SMART Braillers All Around!

Tommy did not win the Wonderbaby SMART Brailler contest. 

Congrats to Abby who did win! 

Thank you to everyone who supported Tommy.

The Steelers didn't win this weekend either!

Every one of the six children in that contest deserves a SMART Brailler and now five families are trying to figure out how to make it happen for their child. I am not sure what we will do. There is talk of a spaghetti dinner fund raiser but I also saw that one of the other families is using a Go Fund Me fundraising campaign to purchase a SMART Brailler. I think that is a very SMART Idea. Everyone can join in very easily- no matter where you are!

But I have good news - Wonderbaby.org is making it easier for the five other families by offering us all a $500 discount on the purchase of a SMART Brailler. That gives us quite a jump in our quest for a SMART Brailler. Instead of $2,195.00 it would be $1,695.00

Still, it's not easy to ask for people to give you money, even when it is for a very good cause. I had a hard time even asking people to vote for two weeks. I hated feeling like a spammer!

Honestly, I am really glad that contest is over. It was exciting and a cool idea, but I am done with contests of any kind for a while. We have a lot going on right now. Tommy just started back at school. I started a new job in June so we have a lot of juggling going on. We have crazy schedules, some new health issues in the family, and home decisions to make lately. Did I tell you our air conditioner exploded last week? I am just tapped out. (Is it Friday? Oh wait, it's Monday...) But enough whining.

The Marty the SMART Brailler campaign raised awareness about blind children and the need for Braille. That is a very good thing! Technology is great, but as long as sighted people are reading print,  then blind people will need to learn Braille. It really is that simple.

This is Tom's second year of pre-k at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC). He probably has two more years there before he will be mainstreamed. I am anxious for him to have a firm foundation in Braille before he leaves WPSBC. I know that a SMART Brailler can be a great tool for helping Tom make the transition from a school for the blind to a mainstream school. We will just find a way to make it happen!

Thanks for all the votes. I appreciated it every time I saw that someone shared Tommy's picture or vote requests. It really means a lot to know that many people wish Tommy well.