Winter 2008

President-elect Kirk Adams reads a braille version of Harry Potter to a visiting fifth-grade class

Every year, Seattle Lighthouse invites fifth graders from local elementary schools to come for a tour and learn firsthand about blindness, braille, and American Sign Language (ASL). Last year, the Lighthouse hosted a record of twenty school tours, and this year has already kicked into full gear.

Students get to participate in a variety of activities on their visit, including a simulated blindness exercise. Students are blindfolded and given small white canes; they then have to navigate around tables, chairs, and fellow classmates. The tour also consists of a walk through the Lighthouse machine shop; an assistive technology demonstration in the computer lab with an electronic voicing program and refreshable braille displays; and an opportunity to learn some ASL from Deaf-Blind Lighthouse employees. Additionally, students get to meet a guide dog and learn about guide dog etiquette.

Before their visit, each class is given a Braille is Beautiful kit designed to help sighted students understand braille as an important tool for literacy as they develop a broader perspective on blindness.

Quotes from students who toured Seattle Lighthouse capture the impact the visit had on them:

Thanks for taking us around the Lighthouse for the Blind! My favorite part was getting to meet [guide dog] Louie. It was amazing how Deng could type our names in braille! I also liked the talking computer. ─Sara, J.J. McGilvra Elementary

I absolutely loved the tour. You guys are amazing working with Boeing! The whole entire thing was amazing. Louie made everybody happy! The talking computer was the coolest thing ever. ─Cello, J.J. McGilvra Elementary

Thank you for the tour of the Lighthouse for the Blind. It is amazing that the blind people are so skilled at using a cane because when I was blindfolded and had to walk around the room, it was hard! I liked when we met Louie! ─Noah, John Muir Elementary

I just wanted to say thanks once again for giving us a chance to visit Seattle Lighthouse.  The children still talk about it and several are still practicing their braille! ─Marjorie Lamarre, teacher, John Muir Elementary

Receptionist Deng Kong braille students' names using a Perkins Brailler

I enjoy their questions ─ How do I know when it's safe to cross a street? What do I do for fun? Do I cry? Do I get sad? Things that are so much part of my daily life that I don't stop to think about them. ─Deng Kong, Receptionist

I really enjoy educating young people about the capabilities of blind people. My hope is that when they encounter someone who is blind in the future, they will realize and respect their abilities and see them as a person who would be interesting and fun to know. ─Nancy Swaney, Computer Training Lab Program Coordinator

I love their questions! Very interesting questions without any right or wrong answers. ­─Karen Park, Deaf-Blind Community Class Coordinator

For more information about our School Tour Program, please contact Development Assistant Keri Brent at (206) 436-2134 or via email at kbrent@seattlelh.org

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