Little Lucia: Behind these walls

Behind these walls is a place for parents and children to come together- to feel safe, to feel welcome, to make friends, to learn and to grow, and be so proud of your child as they achieve anything new. Behind these walls you see children who can not see, who are visually impaired and often completely blind. Children with syndromes, children born without eyes, albinism, children who see only by touch, many children who suffer from seizures, and many who have a list of other complications. Children that the average person doesn't see every day or even in a lifetime. Behind these walls is a place of refuge. A place of no judgements, no shame, and a whole lot of love. The Anchor Center for Blind Children is a beautiful place where many children start their journey, as early as a couple months old. Parents are just beginning to cope, to try to understand, to pick themselves up and re-enter the real world with their very special child. Just months into a diagnosis or condition and the Anchor center welcomes ALL families and children who can use their help. The Anchor Center has been an anchor for our family. I look forward to it every Monday and Wednesday.

We rotate through 3 different centers for 30 minutes each- motor room, sensory room, music-every other week, explorer room, light room and when weather permits, an activity in the well groomed outdoors, complete with sidewalks of Braille words and a greenhouse full of fragrant and tactile plants. Once a month they hold a parent center where the children are taken care of by the staff and the parents have the full time to listen on a topic, or share a discussion. The staff includes teachers of the visually impaired, speech, occupational, physical and music therapists; a family resource coordinator, developmental psychology consultant, teaching assistants and many volunteers, including an opthamologist. The Center also hosts special events-like next Tuesday a special Christmas party with Santa and real reindeer for the kids-can't wait for that!

There was an event this past Saturday called 'Dad's Panel'. Both parents were encouraged to attend and staff and volunteers watched the kids. I honestly thought it would mostly be good and insightful for Jason, (didn't tell him that :) ) but now I know it was for me too... Three dads of Anchor Center graduates each told their stories- about their child, how the Anchor Center helped, and life after the Anchor.

Life after the Anchor Center. The Anchor Center is for infants up to 5 years. I know Lucia is not even 2 but hearing these words from one of the dads, 'I hate to break it to you, but you won't find ANY place as good (i think he even said half as good) as here". I teared up hearing that. I am SO THANKFUL that we even have the time we do at the Anchor Center but thinking about our little bird off in a school, where we'll have to advocate for her to get even a small fraction of the help she gets now...oh gosh, did it make me sad and nervous.

It was a great few hours, listening to three wonderful dads, all with differently diagnosed kids, and all with stories filled with good, the not so good, the funny, and so much love. One dad has 2 completely blind boys and they do MANY things with their dad including practice shooting guns and riding scooters-all under his supervision of course- but how cool is that dad?!

Yes, behind the walls of the Anchor Center is truly an awesome place. And although she is just over 1 1/2 years old, you bet I'm going to begin looking at programs for her for when the time comes. If/when we move I want to be sure our Lubird has the right options. I think we know now how truly lucky we are at the Anchor Center and finding another place like it may not be in the cards, but we can always try to plan ahead for our bird to continue to fly as high as she can! Thank you Anchor Center for ALL you do! We LOVE YOU!