Cody uses a screen reader like mine. He interviewed me in Little Rock for a high school project.
A wonderful thing happened after the presentation Hanni and I gave at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, yesterday.
Actually, a lot of wonderful things have been happening since Hanni and I arrived in Little Rock on Wednesday. We’re here thanks to a grant put together by two powerhouse women: Bronwyn Palmer works with the State of Arkansas Post-school Outcome Intervention for Special Education, and Kathleen Pate is the Education Specialist at the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.
Since we arrived Wednesday night, Hanni and I have been talking to groups of teachers, parents and schoolkids. Our biggest event was yesterday, when the kids from the Arkansas School for the Blind paired up with the kids from Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School to hear my presentation at the Clinton Library. After my talk, the kids lined up to get a copy of Safe & Sound. Bronwyn had ordered copies of Safe & Sound in print/Braille, too, from Seedlings for the kids from Arkansas School for the Blind. In the print/Braille version, Braille words appear directly under the printed words, and there are no illustrations. It was a thrill to sign my name in Braille for those kids. Two of them – Taylor and Chevy – sat at my side for a while, helping me rubber stamp Hanni’s paw into each copy.
There were almost 250 kids there from MLK, Jr. Elementary, and towards the end of the signing, Bronwyn realized we were running out of print copies. She did have a number of Braille copies left, though, so she made an announcement. “Everyone left in line can make a decision – you can have a print copy with pictures, or a print copy with Braille.”
Wow. This was a tough one. The sighted kids knew the illustrations are pretty, but they’d seen the kids from the School for the Blind reading Braille, and they thought that was cool. I sensed these kids standing on one leg, then on the other, trying to decide. And then, one by one, the Braille copies were slapped on the table for me to sign. Now, not every sighted kid towards the end of the line chose Braille, but many, many of them did.
It was awesome.
I’d write more but have to get ready now for an outdoor festival to culminate our time in Little Rock. I really like it here. Hanni does, too. Little Rock rocks!
Wow Beth –
Sounds like a blast! My cousin David lives in Arkansas… *smile*
I haven’t visited yet. How was the weather? Are you liking the weather in Chicago? I love autumn. It is my absolute favorite season along with the month of October. Too bad I’m a June baby. I strive in the fall. It’ll be even better when the snow comes. Course, I don’t know how Jim guides in the snow. I still have yet to pick up his booties. I don’t know when they’re going to be in.
Hope you’re enjoying fall like I am.
Take care,
Sarah & Jim
Sarah,
Eager to find out how Jim takes to booties this winter – Hanni did not like them AT ALL. They were especially problematic when she was trying to get down the stairs at the el. I go underground at State Street and come up the other side –my clever way to avoid the traffic. It wasn’t so clever, though, the one day a few winters ago when Hanni wore her booties – she couldn’t coordinate her four legs well enough to traverse stairs with those things on. I ended up taking them off her then, haven’t used them since.
PS: I’m like you, Fall is my favorite season.
What a wonderful grant project! Did the students read their books together (sighted and finger readers)? I also liked Little Rock when I visited there for a conference- must be over ten years ago.
Not sure if the kids read the books together — after I signed each book, the kids from MLK, JR. were whisked away outside to picnic with the other kids. After that, they toured the Clinton Library together — there is a special exhibit there now about motorcycles (I guess Bill Clinton liked motorcycles? Who knew?!) and the blind kids got to touch the motorcycles in the exhibit. The kids were so busy I have a feeling they didn’t get a chance to sit down and read “Safe & Sound” until they got home…!
And you’re right: it was a very cool grant.
Hi Beth,
Actually I am one of the students from the Arkansas school for the blind that met you that day. I just happened to see this so I decided to comment. So how is Hanni? I’m going to get off the computer and by the way that was a pretty good book.
Brandi – how cool that you found my blog! I remember you from the school — you like to write, don’t you?
Yes I’m actually starting a story right now. Have you ever read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer? It is really good. You should read it if you haven’t. I will send you what I have written if you want me to.
Oh, I’m so glad you are writig. Tell me more about what it is you are working on, I’ll let you know whether to send it my way so i can take a look. Okay, I mean a listen!
Welll I’m really not sure where I’m going with it but it’s kind of a mystery. The prologue is kind of telling a later on part in the book and the beginning is of this girl named Sophia and it’s in her perspective. She is remembering the dream she had the other night and it tells about her life. I don’t very much written though.
A mystery? Sounds intriguing! Think I’ll wait to read it until you have most of it written, though — I wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises!
Beth it is so wonderful to see that Brandi found your blog. She is serious about writing. I am working on the draft of the students writing. I will keep you informed of the progress. Thank you for coming to Little Rock.
Are you kidding? Thank you for *bringing* me to Little Rock, Bronwyn. Hanni and I both loved our time there, and we hope to come back someday.
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