A old friend of mine Heather called the other day to see if I would be willing to take some photos of the school she is working at to revamp their website. When she told me that the school was a non-profit and was called the Blind Children’s Learning Center in Santa Ana I couldn’t resist! These kids immediately touched my heart! They were all so sweet and full of life! I already cant wait to go back and volunteer there! Here are just a few of the shots I gathered that day.
I thought that this was cool and was something that I had never seen before. To describe the weather the teacher held up a spray bottle and gave a little mist to symbolize rain and she also help up a fan to symbolize wind.. I know, so simple the things we often overlook. But if you think about it its kind of difficult to explain to someone who has never been able to see it..
I love this little guy! He was so fun!
This is how they tell whats up next on the schedule for the day.
Here is a student using a Light Box.. Visually impaired students can learn to use their residual vision more efficiently by training with a Light Box. Materials are used with it to promote basic visual skills, eye-hand coordination and simple matching tasks.
Here is Olivia, She was one of the sweetest little kids I have ever met.
She heard me taking pictures of her during these activities and wanted to investigate the noise. Her teacher said that this was really abnormal behavior that she had never seen because usually little Olivia is really weary and afraid of strangers or things shes not familiar with. This totally melted my heart! And although she is also visually impaired she could pick up a little of the light from my screen on the back of my camera and seemed to really enjoy it. Just a little thanks to her teacher for snagging this photo for me from my iphone! This totally made my week!
This day made me realize a lot. What all I take for granted and how often I do so.. All those little things that God blesses us with. Sight, sound, smells, touch, feelings, tastes.. Its so crazy the complexity and the beauty of creation.
Today I thank God for the gift of sight. With out it not only would I not be able to do what I love for a career but I wouldnt even be able to enjoy the beauty of a photograph, a painting, a hand crafted sunset sky. It really makes me think and give praise to the Creator. What would it be for you guys? Leave it in the comments 
19 Comments
Brandon:
Thanks so much for coming out and capturing our students at their best! It is amazing to see what you were able to get that so many of us miss on a daily basis. I am so blessed that you were able to come out and do this for us and I know these pictures will forever be a part of Blind Children’s Learning Center’s legacy! You rock!
I’m sitting here at work tearing up; what a humbling post! …that last photo from your iphone is so priceless! I am definitely so very thankful to God, we are all so blessed… I will keep this school and the students in my prayers <3
what a wonderful center and cause. so many sweet images, brandon!
i would have to say, i’m thankful for my family. we may fight and bicker, but in the end, i can count on them for unconditional love and endless support. without which, i know i would be lost.
We totally take all of those things for granted. I’m so thankful for having all of my senses! I work for a deaf-owned sign language interpreting company, it has really helped me just to become very aware of how important it is to be able to hear. Yet at the same time, God gives certain people these lives for a reason and they are just as happy, if not more than some people who have it all. Thanks for the post, I really enjoy reading your blog.
What a great post Brandon! Thank you for drawing our attention to this amazing school and the wonderful children/teachers. I was born with a cataract so I am all too aware of how precious the gift of sight is! If my pediatrician hadn’t caught it early I would be permanently blind in that eye and wouldn’t be able to do many of the things I love – read, write, watch tv, bake, etc. I am definitely going to look into how I can help the Blind Children’s Learning Center
As an employee of Blind Children’s Learning Center I must tell you that it is an absolute privilege to be able to work with these kids! Please email me at heather.thompson@blindkids.org if you would like more information or are interested in getting involved.
LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE this post. Seriously.
Wow, really inspirational post. Thank you.
Wow. Thank you for sharing this Brandon. It is beautiful.
I have a friend who lost his arm to cancer and I was thanking Jesus the other day that I had both arms so that I could shoot. Great post, Brandon.
These shots are amazing…so powerful, but so sweet.
It’s so great to see a wonderful organization like this caught on camera. Awesome job!
Brandon, these pictures brought tears to my eyes, I have 2 boys and at times feel they are too much to handle, after seeing these pictures it makes me thank GOD that they are healthy and that they can see, speak and move around. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures, you are a true ANGEL!
Brandon…LOVE all of these. You did such a great job capturing all the kids.
The last one is my favorite.
Wow. These photos are so incredibly touching. This is the reason that you are such an amazing photographer and I can easily say you’re highly inspiring!!! I don’t see any other photographers doing these amazing photo projects and you inspire me. Thank you!
So many things to thank God for; but if I had to, I’d thank God for the gift of being able to hear and touch. Music is so influential in how I carry my day!
This made my entire day! I have a little one and we’re so blessed to have her in our life. After seeing this, the sight I’ve taken advantage of and that of my daughter’s and husband’s, I will be forever grateful to our One Creator. Thanks for this Brandon!
what a beautiful blog post!
thanks for these inspiring pictures… and the last picture is truly heartwarming.
These series of photographs absolutely melted my heart… Thank you for doing such beautiful work and work that shows a wide range of our stunning world.
Been in the creative business a long time. Was asked to help with the design of a brochure for a local Blind Children Club (non-profit). Thought I had some pretty good ideas til I stumbled on your photos and comments. They changed everything I so cleverly had in mind. A couple of your comments made the difference. Some words are worth a thousand pictures.