Watson students learn from blind alumni

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Neighbors | Pam Jadue.Tracie Reiser's guide dog, Jimmie, paid close attention as Reiser spoke to the students at Watson Elementary.

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Neighbors | Pam Jadue.Watson student Olivia Stoner asked Tracie Reiser about her guide dog, Jimmie. Reiser explained that Jimmie is very smart and can be told to go left or right.

By PAM JADUE

neighbors@vindy.com

Watson Elementary School welcomed back alumni Tracie Reiser for a return visit to the school with the purpose of teaching the children about living with a visual impairment.

During the Apr. 15 assembly, Reiser, an Austintown Fitch and OSU graduate who currently lives in Akron, spoke to the kindergarten children and demonstrated various activities with the help of her canine companion, Jimmie.

Principal James Carchedi began the experience by helping the children understand what it means to have a disability. He explained that many of the children did not understand the difference between an injury or illness and a lifelong disability.

“Tracie was one of my students years ago. She is visually impaired and has a special companion who travels with her,” said Carchedi.

Jimmie, Tracie’s 9-year-old Golden Retriever is a trained guide dog.

“Jimmie is allowed to go places that other dogs are not allowed to go,” said Reiser. “He works as my eyes and helps me with many things, including crossing the street and grocery shopping. Guide dogs are very helpful and can go anywhere that people go.”

The students listened attentively as Reiser described how having a visual impairment makes her day different. She explained how she uses Braille tags to match her clothes, a laptop for the visually impaired that uses sound and Braille strips and an abacus for simple math problems.

She stressed that she has good friends and she sometimes needs to rely on them for help. Kindergarten student Faith Sylvester helped Reiser during the presentation passing around examples of different items that make activities easier for Reiser.

“Friends give Tracie descriptions so that she can picture where things are,” said Janette Sylvester.

Students were given the opportunity to ask questions. They learned about the training a guide dog goes through before they are placed in a home and the programs that work to provide guide dogs to people with disabilities.

Jimmie began training when he was a year old and spent six months learning how to watch out for his owner.