1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,840 Welcome back everyone. Today we're taking a deep dive into the Nicholas Flige Foundation in Germany. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:07,560 A fascinating organization. 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:15,200 Definitely. I mean, we're talking almost two centuries of history here, all starting back in 1827, with an educator and a young boy. 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,800 Ah, yes. Gottlieb Friedrich Wagner and that young boy who wanted to learn. 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:27,280 Exactly. It seems like this Wagner really set things in motion for how we think about supporting visually impaired people, even today. 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:33,760 Absolutely. I mean, think about it back then. Blindness was often seen as, well, a complete tragedy. A dead end. 7 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,120 Right. A reason to be pitied. 8 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:44,720 Yeah. But Wagner saw an opportunity. He realized these weren't just isolated cases. It was the societal issue that needed a real solution. 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,200 So instead of just offering charity, he wanted to create lasting change. 10 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:54,120 Exactly. And he did. But what's really remarkable is that he was able to get support from some pretty influential people. 11 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,880 You're talking about Tsar Nicholas's daughter, right? Olga Nicola Juna. 12 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:03,120 Her? Can you imagine the impact of a Tsar's daughter championing this cause in the mid-1800s? 13 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,920 That's huge. To go from being ignored to having someone with that much influence on your side. 14 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:14,040 Exactly. And that's how Nicholas Fleej, her blind kinder, was born. Named in honor of her father, no less. 15 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,760 1856, that's the official start date, right? With royal backing and all? 16 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:24,640 It was. Although, I'm guessing even with powerful friends, running an organization is never easy. Especially in those days. 17 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,480 So what happened? Did things go smoothly at first? 18 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:35,640 Well, let's just say Wagner was a visionary, not so much a manager. He had the passion, but maybe not the organizational skills. 19 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,280 Ah, the classic heart in the right place, head in the clouds scenario. 20 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:47,240 You could say that. Luckily, in 1858, Christian Sackman stepped in to lead, and he brought a new perspective with him. 21 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,960 I read that he was all about practical skills. What did that look like back then? 22 00:01:50,960 --> 00:02:00,200 Think basket weaving, chair caning, even printing. Sackman understood that for people to be truly independent, they needed skills that could lead to employment. 23 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:07,760 Wow. That's incredibly forward thinking for the mid-19th century. It seems like he really set the stage for how we view inclusion today. 24 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:16,160 Absolutely. And it wasn't just him. Theodore Decker, one of his successors, continued to build upon those foundations in the early 1900s. 25 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,480 That's when they moved to the Crerwell facility, right? 26 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:26,280 The very same. It's still their main hub today. They needed more space, which tells you how much the demand for their services was growing. 27 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:34,840 Makes sense. We often think of history in these broad strokes, but you're right, this wasn't just about one man's vision. It was about filling a real need in society. 28 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:44,120 Exactly. And Nicholas Slazier was doing that in a way that was constantly evolving. Even back then, they understood the importance of adapting to the changing times. 29 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:54,720 So true. But I think what's fascinating is that this organization has managed to thrive for so long. It's not just a relic of the past, it's still going strong in the 21st century. 30 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,440 It really is remarkable. And I think a lot of that has to do with these seven guiding principles they operate on. 31 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:10,080 Right, those principles. I was curious about those. It's easy to throw words on a website, but how do they actually play out in the day-to-day work of such a large organization? 32 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:16,920 They really stuck out to me. I mean, it's one thing to talk about individual well-being or lifelong learning as abstract ideas, 33 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:22,880 but how do they actually make those things a reality for the people they work with? That's what I'm really curious about. 34 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:31,880 Right, well, let's take that lifelong learning principle, for example. It's not just about, say, offering a bunch of courses for visually impaired people to take. 35 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:32,680 I see. 36 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,400 Nicholas Liege actually invests a lot in making sure their own staff are constantly learning too. 37 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,840 Interesting. So it's not just about the clients, it's about the whole organization embracing that idea. 38 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,920 Exactly. They even have their own academy dedicated to professional development for their staff. 39 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,880 Wow, their own academy. That's impressive. I mean, that shows real commitment. 40 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:57,960 Oh, absolutely. And it speaks to their dedication to quality, which reminds me they're also really interesting in how they handle funding. 41 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,000 Oh, how so? 42 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,120 Well, they do rely on public funding, of course. 43 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:03,040 Yeah, makes sense. 44 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:12,640 But they're not afraid to go above and beyond that. They actively fundraise and advocate for more support because they don't want to be limited by just the bare minimum. 45 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,680 I see. So it's about having the freedom to do more, to be more innovative. 46 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:26,360 Exactly. And that ties directly back to their commitment to offering the highest quality of work possible, which is another one of their guiding principles. 47 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:34,120 Right, high quality of work. It's a nice phrase, but what does that actually look like across such a diverse organization? 48 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:43,000 Well, it definitely varies depending on what we're talking about. There are specialized schools, for example. They measure quality in academic achievement, of course. 49 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:44,000 Makes sense. 50 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,400 But also in how well those students are prepared for life beyond school. 51 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,680 Ah, the social and personal aspects. 52 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:57,520 Exactly. And then you look at their vocational training programs, where success is measured by, you know, job placement rates. 53 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,760 How well those graduates are able to build careers and be independent. 54 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:05,080 So it's about tailoring those metrics to each specific area of their work. 55 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,880 Precisely. And we can't forget about their assistive technology programs. 