Readers & Volunteers

Seedlings Celebrates Our Readers  |  Volunteers

Adrianna & Evan read some of Seedlings print & braille picture books with founder and director Debra Bonde

Katie- Redford, Michigan
14 year old Katie is an eighth grader at Riley Middle School who loves animals, adventure and athletics. She has a black lab dog named Bubba that is 100 pounds of fun. Katie likes roller coasters, the bigger the better, and has tackled the Top Thrill Dragster (420 feet high, acceleration of 120 mph in 4 seconds and a vertical drop of 90 feet) at Cedar Point in Ohio on more than one occasion. During the winter season, you can find Katie traversing the ski slopes on Sunday mornings, enjoying the company of her fellow downhill skiers and Optical Illusion ski club members. Her speed and fearless approach to these hills has earned her the nickname "Tomahawk Missile". Her favorite vacation was a seven-day ski adventure in Vail, Colorado with her father. Another favorite sport that Katie enjoys is horseback riding. She has had the opportunity to ride some beautiful horses at the Bloomfield Hills Open Hunt Club.

Katie is an all-A student and participates on Riley's cross country and track teams. In quieter moments, she enjoys playing the piano and is first-chair saxophone in her school's Concert Band.

Katie reads to Corduroy Bear in braille as Susan Ward, Seedlings Board President shows the audience pictures of the story.

As a good listener and writer, Katie also aspires to be a young author. If she doesn't get to be a heart surgeon or an author, she wants to be a trial judge and hear murder cases.

Katie enjoys volunteering for activities sponsored by Seedlings Braille Books for Children. Katie was introduced to braille at age two and soon after she started enjoying Seedlings' books. Katie is happy to 'give back' by proofreading and participating in funding raising events in gratitude to Seedlings for making so many popular braille books available to her over the years.

Recently Katie helped host a special Story Time about the world of braille at a local Barnes & Noble store. Katie & Corduroy's lively presentation had the sighted children in the audience captivated and raised awareness about braille and reading by touch to the local community. The spectators particularly enjoyed plotting out their names in braille with M&M 'braille dots'!

Kevin - Farmington Hills, Michigan
A Recipe for dynamite! And recent winner in his age group of the National Braille Challenge!
For an explosion of energy, put Kevin and a dare-devil challenge together, then sit back and watch the fireworks. Kevin faces every situation with a fearless, can-do attitude and enthusiasm.

He entered this world about 11 years ago with cataracts and glaucoma requiring multiple surgeries. As a result, Kevin can only see light, shadows and bright colors but his abilities are as boundless as his energy, confidence and daring.

Kevin has been enjoying braille books from Seedlings since he was 3 years old. Seedlings' print & braille picture books enabled his family to read together as Kevin explored the tactile touch of braille. Kevin progressed to print & braille easy readers and then to braille-only chapter books in no time. Because Seedlings' low-cost books allowed his family to surround Kevin with books in the home...he has become an avid reader, skilled in reading, writing and comprehension of the braille code. In 2004 Kevin was honored as a finalist at the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles. Kevin's world is limitless with braille! Braille literacy has been key to Kevin's success as a student, but also to his joy as an avid reader.

Kevin scanning new titles during a visit to Seedlings hoping to find some exciting new books for summer reading!

Kevin's favorite genres include biographies and 'scary' stories. He also enjoys books on his favorite school subject, Social Studies. Kevin sails through books on nearly every subject.

After reading for pure pleasure, the list of Kevin's favorite activities looks like a thrill-seekers menu. Scary stories satisfy his mental quest for thrills. From the Magnum Roller Coaster to downhill skiing, to parasailing and just about everything in between, Kevin likes speed and a feeling of free-fall. If Kevin could change the world, he says he would make it so people could fly (like birds not airplane rides).

Kevin proudly demonstrates his techno talents by beating his Mom at video games while chowin' down on his favorite dinner - FAST FOOD- YEAH!

Kevin doesn't stop there with his accomplishments. He sits at the piano and skips through Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and announces his favorite musicians are the rock group Metallica.

Kevin's heroes are Mom, Dad and Kraig (older brother), an eloquent tribute to his family.

To read about some of our wonderful volunteers, more.

If you would like to celebrate your child on this page, please contact Seedlings at info@seedlings.org or 800-777-8552.
We will need a short narrative or bio about the reader, including how braille has made a difference for them and their family and a digital photo if possible. We will forward the necessary releases giving Seedlings permission to feature your story on this page.

  Back to top

© 2005 Seedlings Braille Books for Children P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924 • (734) 427-8552 or (800) 777-8552 info@seedlings.org

      "By the touch of a finger behold the world." © Perspective Et.