First special sensory park for blind to open in UP

Lucknow: Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (SMNRU) in Lucknow is planning to set up a unique sensory park where blind persons can identify flowers and plants by touching them or smelling them.

This will be the first sensory park to come up in Uttar Pradesh, which has a population of over 16 lakh of visually impaired people — the highest in the country. According to Dr Nitish Rai, vice-chancellor of the SMNRU, the garden is being designed keeping in mind the needs of differently-abled children.

Furthermore, the garden will mainly focus on developing the four senses — visual (for partially blind), auditory, olfactory and the sense of touch. The garden will have pathways of gravel, flowing water, wooden floors, sand pits and grass that will guide the visually impaired through the garden. 

The sound of flowing water will take them to one section while the gravel path will guide them to another. Bamboo chimes will also be a part of the garden. They serve as a permeable fence for the garden. Children can go under it, see through it and feel the texture. This will help in stimulating the senses of a child.

Professor Rajni Ranjan Singh, a faculty member in the special education department, said, “The type of plants in the garden will also be unique. The visually-impaired children can identify them either by smell or touch. We will have flowering plants that have a strong smell like roses, chameli, champa etc. Plants that can be identified by—the rubber plant for instance — will also find a place in the garden”.

The university is taking the help of local botanical experts to identify the trees and plants that are to be planted. The National Institute of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIPMAD) in Chennai has designed the project report for the park. “We will also be putting up statues and a sound system that will guide the visitors. A water play area is also proposed. The idea is to enable visually impaired children and those with special abilities to move outdoors. Such persons are usually confined to their rooms and houses, which lead to shyness and develop a withdrawal tendency in them. But they can enjoy outdoor life in this park. We also plan to teach the children about the basics of gardening,” Dr Rai said.  

Dr Rai explained that a child with a disability has difficulties in understanding or has limited experiences of interaction, which results in delay in sensory integration. The sensory park provides an opportunity for children to experience different sensory stimulations through spaces created for stimulus, response, learning and memory.