56 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,960 Oh, right. That must be such a constantly evolving field to work in. 57 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:19,840 It really is. They're not just providing access to the latest devices, but also really focusing on training and support. 58 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,520 So people can actually use those tools effectively. 59 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:27,920 It's one thing to have the technology, but it's another thing entirely to know how to use it to its full potential. 60 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:37,000 Absolutely. In fact, they were one of the first organizations to adopt a really revolutionary tactile graphics printer. 61 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:42,920 It allows them to create Braille textbooks and tactile maps, like on demand. 62 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,600 Wow. It's been huge, especially for students. 63 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,320 That's incredible. It seems like they're always looking for those cutting edge solutions. 64 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:55,280 Absolutely. And that brings us to their new school building project, which is another perfect example of their forward thinking approach. 65 00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:01,160 Right. The new facility for the Betty Hirsch Schultz Centrum. I was wondering about that. What makes it so special? 66 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,320 Well, it's not just about having a newer, bigger space, though that's important too, of course. 67 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:13,400 It's really about creating a truly 21st century learning environment that's specifically designed for visually impaired students. 68 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,880 So they're really thinking about accessibility and integrating technology right from the start. 69 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:24,840 Exactly. They're not just trying to keep up with the times. They're trying to stay ahead of the curve, which is really admirable. 70 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:33,960 It is. But you know, for as impressive as all of this is, it's important to remember that behind all the programs and the buildings and the technology, 71 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,360 there are real people whose lives are being directly impacted. 72 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:38,280 Absolutely. 73 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:43,480 I mean, we've talked a lot about the organizational side of things, but I'd love to hear more about those personal stories. 74 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:50,440 Yeah, for sure. There were definitely a few that really stood out to me while I was reading through the materials for this deep dive. 75 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,640 Oh, really? What were some of the things that resonated with you? 76 00:06:53,640 --> 00:07:03,960 Well, there was this one quote from a mother. She was talking about how a counselor at Nichols Flage really helped her family understand what was going on with her child. 77 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:12,320 Oh, that's so important. I mean, it's one thing to get a diagnosis from a doctor, but it's another thing entirely to actually process what that means for your family. 78 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:22,880 Exactly. And she was saying how the counselor actually took the time to explain all the technical stuff in a way that made sense and just really listened to her fears and anxieties. 79 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,440 That human connection can make all the difference. 80 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:40,720 It really can. And it's not just about the initial diagnosis either. There's another story. This one was from a father, and he was talking about how Nicholas Flage had helped his daughter, who has a severe visual impairment, to become much more independent. 81 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,480 Oh, that's wonderful. What kind of support did they provide? 82 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:49,800 Well, it sounds like she was able to get the training and resources she needed to, you know, just live her life on her own terms. 83 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:56,440 That's amazing to see your child thrive like that, especially when they're facing those kinds of challenges. That must be such a gift. 84 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:06,880 It must be. And it really speaks to the holistic approach that Nicholas Flage takes. You know, they're not just focused on one aspect of a person's life. They're looking at the whole picture. 85 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:12,800 Right. It's about empowering people to reach their full potential, whatever that might look like for them. 86 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:21,760 Exactly. And in doing so, they're not just changing the lives of individuals with visual impairments. They're changing families and communities as well. 87 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:28,920 It's incredible to think how much progress has been made since Nicholas Flage was founded, especially with all the advancements in technology. 88 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:37,000 I mean, we take things like screen readers for granted, but those tools have completely revolutionized what's possible for visually impaired people. 89 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:45,280 Oh, absolutely. And we're only just scratching the surface, really. I mean, think about the potential of artificial intelligence and all the other emerging technologies out there. 90 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:51,280 It's an exciting time to be alive, that's for sure. But of course, with every new technology come new challenges. 91 00:08:51,280 --> 00:09:01,040 Very true. Like, how do we ensure that everyone has equal access to these tools? And what about privacy concerns? Those are big questions that we need to be thinking about carefully. 92 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:10,600 Right. And we can't forget about the social barriers that still exist. Technology can only take us so far, you know, we also need to be working to change attitudes and perceptions. 93 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:17,560 Absolutely. It's about creating a world where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their visual ability. 94 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:31,400 Well said. So as we wrap up this deep dive into Nicolas Fleige, I'm left wondering, what can our listeners do to be a part of this change? How can they contribute to a more inclusive world? 95 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:41,760 That's a great question. I think it starts with awareness, you know, educating ourselves and others about the challenges that visually impaired people face, but also celebrating their achievements and contributions. 96 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:46,560 Right. It's about recognizing that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. 97 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:56,080 And it's about action too, supporting organizations like Nicolas Fleige, advocating for accessible design in our communities and just being more mindful of the language we use and the assumptions we make. 98 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:02,120 Those are all great suggestions. It's about taking those small, everyday actions that can collectively make a big difference. 99 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:09,880 Absolutely. It's about recognizing that we all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone. 100 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:17,680 Couldn't agree more. Well, on that note, I want to thank you so much for joining me on this fascinating deep dive into Nicolas Fleige. 101 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:19,960 It's been a pleasure learning alongside you today. 102 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:25,920 It's been my pleasure as well. It's always inspiring to see organizations like this making a real difference in the world. 103 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:32,360 To our listeners, thank you for tuning in. We hope you'll join us next time for another deep dive into a topic that matters. 104 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,160 Until then, be well, everyone.