A special Easter egg hunt for sight-impaired youth and their families is set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 12 at the Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St.
Legacy West Pioneers (Washington Chapter), a dedicated community service group formed by former telecommunications professionals, organized the event.
“Creating opportunities for sight-impaired youth to celebrate their abilities is crucial,” said Marian Wilcox, president of the Washington Chapter of Legacy West Pioneers, in an April 9 press release. “Our Easter Egg Hunt aims to provide a fun and inclusive environment that empowers these young individuals to embrace their unique talents. By uniting families, guide-dogs, and the community, we foster a sense of belonging and confidence. We recognize and celebrate the strengths and potential of every child, showing them that their differences are indeed their superpowers.”
Event highlights:
• Beeping Easter eggs: Sight-impaired children will use their hearing to find specially engineered Easter eggs that emit distinctive beeping sounds. These eggs, equipped with electronic circuit boards, batteries, and telephone speakers, bring the joy of an Easter egg hunt to life.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind: Washington State Puppy Raisers bring their guide-dogs-in-training to interact with participants, providing valuable socialization for the dogs and a joyful experience for the youth.
• Family inclusion: The event is open to the entire family, including parents, guardians, and sighted siblings of the sight-impaired youth. There will be a separate Easter egg hunt for the sighted siblings to ensure everyone can participate and have fun.
“Washington State Puppy Raisers are excited to participate in the Beeping Easter Egg Hunt, as it aligns with our mission to help people who are blind or visually impaired gain greater independence, confidence, and inclusion,” said Robin Roselle, volunteer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. “Our K9 Buddy Program exemplifies the remarkable difference a dog can make in fostering a sense of caring, companionship, and responsibility. Guide Dogs for the Blind offer K9 Buddies and Guide Dogs for the Blind free of charge and are always looking for more volunteers.”
Timeline of events:
• 10-11 a.m.: Social time with refreshments, including gluten-free options. Families can mingle and interact with guide dogs and their trainers.
• 10:10 a.m.: Opening remarks by Marian Wilcox, President of the Washington Chapter of Legacy West Pioneers.
• 11 a.m.: Easter egg hunt begins for both sighted siblings and sight-impaired children.
• 12 p.m.: Event concludes. Families will receive Family Easter Gift Bags as they leave.
The Legacy West Pioneers consist of 6,100 active and retired employees from the telecommunications industry. The club specializes in community service and educational projects throughout Washington. The beeping technology used in the Easter eggs was developed in 1964 by Charlie Fairbanks, a telephone engineer, to create an audio ball for students at the Colorado School for the Blind. The Pioneers have adapted this technology to facilitate activities for the visually impaired across the United States.
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