Majka Reviľáková and Michaela Vlasáková are the founders of ALKA—a Slovak initiative that supports children with specific needs, their families, and the broader community in creating inclusive spaces. Michaela is also the mother of a son, Riško, who has autism.
What began as a pilot project bringing assistants into classrooms evolved into a broader community-based initiative, with a strong focus on building understanding, friendships, and empathy. In the following segment, you’ll hear how the idea of “an assistant as a kind friend” transformed into a symbol of authentic and compassionate support within a public life in Košice.
On April 30, the interactive exhibition „Zmysel to má aj bez zmyslov“ or No sense doesn’t mean nonsense opened in Skalica. Its aim is to introduce children and their parents to the lives and experiences of children with disabilities. The traveling exhibition was created in cooperation with BIBIANA (the International House of Art for Children), and visitors have already experienced it in more than 28 towns across Slovakia. In Skalica, the exhibition is curated by Soňa Spáčilová, who told me more about it.
Spáčilová: For example, children without disabilities can use sound-blocking headphones to get a sense of what it’s like to live with hearing loss. They can also try to put themselves in the shoes of someone with visual impairment by wearing a blindfold and navigating with a white cane. The exhibition also includes books in Braille and tactile books.
There is also a wheelchair and crutches on display, representing physical disabilities. According to Soňa Spáčilová, these objects often evoke strong emotional responses and help raise awareness about the obstacles faced by people who use these aids. Visitors will also find many books featuring protagonists with disabilities, helping both children and adults understand and appreciate the diversity of different life experiences. These books were a favorite of the curator’s daughter, Soňa Spáčilová’s child.
Spáčilová: She was most drawn to the books and ran straight to them. She especially explored the tactile books, which most children don’t typically have access to. These books engage the senses and offer people a new perspective. I see this exhibition as a way of opening the door to other worlds and bringing this kind of diversity closer to people who may not have encountered it before.
Inclusivity Máte problém s prehrávaním? Nahláste nám chybu v prehrávači.
The exhibition „Zmysel to má aj bez zmyslov“ will remain open in Skalica until July 7, 2025.
