Just a few hundred metres from Zollikofen railway station, the urban bustle gives way to rural tranquillity. Surrounded by old trees, lush greenery and the rustling of the nearby forest, the school grounds almost seem to be a little cosmos of their own.

The buildings are functional, modern, warm and made with lots of wood. There are tactile guidance systems, along with plenty of space. The school is situated on a small hill. Here, weather permitting, there is a clear view across the Swiss Plateau, all the way to the Alps: breadth and openness that many of the pupils cannot see, but hopefully feel.

The portrait photos greeting visitors at the entrance already show that ‘Zollikofen’ is more than just a school for the blind. “The children and young people either cannot see, can see only a little or perceive things differently,” says principal Carmelina Castellino. “Many are on the autism spectrum or have additional disabilities.”

Around a quarter of the approximately 110 pupils are sight-impaired or blind, and about half have multiple disabilities. Thanks to medical advances, fewer people are completely blind today, so the school has repeatedly tried to come up with a new name – so far without success. Among experts, it is simply referred to as ‘Zollikofen’. “I think ‘special school’ actually sums it up quite well,” says Castellino with a smile.

One special feature, for example, is that children and youths are also cared for before and after their compulsory schooling: “We support them from birth and into early adulthood,” says Castellino. Children are assessed by educational counselling services before they are even old enough to start school. Depending on the outcome, they might attend ordinary school at their place of residence and receive any necessary support from Zollikofen – up to and including so-called ‘full assistance’. Around 300 children rely on this support.

If a child cannot be integrated, they attend the Zollikofen school – either temporarily or permanently. Around a quarter of the pupils live in one of four residential groups on campus during the week. After compulsory schooling, off-site shared flats in the Zollikofen area make the transition to independent living easier – with support, but also with a lot of personal responsibility.

All services, from early remedial education to full-time school and all the way through to assisted living, are based on Curriculum 21 and supplemented by specific aids, such as Braille displays, speech software and tactile teaching. Small classes with four to seven pupils enable targeted individual support.

A total of 260 staff work for the institution, which is run by a foundation. Financed by cantonal contributions and supported by donations, the foundation relies on and provides diverse support. “Diversity as a strength,” points out Castellino, who has been running the school for five years, “along with a family atmosphere, short distances, lots of creative freedom and meaningful activities – that’s what makes us special.”

The predecessor of this modern school was Privat-Blindenanstalt Bern – a private home for the blind, founded in 1837. Over the course of its nearly 190-year history, Switzerland’s oldest school for the blind has moved several times: from Bern’s Speichergasse to Köniz Castle, then to the former Hotel Faulenseebad in Spiez, and finally, in 1961, to the newly constructed school building in Zollikofen.

Since then, the school has evolved into a centre of excellence for special educational needs and visual impairment support. As a result, the school today is more than ‘just’ a school for the blind, and indeed more than ‘just’ a school: One of the highlights on its campus is ‘anders sehen’, otherwise known as the Swiss Museum of Blindness. Its name ‘anders sehen’ means ‘seeing differently’ – which is what it is all about. Awarded a special commendation by the European Museum Forum, it provides an insight into the world of visually impaired people.

Inside the striking red wooden building that houses the museum, visitors experience a dark room, audio installations, tactile objects and historical exhibits. Castellino describes ‘her’ museum as “a fascinating place of learning that not only imparts knowledge, but also offers sensory discoveries and practical experience.”

The museum is not the only public attraction: Young people can gain their first work experience by serving in the bistro, while adapted games and books can be borrowed free of charge from the games library. “We also offer fascinating workshops for school classes, companies and professionals,” says Castellino.

To be open, to break down barriers, and to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities in the interests of an inclusive society – the school for the blind has made all of this its mission. This too makes ‘Zollikofen’ a very special school.  

The school’s website uses stories and pictures to offer fascinating insight into its history and values, as well as into everyday school life. It also tells you more about the bistro, the games library and ‘anders sehen’ – the Swiss Museum of Blindness. Guided tours, workshops and team events can be booked directly: blindenschule.ch.