FRIM, IIUM Braille book opens doors for visually impaired to explore endangered forest trees
KUALA LUMPUR: Visually impaired people can now learn about endangered forest tree species in Malaysia through a tactile and Braille book produced through a collaboration between the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) have collaborated to create a tactile and Braille book called "Sentuhan Rimba: Mengenali Biji Benih Spesies Hutan yang Terancam di Malaysia" (Tactile Forest: Identifying Endangered Forest Tree Seeds of Malaysia). This initiative, part of the Touch2Read project, aims to make the country's forest heritage accessible to visually impaired individuals by providing them with a unique learning experience through tactile illustrations and Braille.
The book features seven endangered forest tree species in Malaysia, with information on seed characteristics, botanical details, and the uses of each tree. FRIM provided seed samples to the IIUM Touch2Read team for reference in developing the tactile illustrations. The launch of the book included activities for visually impaired IIUM students to explore FRIM's Dipterocarp Arboretum through touch and smell, helping them identify and learn about plants.
The project's success is attributed to FRIM's willingness to continue collaborating on similar initiatives to benefit the visually impaired community.
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