Summer 2005

George Jacobson, Lighthouse President

Any way you choose to measure it, our annual Deaf-Blind retreat is a resounding success. Dozens of Deaf-Blind people from around the country converge on the Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal the last week in August. They enjoy a week where every activity, workshop, meal, and casual conversation is accessible to them; where communication works easily and smoothly. This stands in stark contrast to the every day reality many Deaf-Blind attendees contend with the other fifty-one weeks of the year.

There are three key factors leading to this success.

• Lighthouse staff. Our staff possesses unmatched expertise and experience in creating accessible programs for people who are Deaf-Blind. Hundreds of hours of preparation and planning precede the retreat. Approximately twenty highly skilled Lighthouse staff members are on hand during the week of the retreat to insure accessibility and effective communication.
• Community support. Although Deaf-Blind attendees are asked to pay a fee for the retreat, this does not cover the full cost of administering the program. We must raise just over $900 for each Deaf-Blind person who attends. This amounts to about $60,000 in support from foundations, corporations, service clubs, and individuals each year.
• Volunteers. One of the most amazing aspects of the retreat from my perspective is the participation of volunteers. Over 100 volunteers, skilled in sign language and in working with Deaf-Blind people, donate their time during the retreat. Although about half live in the Puget Sound area, the rest pay their own way, many using personal vacation time, to volunteer at our retreat.

The total value of donated interpreting time exceeds $180,000 for the week. Without these talented, dedicated, and generous individuals, the retreat simply could not happen.

A few excerpts from evaluation forms filled out by volunteers will give you some idea of how special these individuals are, and consequently, what a tremendous event our annual Deaf-Blind retreat truly is.

It was my first year. I enjoyed meeting many wonderful people. Lots of great activities for campers!

The staff were so warm and friendly and helpful and all the Deaf-Blind campers and [volunteers] really worked to be here and have fun! Everyone is from all over the U.S. and Canada and it was fun to exchange stories...

What a fabulous environment for fun and learning and love to grow!

Mere words cannot express our gratitude for the hundreds of volunteer hours which make our retreat possible. Suffice it to say that all of us here at the Lighthouse and all of the Deaf-Blind people who attend the retreat thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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