Why Do You Wear Glasses if You’re Blind?

On July 29, more than 40 children, ranging in age from 5 to 12, participating in Ann Arbor's Community Action Network "Puppies are People Too" program, visited the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) to learn how guide dogs help people with visual impairments.   .  

They were greeted by Roberta McCall,  a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist from the Michigan Commission for the Blind who is herself legally blind, and her guide dog, Inova.  The children were excited to have the opportunity to see a guide dog in action and to learn how Roberta uses and cares for her dog.  Inova, a bit of a kid herself, very much wanted to play with the children but, with Roberta’s guidance, resisted the temptation and demonstrated how she assists Roberta. 

Roberta also talked to the children about how she handles money and demonstrated a number of the techniques that help her in her daily life.  And, of course there were a lot of  questions.  One of those questions was, "Why do you whear glasses if you can’t see?"  The answer is that Roberta wears glasses because they do in fact enhance the very limited vision she has.  The children also got the chance to see and feel their names printed in Braille.

The children, from four Washtenaw County housing communities, are spending time during the summer working with dogs and their owners.  Along with other objectives, "Puppies are People Too" seeks to increase children's empathy for and understanding of animal behavior.   Their observations about dog behavior help them gain insight into their own behavior - and that of other people.  The entire learning process helps to reinforce positive characteristics like a sense of responsibility for self and for others. 

Perhaps most importantly, the day and program use fun to teach the children positive behaviors - they best way to learn!