Adapted classroom for visually impaired teacher
Indirect lighting in education
Jolanda: “As a partially sighted person you are constantly busy with lighting. In the classroom I can choose from five standard settings, two of which are specially pre-programmed by Loerakker upon installation. This gives me the most ideal lighting under all circumstances literally ‘under the button’.”
Jolanda works in special elementary education and has a congenital eye defect that makes her especially sensitive to “ordinary” lighting. “Especially bright light and reflections on light surfaces cause haze and fatigue,” she says. “When I’m on playground duty, I put on a cap and sunglasses. Of course, you can’t do that in the classroom. The classroom where I work is conveniently located by itself, not on the sunny side. So whenever possible I would turn off the old lights and close the blinds. That is not convenient at times when children have to work. Hence, another solution had to be found.”
Right to a workplace without additional visual stress
Jackie Nicholson, labor consultant with Visio, supervised the workplace process. She has specialized in fine-tuning workplaces for people with visual impairments for more than 20 years. “People who perform labor in a room all day have the right to be able to do their work with as few bells and whistles as possible. Visually impaired people already do all sorts of things to adapt themselves to their condition. Special frames, hats, turning off lights. Light affects visual functioning, which can affect visual load.”
Lighting, walls and floor
It was clear to Jolanda: her eyes benefited from rest. No glare, reflections, light pollution or flickering. The old fixtures in the classroom sometimes flickered – something that visually impaired people perceive more quickly and find distracting. The light distribution was also uneven, which made it extra tiring for Jolanda to keep an overview. Jackie: “In addition to the new lighting, we also gave advice on other disturbing factors in the room, such as the light walls and the floor that caused disturbance. For Jolanda, it is visually calmer if the walls and floor are a little darker. We also advised brightness protection in the form of (in between) curtains to filter the disturbing incident daylight.”
Lighting advice and realization
Based on Jackie’s analysis, Loerakker led line drew up a lighting plan with 11 dimmable L1 fixtures. These pendant fixtures provide only indirect light. Jackie: “The cooperation with the team is very good. Loerakker understands exactly what is needed and they think along: about dimensions, operation, color temperature and also take care of the installation themselves. With my advice I include Loerakker’s lighting plan and a visualization of what it will look like. They are certainly not obliged to go with Loerakker, it is a no-obligation advice, but there are few alternatives.”
Most beautiful classroom in the school
The new lighting has been hanging for several months now. Jolanda: “I am very satisfied. I have far fewer headaches and don’t get tired as quickly. The children also notice the difference: the light is soft, soothing and the atmosphere in the classroom has improved. The walls have a coffee color, the floor has a wood look and there are gray curtains.” Not only Jolanda, but her colleagues are also enthusiastic. “Strictly jealous they jokingly call my classroom ‘the living room.’ They hope I take another classroom next year, so they will all be redecorated.” she laughs.
Installed luminaires
Loerakker L1 – indirect, dimmable pendant luminaires (11 pieces). The lighting was reimbursed through the UWV, based on expert advice from Visio.