Preparing the Next Generation of Readers (and Leaders)

Every summer, The Chicago Lighthouse plays host to a group of children who are blind or visually impaired learning to read Braille. The two-week program is the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)–Illinois Chapter’s Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy.

Through direct instruction and other fun activities (like decorating cookies with M&M’s to create Braille letters), students learn how to decipher the tactile language that will open them up to a broader world of reading and learning.

In this brief Q&A, Lighthouse President and CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk talks about why this program and our partnership with NFB-Illinois is a critical part of our mission.

Why is this program an important partnership for The Lighthouse and the NFB?

Braille readers are born leaders. This program helps develop the next generation of scholars and advocates who will help shape the world. We provide a safe and fun learning environment for these students so they can grow up to become confident, independent adults who will demonstrate their capabilities and create a more accessible inclusive world.

What do the kids get out of the Bell Program?

Literacy is one of the most important skills any person can develop. Reading provides an escape into new worlds and the discovery of new perspectives and opportunities. It helps develop language and critical thinking, and it provides people with the tools to express themselves and reach their fullest potential.