18 November 2024
The Two Oceans Aquarium recently hosted a special day dedicated to enriching the experiences of visually impaired individuals. In collaboration with Sharon Goosen from Innovation for the Blind and St. Dunstan’s, the event welcomed over 30 participants who enjoyed an immersive and inclusive tour of the aquarium.
One of the Ian Fraser Bursary Fund recipients shared their impressions of the day:
"There’s nothing I would say needed improvement. Naturally, given the nature of things, not everything could be accessible—though I didn’t exactly expect to put my hand in a shark tank to touch the sharks! However, I truly appreciated the effort made to ensure inclusivity. From the variety of creatures, parts of creatures, and plants we could touch, to the inclusion of taxidermy birds like the penguin and albatross for size comparison, the thoughtfulness was evident. I even got to touch a squid, something I had never done before.
The aquarium staff and volunteers were fantastic, sharing fascinating facts and thoroughly explaining things we couldn’t touch. The rock pool was incredible, and I particularly enjoyed exploring the creatures at the INJ station, such as turtles. My favourite station, though, was the one featuring tactile items like shark fins, sardines, and shells. My partner especially loved the jellyfish tanks. Although I couldn’t see them, my partner described them vividly to me. What stood out most was the friendliness and genuine enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers. Their passion shone through, and at no point did I feel like a burden or that they were merely doing us a favour. Unfortunately, as a blind person, I’ve occasionally encountered that attitude, but this experience was entirely different. I would highly recommend this to any visually impaired individual.”
This event exemplifies the value of inclusivity and the difference it can make in creating meaningful experiences for all.
Here is what others had to say:
“Thank you for allowing us to touch the creatures and being so helpful. We appreciate that the Aquarium was especially opened during the after-hours for us “– Karli
“We had a very educational experience and appreciate it” – Lourens
“I never could imagine that a sea star’s mouth is underneath his body and that it’s sucks up its food with the belly” – Sharon
“I experienced something extra ordinary by getting to touch different creatures. The penguins were very interesting” – Desiree
“The most interesting part for me was the shark eggs, I was allowed to touch the sells” – Johan
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