedding light on this condition to children is important to promote diversity in classrooms, prevent bullying and achieve a more inclusive society. That is why today we are collecting some valuable resources. Specifically, some of the best stories and films to talk about visual impairment to children.

Fiction, both in film and literature, is a very powerful tool for awaken empathy and promote values ​​of cooperation, companionship and inclusion in the classroom . Just as they are very useful for talking about death and grief , emotions or conditions such as hearing impairment , stories and films can help children understand what the daily life of a blind person is like, what obstacles they face or how they explore life through other senses.

Take note of the following suggestions, which are very valuable for reading and enjoying at home, at school or in different educational and awareness-raising activities.

4 books on visual impairment for children

• Colorines (Ferrán Hortiruela) : This beautiful story published by Editorial la Galera features Pol, a blind boy who is sad because he doesn't know what colors are . However, with the help of his teacher and classmates he will learn to recognize them. When he is happy, when he smells the scent of wheat, touches the grass or plays with the waves of the sea, he will be able to imagine all the colors of the rainbow.
• My guide, my captain (Gonzalo Moure) : a beautiful illustrated book from the Kalandraka publishing house that received the Cuatrogatos Foundation award in 2021 and that tells the story of the deep love, tenderness and admiration between a father and a daughter, ideal for transmitting and spreading the importance of seeing beyond visual limitations.
• The Black Book of Colors (Menena Cottin and Rosana Faría): masterfully published by Libros del Zorro Rojo, this is a unique work on color perception. Illustrated in relief, it offers all children a unique sensory experience: perceiving color without having to see it. The original edition was produced by the prestigious Mexican publisher Tecolote, which won the prize in the New Horizons category, awarded by the 2007 Bologna Children's Book Fair. It was also chosen by the New York Times as one of the best illustrated books of 2008.
• Sofia the Swallow (Almudena Tabeada and Ana López Escrivá): published by Ediciones SM as part of its collection Cuentos para sentir and under the motto "Todos somos principales" (We are all different), this story accompanies other stories such as “Cirilo, el cocodrilo” (Cyril the Crocodile); “El grillo benito” (Benito the Cricket) or “El canguro Arturo” (Arturo the Kangaroo). It tells the story of a blind swallow who knows how to navigate by smell and hearing. It will explain to the little ones how he gets to know the world thanks to the help of his teacher and helps Tomás return to the village.

4 films about visual impairment for children

• Red as the Sky: an Italian film about fighting adversity and seeking one's own gifts. Its protagonist is Mirco, a ten-year-old boy who is a film buff, who loses his sight in an accident in Tuscany in the 1970s. When he discovers that he can create fairy tales using sounds using an old tape recorder, he convinces other blind children to follow their dreams and discover their talent.
• Out of Sight: This Japanese short film stars a blind girl who re-discovers a street with creativity and innocence through her other senses other than sight.
• Today I Want to Come Back Alone : ​​This 2014 Brazilian film is ideal for teenagers, as it addresses the search for independence, the discovery of sexuality and sexual diversity in a visually impaired person. Its protagonist is Leonardo, whose world is shaken by the arrival of Gabriel. “The magical and terrible days of adolescence are delicately portrayed” in this film, according to Federico Marín Bellón of Diario ABC.
• Pip : a funny and tender short film about a little dog with a big dream: to become a guide dog. Adorable, unforgettable and very special not only for transmitting emotions, but for those who enjoy life with a pet.

And you, do you know any other film or story on this subject?