The Little Room

OK - to get to the real reason Cindy and I are here: the work with blind children. One of the odd-shaped packages that I brought with me contained two 2-foot-square pieces of plexiglass and two matching pieces of pegboard, as I mentioned previously. These were for the construction of the “Little Room” which is used to encourage “active learning” in visually impaired babies. Blind babies do not have a sense of where things are, so parents often hand them toys, food and other things. Because of this, these babies don’t develop an awareness of the fact that they can and search for and discover things.

The Little Room provides a space where babies can reach out and explore things in safe environment where things are in predictable places. They can independently explore this space and discover things without the help of others. Also, they develop a sense of a contained space – their first experience of a “room.”

In the photos you see Cindy working on the construction of our little room. The frame is made of PVC pipe, which we also carted across the great waters, and the pegboard and plexiglass (with holes drilled in appropriate places) is held in place by plastic ties – the kind that ratchet up as tight as you like. We hung a set of metal measuring spoons, and a rubber yellow toy with a textured surface from the ceiling. Also, we placed a piece of shiny mylar paper on the side wall.

The little room should be in a quiet place where the baby is not distracted by noises and other movements in the larger room. The child we introduced to the little room is Dong Qiang (pronounced Chiang), who had a brain injury at the time of his birth. His is a complex situation, as he has a crooked esophagus and not much use of his right side. His nanny holds him much of the time and care has to be taken as he cannot independently clear his lungs. He is almost three years old.

When Dong Qiang was placed in the little room, he gurgled and smiled. The little room acts as an echo chamber, and he seemed to like hearing his voice slightly amplified. He moved his arms over his head and hit the yellow rubber toy - that hung from the ceiling - with his right elbow many times. He turned his head in the direction of the mylar and seemed to be attracted to the shininess of its surface. It is not completely clear whether or not Dong Qiang has any vision. We think he may have Cortical Vision Impairment, but this has not been diagnosed.


In the final photo you see Dong Qiang in the little room, beginning to interact with his new environment. He is an endearing little guy with an angelic smile. If you are in the habit of praying, please pray for this child.

If you would like to read more about the little room,from a parent who has experience with it, please click here.