LA Institute for the Blind

These pictures are horrible, I apologize. I think I had the camera set on micro...


This field trip we went on was fantastic!! We learned so much and I for one am absolutely amazed and inspired by the people that we met on this tour!

In the above picture we were learning about Braille. The device the man is using is a Braille typer (like a typewriter). We also saw how they would hand write Braille and the girls had their names done. What really floored me about that, is not only do they have to learn the 6 dot system of Braille, but to hand write it you have to do it BACKWARDS so when you flip it over it is correct! To pass the class (and this institute is for adults 18 and older, mostly people who lost their vision later in life) the student must learn to read and write Braille, as well as finish several books to truly demonstrate their mastery of it.

This is the kitchen and I again realized how much I take for granted in just cooking a meal! We were taught (and got to witness two students working on a project) how they learn to navigate in a kitchen, what help iphones/ipads can be with apps to read bar codes to speak what an item is and the quantity of the item. How they have to prepare for meals and grocery shop. Money exchange. Devices to help in all aspects, etc, etc!

To pass in cooking you have to be able to plan, shop for, and cook for 8 people for a week!! Also included in the home ec portion is things like sewing (you have to be able to hem pants, sew on buttons, as well as household chores, and upkeep things such as snaking a drain, plunging a toilet, etc.)

In the above picture is the wood shop. Each student must complete a project of their choosing in wood shop. They learn safety, how to navigate to different tools (using N,S,E,W and sounds of such things as the coke machine), measuring, and building. The projects were incredible!!! Grandfather clocks! Gorgeous trunks! A stunning chess board! A jewelry box! These were no small projects (no little bird houses here). We were truly awed!!

We also saw the computer lab which was also fascinating. Learned about equipment to convert words to braille (yeah, that one piece of equipment costs over $6000!!). Also, how they listen to and navigate and work on a computer even without that equipment. They do Facebook, Twitter, and any other website you or I would go to!

We also learned about cane travel. I knew the basics in that they use a cane so as not to bump into things, but I had no idea that they actually use the cane to tap on the ground for the echo to tell where parked cars or buildings are. The difference between metal tip and vinyl tip canes. The students have to live 8 blocks from the institute and navigate their way there each day. They learn to use public transportation as well as learn how to walk and know where they are. To pass the class the final exam is a student is taken by car, in a very non direct route (he said they will even do donuts in parking lots to fully disorient the student) and then drop the student off and give them NO clues as to where they are or how to get back. They are not allowed to ask for help and they have to find their way back!

I have no doubt what-so-ever that when the students graduate from this institute they will be far more independent than I am as a sighted person! They will surely leave this school fully competent and with great confidence and what tremendous gifts those are!

Oh, field trips include going white water rafting, rock climbing, and just about anything you can think of! Truly remarkable!

After the Institute we all went to a dessert place. We had Bella with us of course since we can't leave her in the hotel room. Once again, she loved the attention. I took more pictures on my phone I may add later too. On the menu was a doggie custard treat that came with a dog bone stuck in it. I had to get one of course and Bella LOVED it!! That was a big hit with everyone watching her enjoy her treat :)