Accra:FRIM Visually impaired individuals in Malaysia now have the opportunity to learn about endangered forest tree species through a new tactile and Braille book. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the book, titled "Sentuhan Rimba Mengenali Biji Benih Spesies Hutan yang Terancam di Malaysia," was developed under the Touch2Read project. It combines tactile illustrations and Braille to assist readers in exploring the physical characteristics of seeds and understanding the diversity of Malaysia's forest species.
FRIM director-general Datuk Dr. Ismail Parlan emphasized the importance of making the country's forest heritage accessible to everyone, including the visually impaired. He stated that it is crucial for visually impaired individuals to have the opportunity to learn about forest plant diversity and identify seed structures through touch.
FRIM contributed to the project by providing actual seed samples to the IIUM Touch2Read team for the development of tactile illustrations. The book covers seven endangered forest tree species in Malaysia, detailing seed characteristics, botanical information, and the uses of each tree.
Dr. Ismail expressed FRIM's readiness to continue collaborating on similar initiatives to benefit the visually impaired community, suggesting future projects like Touch2Read 3.0 or 4.0.
During the launch, visually impaired students from IIUM participated in activities at FRIM's Dipterocarp Arboretum, where they learned about plant characteristics through touch and smell. Farhan Azkalwafa Sufyan, a 25-year-old TESL student, noted that these activities help visually impaired individuals identify and learn about plants using their senses of hearing and touch.
Commemorative posters were also presented to representatives from participating communities and organizations, including KL Braille Resources Sdn Bhd, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pendidikan Khas Setapak, the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), the National Library of Malaysia, and Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd.