Your Stories, Your Words: A Journey of Family, Sight, and Independence
My name is Paula Sprecher, and when I look at the history of my family, I see the golden thread of The Chicago Lighthouse woven through almost every major milestone we have shared. For us, The Lighthouse has been more than a resource center; it has been a partner in our independence, a catalyst for my career, and a community that embraced our daughters as they grew.
A New City and a New Calling
Our journey began in 1987. My husband and I had just moved from Milwaukee to Chicago for his new role as a computer analyst with Sears Roebuck. As a blind professional navigating a daunting new city, he turned to The Lighthouse for Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training. I remember tagging along as he learned to navigate the bustling downtown streets with the guidance of Mike Cohen, an Orientation and Mobility instructor at The Lighthouse. It was an intimidating time, but also an electric one.
Inspired by his experience, I began volunteering at The Lighthouse’s Children’s Development Center. I can still recall the hum of the “L” train during my commute from Berwyn—a sound that, for me, became synonymous with the exciting new world of working with children with visual impairments. The teachers there didn’t just teach the children; they taught me. Because of the passion I witnessed within those walls, I decided to dedicate my life to this field. I have now been a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments for 28 years, a path that started with a simple desire to give back to the place that helped my husband find his footing.
A Global Family Supported by Local Love
The most profound chapter of our story began when we adopted our two daughters from Asia. Our eldest came to us from India, and our youngest from China. When we prepared to travel to China to bring our youngest daughter home, we knew we needed someone who understood the unique needs of a blind child to help us navigate the journey and the paperwork.
We turned to Susie Kuranishi, a beloved Early Intervention Teacher at The Lighthouse whom we had known for years. Susie became our anchor during that trip, even when our luggage ended up on the wrong plane! We spent three days in the same outfits, laughing through the stress, until our bags finally caught up with us. That is the kind of heart The Lighthouse staff has: they don’t just work a job; they walk beside you through life’s greatest adventures.
Watching Our Daughters Soar
Over the years, The Lighthouse has been a second home for our girls. They have celebrated holidays at both locations, felt the rush of wind on ski trips, and learned the quiet confidence of the kitchen through cooking programs.
We watched with pride as our older daughter participated in the “First Jobs Program” at the flagship Walgreens on State Street. Seeing her stand as a presenter for One Summer Chicago, where she met Mayor Rahm Emanuel, was a testament to the independence The Lighthouse instills.
Our younger daughter found her creative voice through “Photography for All,” using accessible technology to capture the beauty of the city while traveling independently on public transit. Even when the world shut down during COVID, The Lighthouse didn’t waver. They brought the community to our kitchen virtually, where our daughter learned to cook semi-independently with her friends under the steady, encouraging guidance of her instructor, Marla.
To the Next 120 Years
From the meetings of the American Council of the Blind in The Lighthouse’s cafeteria to the high-tech training our daughters received as teens, The Lighthouse has touched every corner of our lives. It has empowered my husband, shaped my career, and given my daughters the tools to navigate the world with grace and grit.
Thank you, Chicago Lighthouse, for being our light. Here’s to another 120 years of changing lives and empowering our community to see the world not with our eyes, but with our hearts.
— Paula Sprecher, former volunteer, current care partner
