Thank You Tote Maritime Alaska
We would like to thank Tote Maritime Alaska for their gift of $15,000 to the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Thank You Alex Ansel.
We would like to highlight 12 year old, Alex Ausel. Alex and her mother Joey Ausel, came and did a tour with Nate Kyle just before this past Christmas. They spoke with him about the Passion Project she was starting to work on for her 6th grade project at Anchor Lutheran School.
Alex is fully sighted and has never met a blind person until she met Nate (who was helpful and kind at answering her questions). Alex developed an interest in the subject of blindness ever since reading about Helen Keller in 4th grade at age 9.
Alex learned Grade 1 Braille on her own last year as her chosen invention to study (picture attached with her hot glue Braille and the Braille she asked for her birthday in November, and her parents were blessed to find at a thrift store.
Her goal this year was to learn Grade 2 Braille and then design, using AUTOCAD and a 3D printer, ADA compliant signs for her school.
She has decided to make 11 different signs (Classroom, Library, Men’s Bathroom, Women’s Bathroom, Staff Only, Gym, Exit, Sanctuary, Kitchen, Elevator, Office) and print a total of 54 of them for her school by the mid-April project deadline and presentation.
She is nearly complete.
When touring the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired building, she noticed that the Center neede some signs. She is designing and printing them for us.
Thank you, Alex, for your interest and service to the blind. You certainly deserve an A+ for your Passion Project.