Louis Braille School

To some, Valentines Day is a day of romance. To others, it is a day of just the ordinary. The Seattle Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Group and members of the Delta Gamma sorority at the University of Washington made Valentines Day extraordinary for the children at Louis Braille School by presenting them with valentines that are truly a work of art.

As I write this article, I have before me one of the large valentines that were made with love and care. I feel a variety of textures. I happen to love things with texture. I especially love the fluted borders on the edges of the large sheet of heavy paper on which the valentine was made.

The valentine is filled with an enticing variety of textures that encourages me to explore further. I feel hearts on the card made of items such as pasta, sandpaper, and embossed paper. Rice is also used for texture, and even faux fur. Sound is included with a string of jingle bells that trims one side of the card.

Because at one time I could see color, I keep asking a co-worker, “What color is this?” I  love the red traditionally used for valentines and the shades of blue.

The DGs didn’t miss a thing. What a unique treat they prepared for those whose eyes do not see.

The technique used for these valentines could be adapted to all sorts of occasions. What a difference a card made with such loving care could make for someone! The card will keep on living long after the event has passed.

For more about Delta Gamma and its philanthropic focus on sight conservation and aid to the blind, visit www.seattledg.com

Curley Cooke and Annette Tayborn of Blues in the Schools returned to the Louis Braille School for a rousing, interactive performance. Curley sang and played his guitar. Annette backed him up with vocals and her blues-harmonica.

Joining Louis Braille School students for the performance was Ms.Hogue’s second-grade class from Maplewood Elementary School in Edmonds

Curley talked to the children about harmony. He asked the students what harmony meant to them, and they gave answers such as “not fighting, living in peace, and getting along.” Curley then related these fine definitions of harmony to music. He played the guitar and, using the strings, gave samples of both harmonious and dissonant sounds.

Curley and Annette also taught what they called “sing and response.” This is where Annette would sing and the children would then sing back the same words. One song the children particularly enjoyed was “Moon Don’t Go.”

The children enjoyed learning that they, too, could easily write blues songs. Curley explained that song writing is easy for almost anyone and encouraged them make up words while he played his guitar.

The foot-stamping, clapping, rousing performance ended with a request from the audience for “Hound Dog,” a song made popular in the 1950s by Elvis Presley. That brought the house down!!

Truly it was a day for all to remember. The blues can make you happy.

On December 12, 2007, KIRO Radio reporter Heather Bosch arrived at the Louis Braille School. She came to do a holiday story about children who are blind or visually impaired and how they experience Christmas.

Heather began her interview with staff member Janie Kimber and her guide dog Tammy. Janie shared childhood Christmas memories. She eloquently explained that she doesn’t miss out because she can’t see with her eyes, that she can see in other ways; she can smell things, she can hear things, she can feel things, and she can see with her spirit.

Heather then turned her attention to the students and found them making Christmas gifts for their parents. The children were intrigued with her big microphone. When they learned she was from a radio station, a young boy exclaimed, “I love the radio!”

The piece aired December 21 on KIRO’s morning and evening newscasts and is currently a podcast on the radio station’s website, www.KIRO710.com, as well as at the end of this post.

710 KIRO Radio, an affiliate of CBS Radio News, is based in Seattle, Washington. It is heard around the world via its network satellite facility and internet audio streaming capability.

Click to listen to “Seeing Christmas”
This is a 2.97 MB mp3 file of about 2 minutes.

On December 7, 2007, four children from the Shoreline YMCA Older Kids Club visited the Louis Braille School. It was a professional development day for the public schools and the children had a free day.

Sabrina, Emma, Jordyn, and Taylor accompanied YMCA staff member Maura Parkhurst. The children range in age from 9 years to 11 years old. The Older Kids Club was formed to create opportunities for the 4th through 6th graders at the YMCA to get off site and involved in the community.

The gift of their time and craft supplies when combined with the creativity of our students produced several lovely wreaths for their parents. When Maura asked our students if they would like the girls to come back again some day, one of our students replied, “No. I want you to come back tomorrow.”

Thank you YMCA Older Kids Club!

As they were leaving, our new friends from the YMCA offered to return and help us improve our back yard and play area. They have some ideas to make it more appealing and user friendly. The Louis Braille School is delighted to have made such wonderful new friends.

We are taking advantage of the lovely fall days for outside O&M (Orientation and Mobility) practice. O&M includes the art of getting around efficiently, safely, and independently using a white cane.Students participate in regular one-on-one sessions in a public area where they learn to listen carefully to the surroundings and to distinguish with their canes features such as curbs, steps, and cracks.

In addition, we use traffic cones and rope to set up “obstacle courses” in the play area behind the school. The course changes from day to day.

Another helpful tool is a portable battery-powered “beeper box.” This box emits a steady beeping sound. The student navigates toward the direction of the sound, thus honing his sense of hearing and direction.