Watching a young person learn something new is a special experience!

Council staff, board members and community volunteers had the opportunity to observe this firsthand when we offered “Everyone Sees Differently,” a two-hour educational program for approximately 200 Madison-area Girl Scouts and their troop leaders.

The Fellowship Hall at Lake Edge United Church of Christ was transformed into a welcoming space for several different “activity stations” where girls gained an awareness of the meaning of blindness and low vision and learned about how people with vision loss manage everyday things that the Scouts might take for granted.

Learning activities included: reading and writing in Braille, using a computer with magnification and screen reader, doing everyday activities and participating in sports using simulation goggles, and discussing etiquette toward individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  A highlight, to be sure, was the chance to interact with guide dogs provided by the staff of OccuPaws Guide Dog Association located in Madison.

Each girl received a patch specially designed by the Council to commemorate the event.

Delta Gamma Sorority at the UW-Madison provided several volunteers who cheerfully helped the girls decipher Braille messages that were tucked inside fortune cookies.  The look of concentration at this table was a delight to observe—especially as participants cracked the code.

The Council was able to offer this program thanks to a generous grant from the Madison Rotary Foundation.

Troop leaders overwhelmingly agreed that they were very satisfied with the program.  Wrote one leader, “This was a great event for the girls and adults.  Makes me appreciate my own blessings.  I think the girls realized there is no difference between us—just different roads to take to get to the same end point.”

Special thanks go to Council vision rehabilitation teacher Jean Kalscheur and Council member Jenny Massey for the countless hours they invested in this program.

Enjoy a few photos from the “Everyone Sees Differently” event!

Scouts learn about Braille and how it is written.

A specially designed patch was given out to all scouts who attended

Scouts learned how simple tasks can become complicated with low vision. This scout is using a low vision simulator that reflects macular degeneration.