On Monday morning Whitney and I caught a commuter train to Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region to visit the Lily Garden Child Care Center, a preschool and child care program that mixes classes up with kids with and without disabilities. The center is working on a new project this year that features guest authors who come to read to the kids. They thought it would be especially appropriate for me to read from a Braille version of Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound, and they were right. Our son Gus was in a program like this when he was three and four years old, so I felt right at home with the students. and, hey, I work part-time for Easter Seals, so I’m familiar with the work they do.
I’m the Interactive Community Coordinator at Easter Seals Headquarters in downtown Chicago. That’s a fancy-schmancy title that means I moderate the Easter Seals and Autism Blog. I keep my ear open for articles and events involving autism, then ask spokespeople at Easter Seals affiliates across the country to write blog posts about those things. They email the posts to me, I edit them and add html code, and, presto! Their posts get published on the Easter Seals blog.
Come to think of it, You have Easter Seals to thank — or blame — for this Safe & Sound blog — it was at Easter Seals that I learned to use the blogging tools. I wrote about our trip to the child development center Monday for a post on the Easter Seals and Autism blog — thought you all might like to read an excerpt from that post here, too:
I’m sure some of the kids at the Lily Garden Child Care Center had autism, but truth is, without being able to see them, I couldn’t tell. Some were scared of Whitney, some couldn’t stop petting her, others gave her kisses. Some seemed shy, others went on and on and on and on and on and on about their own dog at home. Which were symptoms of autism, and which were symptoms of … well … childhood? Who knew? All we did know is that something different was happening in the room today, and that we were all having fun.
A big thank you to the folks at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region for inviting Whitney and me out to their child development center on Monday. We had a ball!
Beth, I just wanted to let you know that the photo you posted is just about the best and brightest photo I’ve seen yet of one of your Seeing Eye companions. It’s one of those accidentally perfect, accidentally professional, award winning photos. The boy in the photo is perfectly beautiful, smiling broadly, and he’s wearing bright blue glasses and a bright, yellow shirt. Whitney’s face is aligned right next to his in the background, and she looks like she’s whispering in the boy’s ear, while the boy is holding her collar. Even the yellowish carpet they’re both lying on is the perfect blend of yellows and browns to complement the boy and Whitney. Just really wanted to describe the photo to you. Hope it appears elsewhere.
The photo was taken with someone’s phone, I think! Your description of this beautiful boy with Whitney is so vivid, so colorful and oh, so appreciated. THANK YOU, Francine.
Beth,
My thought about thanks. You enrich the lives of everyone you come in contact with and I thank you.
Hugs,
Barbara
Well, Barbara, you *hug* just about everyone you come in contact with, and believe you me, we appreciate that, too. THANK you.
Hi Beth. As it gets warmer in Wisconsin, I pause to think about my old guide dog Ginger on the first warm days of spring. I had a big field behind my apartment, and she obviously believed that it was just there for her. Oh yes, the reason I was there was to let her practice her blocking skills. It is amazing how much force a seventy pound lab accumulates at a dead run, and how hard you need to brace yourself as you hear her runing full tilt at you. This has nothing to do with the children and Easter Seals, but I remember how much fun kids had with her too.
Blocking skills?!
I love Dave’s description of the lab running at full tilt! And a great shot too. Sounds like a fun time was had by all.
Yes, especially by moi.
once again, the power of the dog…..always amazes me. Those kids must have been in heaven
What an awesome experience. Our girl scout troop had a great opportunity to invite Donna and her dog Farlow, to one of our meetings. Donna works at the DC headquarters of Easter Seals, and I privileged to know her and work with her.
This was such a profound experience for the girls who at the time were 6 and 7. I and most parents thought that Farlow would be the biggest hit, and warned Donna not to get too offended if she was passed on for an opportunity to pet her beautiful dog. To all of our surprise, Donna was the hit!!! The girls were so fascinated by her story, her courage, and her everyday life that the session went on for quite some time. Of course they also LOVED Farlow, and who wouldn’t?
They all went home to share their experience with their parents and we got numerous e-mails about what a great opportunity it was. One mother shared with us that while listening to this story, she told her daughter “How sad that Donna cannot see”, yet her daughter replied, “Mom don’t be sad, Donna is totally fine and she is able to do anything”. The Mom was taught something that day too.
The girls who are now a year older, still ask about Donna and Farlow, and I believe will be champions for people with disabilities because of this great experience. Thank you for doing this outreach, I know it makes a big difference.
To other blog readers: Donna Smith is the Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with Easter Seals Project ACTION in DC, and though I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Donna face-to-face (she works in the DC Easter Seals office and I work in the Chicago one) she has been very helpful to me over the years via email – she shared a note she wrote to co-workers when she brought a brand new Seeing Eye dog into the office and gave me permission to “re-purpose” it when I came back with Harper last year, she’s helped me figure out how to use screen-reading software to fill out official Easter Seals forms and so on.
I am not at all surprised to hear Donna was a hit with your Girl Scouts, and I absolutely *love* that one Scout was able to teach her mother something after Donna’s visit. I bet that girl was proud.
And btw, I couldn’t agree more – “Donna is totally fine and she is able to do anything.”
Leave a Response