Vol. 10 No. 3 — Summer 2009

Get Ready for the 31st Annual
Deaf-Blind Retreat!

Participants of the 2008 Deaf-Blind Retreat at Seabeck, WA

This year marks our 31st year of providing inspiration, hope, and connection at our Deaf-Blind Retreat in Seabeck, WA.  This retreat is more than just a week of fun and relaxation — it is an entry into a whole new world!  While everyday life presents barriers for Deaf-Blind individuals, the retreat offers a welcoming community of peers and friends who truly understand the experience of living with a dual disability.  For many, the retreat marks the beginning of a whole new life of choices and possibilities, engaged in a community that cares. 

Our week-long retreat provides Deaf-Blind people with an opportunity to learn new skills towards independence, network with service providers, and establishing friendships that provide peer support throughout the year. The retreat is a vital part of the Lighthouse’s mission to serve the needs of our region’s Deaf-Blind community. While everyday life limits Deaf-Blind people’s access to education, the retreat offers opportunities to learn new skills, experience the latest technology, and gain newfound independence.

Our 31st Annual Deaf-Blind Retreat will be held Sunday, August 23rd to Saturday, August 29th. Over 90 Deaf-Blind adults will attend the retreat this year, supported by over 140 sign language interpreting volunteers. Participants come from near and far to attend the retreat, with half of those registered for the event traveling from across the country and across the globe. This year we will be joined by groups from Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Several groups are making the journey from even farther - including individuals from Holland, England, and many parts of Canada. Other retreat participants are individuals from the Deaf-Blind community in the Puget Sound region.

The Orientation and Mobility team educates 2008 retreat participants on the latest in assistive technologies

The theme of this year’s retreat — “Kick it Up” — is a perfect description of the week’s energy and activities. Scheduled activities this year include adaptive technology displays and workshops, Usher’s Syndrome support groups, and green workshops and exhibits. We will also hold GPS (Global Positioning System) workshops and trainings, demonstrating the ability of the locators to be integrated into a navigation-assistance system designed specifically for Deaf-Blind individuals, providing directions in braille and increasing travel independence.

Recreational activities include yoga classes, tai chi, cooking classes, arts and crafts workshops, tandem bicycle riding, boat tours, a mechanical bull, bumper boats, motorcycle riding and much, much more. Retreat guests can also look forward to the annual salmon bake, line dancing and casino games, and bowling. Retreat guests can choose to join any of several field trips during the week, including a visit to the local mall, a tour of the state park, and a visit to the Kitsap County Fair. These are just some of the activities that participants will enjoy during the retreat — activities that otherwise would be difficult to participate in or unavailable in everyday life, made possible by the excellent caliber of volunteers that make the activities possible.

As has become tradition, this year the retreat will end with the annual dance party, catered by a DJ who chooses music based on the vibrations it creates on the dance floor, allowing guests to feel the music. But, most importantly, between the activities and workshops there is time for laughter, mischief, and connection with a community of peers and friends that truly understand and care.

You can help make the retreat happen this year!

Living in a world that isn’t designed for them can be tremendously stressful and isolating for Deaf-Blind individuals. This is why our retreat is so important! The retreat provides a week of total access, networking, and information that is often inaccessible in daily life.

Your donation goes directly to covering crucial costs at this year’s retreat — giving Deaf-Blind adults an exceptional and unique opportunity to take part in a life-changing experience. Your gift will help provide something so special and rare for Deaf-Blind individuals: a week without barriers. We are grateful to have the support of volunteer interpreters and guides at the retreat, but we still must raise funds to cover essential costs including transportation, meals, braille materials, and activities.

To make your gift in support of the Deaf-Blind retreat, click here.

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