Blind
dir. Frederick Wiseman · 1986
Being alive means navigating challenges and learning to assert control over one's own life, regardless of the obstacles faced.
A group of students at the Alabama School for the Blind navigate their daily routines, from braille lessons to mobility training, each moment revealing their determination to lead independent lives. Watching this film is like stepping into a world where resilience and community support shine through the challenges of visual impairment, inviting viewers to reflect on the power of education and self-advocacy.
BLIND shows the educational programs and daily life of students in kindergarten through the 12th grade at the Alabama School for the Blind. The School is organized around the effort to educate blind and visually impaired students to be in charge of their own lives. Sequences in the film include mobility training, braille instruction and orientation as well as traditional classroom subjects such as English, history, science and music. Other sequences show psychological counseling sessions; vocational training; staff dealing with student disciplinary problems; and the wide variety of recreational and athletic programs.
Talking points
- the role of education in empowerment
- societal perceptions of disability
- the importance of community support
- the evolution of educational practices for the disabled
