Braille Dictionaries

Our sponsors occasionally ask us about getting Braille dictionaries for blind and visually impaired children.  Unfortunately, we do not have a good source for Braille dictionaries.  That's why we want to commend our sponsors who have gone the extra mile by searching out Braille dictionaries for children in the schools their projects cover.  Their kindness and concern inspire and enrich their communities.  They all emphasize that the joy of the children at receiving dictionaries they can read makes all the extra effort well worth it. The stories below share their efforts.

Lit-er-a-cy n., 1. Key to kids` future
Maple Grove Grange #154

The Maple Grove Grange bought a Braille dictionary for a visually impaired student at Pleasant View Elementary

Ninety third-grade students at Kullerstrand, Prospect Valley, and Pleasant View Elementary Schools have received dictionaries from Maple Grove Grange #154. The students can take their books home to use and also bring them to school for work there.

The dictionary project `Words for Thirds` is a nationwide program. We are proud that we are a part of this program. The program encourages literacy in schools.

Last year we were able to buy a set of Braille dictionaries for a student at Pleasant View Elementary School. The student was very proud of his dictionary.

This year we are once again delivering dictionaries to ninety students at Kullerstrand, Pleasant View, and Pennington Elementary Schools.

Maple Grove Grange is an organization which has been active in the Wheat Ridge community since 1907. Full Story

A major project of the Elks throughout the United States is to give each child in the third grade their own personal dictionary. This goal has been reached by the Eatonton Elks Lodge #2549 each of the past four years--until this year. Ravi H., a third grader at Putnam Elementary, did not receive one in November when her other classmates did. Ravi is a mainstreamed, bright little girl who is blind.

She was promised her very own dictionary by the Elks and Elkettes who were distributing the dictionaries. Finally, in February, they were able to present Ravi with her very own Braille dictionary, which consists of fourteen volumes.

Thanks to phone calls made by Elkette Diane Stevens and time spent on the internet by Lorraine Webb, plus money donated by local builders, Ted Webb, Alex Davison, and Scott Deering, this Braille dictionary system became a reality for Ravi. One of the first words that Ravi read was one of her vocabulary words, `support.`

The Eatonton Elks can truly now say that every third-grade child in Putnam County has his or her own personal dictionary. Elks Care--Elks Share! And they `support` the youth in their county. Full Story

[More pictures in the next segment]

Members of the Eatonton Elks and Elkettes Ted Webb, Diane Stevens, and Lorraine Webb delivered the Braille dictionary to student Ravi.

Eatonton Elks have many wonderful experiences with Dictionary Project
Eatonton Elks Lodge #2549 and Elkettes - Diane Stevens

There are so many people in our area and outside who are taken by the dictionary program and by Ravi`s story.

I wish you could have been here when we gave her dictionaries to her.  It was wonderful!  She could hardly smile for a picture because she was so excited.  It has been so rewarding, as it has each time we give to the third-grade students in our county.  Thanks so much for coming up with this wonderful program!

Ravi`s dictionary was 14 volumes.  Her teacher, Mrs. Strictland, told her that she was going to have her husband build a special bookcase in their classroom for her dictionaries.

Ravi read to us that this dictionary was for 3rd to 7th grade.  Another Elkette in Georgia was so taken with my story of Ravi that she got in contact with the School of the Blind in Macon, and they said they will help us get her the next level (8th-12th grade) if she is still in Georgia.

A few other wonderful stories:

After telling the children what we were doing (I said `We are giving these dictionaries to you`), one child raised his hand and said, `Tomorrow do we have to bring $2.00 to pay for them?`  I said, `No, they are free!`  Another child raised his hand and said, `My dad said nothing in life is free.`  Then I had to say, `Your dad is right.  These are a gift to you from Eatonton Elks and Elkettes.`

A little girl came up to me in Walmart and asked if she could give me a hug.  In this day and age you really don`t know what to say.  She went on to say that I was the lady who gave her a dictionary and that she loved it and she just wanted to say `Thank you` with a hug.  I got a wonderful hug!

My husband and I were in another store when a little girl came up to us and said, `I sure hope I didn`t do something wrong.  My little brother in 1st grade needed to know something and I let him use my dictionary that you all gave me.`  We told her it was fine and that in two years he would have his own.

We always ask the students to read the five long words on page 364 of A Student`s Dictionary.  Someone always comes up with the last word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

We also have them look at page 366, the periodic table of the elements, and find `Eatonton.`  We tell them that is if they can find Eatonton, they will get another dictionary.  We always have one or two who manage to find `Eatonton` in the periodic table. Full Story.

The Braille dictionary came in 14 volumes

Assistant Principal Mrs. Rick was happy to see Ravi`s excitement with her dictionary.

Elkette Diane Stevens, who worked to get the Braille dictionary, helps Ravi find words in her dictionary

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If you would like to get more information about these projects, please contact us or the donor organization directly, and we will do our best to help you in your project.