All In on Accessibility: Blind Dealers Take the Tables

In the game of Texas Hold’em, the pot is fed by two rotating positions known as the “Big Blind” and the “Small Blind.” At this year’s Raising the Stakes for Vision Poker and Casino Night, some dealers will fill in another category: legally blind.  

Two Chicago Lighthouse employees, Alan Brint and Peter Tucic (both of whom are blind), will serve as blackjack dealers throughout the evening. Those who attended last year might remember Alan dealing at one of the tables as our first-ever blind dealer.  

“I loved it!” says Alan Brint, Job Readiness Counselor and Job Developer in The Lighthouse’s Employment Services Program, who was our first blind dealer last year. “The guests seemed to have fun too, but, even if they didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to see it. Our CEO even stopped by, and I took some chips off her, which was the highlight of the night.” 

For Peter, who is The Lighthouse’s Vice President of Public Policy and the Illinois Instructional Materials Center, the opportunity represents a chance to feel more comfortable at the tables, having had mixed results (at best) when he has played at casinos. “I think it’s neat that I will be in a situation where I won’t have to explain that I need card announcements at every draw,” he says. “I’m also hoping to perfect my shuffling skills so that I can be the designated super shuffler when playing games with my kids.” 

Integrating blind dealers into our event helps reinforce our message of promoting inclusivity and accessibility throughout our community, and Blackjack is just the beginning. “This is a perfect opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions to better understand both what The Lighthouse offers and to shed some light on how blind people can participate in all sorts of activities,” Peter says. 

Join us at Raising the Stakes for Vision: Poker & Casino Night on February 26 at the Bank of America Tower. Click here to secure your seat today!