DGCKids

05/29/2026

Great Playground resource from the The Arya Foundation!

As summer begins, the safety of our kids is always a top priority. ☀️💙

For many families, parks, playgrounds, and splash pads become part of everyday summer fun — and fenced-in play areas can offer an added layer of comfort and security for parents and caregivers.

The Arya Foundation put together a helpful guide featuring fenced-in parks, playgrounds, and splash areas throughout St. Charles and St. Louis County to help families find safe spaces to play, explore, and make memories together.

Do you know another fenced-in park or playground we should add to the list? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

Wishing everyone a fun, safe, and memory-filled summer! 💦🌈

05/28/2026

🌱 May is all about planting, growing, and getting our hands in the dirt at Explorers!

Feeling soil between their fingers, tracing the shape of a pot, pressing seeds into the earth — these tactile experiences are powerful tools for children with visual impairments. They build sensory awareness, fine motor skills, and confidence in exploring their world.

Paired with music therapy and matching activities, our Explorers were making connections across all their senses, and having an absolute blast doing it. 🎶

There is nothing quite like watching a child lean in close to examine something they made with their own hands. These are the moments that matter.

Thank you to Garden Heights Nursery for donating the flowers and herbs for a Sensory Garden at the Center!





Image 1: Two young girls work side by side at an outdoor table, using small shovels to scoop soil into terra cotta pots while an adult helps guide a marigold into place. Pure concentration and joy!

Image 2: A young boy wearing glasses sits on the floor at the DGCKids Center, holding a purple ball and a stuffed animal, surrounded by colorful toys during an Explorers session.

Image 3: A young girl wearing glasses leans in closely to examine a decorated terra cotta pot, carefully exploring it with her hands while an adult guides her through a planting activity outdoors.

Image 4: A music therapist plays acoustic guitar while children and their families sit together in a circle on the floor, engaging in a warm group music session inside the DGCKids Center.

05/26/2026

+ Special School District of St. Louis County

What a great visit! We had the pleasure of hosting the Visual Impairment leaders from the Special School District of St. Louis County for a tour and some conversation about how we can best support each other and, most importantly, the kids we both serve.

We walked away inspired, with new ideas already in the works. Grateful for this partnership and excited for future collaborations!




Four people stand together smiling in a bright, cheerful classroom at DGCKids. The space features colorful children's wall art, a blue floor mat, and developmental toys and furniture. A large garage-style window behind the group looks out onto trees. From left to right: a man in a green polo shirt and jeans, a woman in a light gray blouse and black pants, a man in a blue button-down shirt wearing a lanyard and badge, and a woman in a black top and patterned teal pants carrying a shoulder bag.

05/21/2026

DGCKids Center UPDATES
The Center will be closed for Memorial Day, and summer hours are starting!

On Monday (May 25), the Center will be CLOSED for Memorial Day.

On Tuesday (May 26), DGCKids will be operating on adjusted hours.

Monday – Thursday: 8 am – 5 pm
Friday: 8 am – 11:30 am

Wishing everyone a great start to summer! 🦄





A cheerful light blue summer-themed graphic with a water texture background. Features DGCKids in bold blue text, sunglasses emoji at the top, and a colorful unicorn pool float in the bottom right corner. Text reads: Summer Hours — Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm, Friday 8 am to 11:30 am.

05/20/2026

We are proud to share this video with you. 🚲

Our Tandem Adventurers program has been giving blind and visually impaired kids ages 10+ something special — the wind in their face, the open road, and the pure joy of riding a bike.

This isn't just a program. It's a community built on trust. Our volunteer Tandem Captains, many of whom have been pedaling alongside these kids for YEARS, some for decades, show up season after season because they've seen firsthand what this experience means.

Watch the video, we are excited for you to join a Tandem Adventurers ride!
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrGqfG7iLYY

If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer Tandem Captain, visit our website with this link https://www.dgckids.org/our-work/tandem-adventurers/

This program keeps growing, and there's room for more adventurers!

Thank you to the supporters who keep this program rolling, including Lighthouse for the Blind - St. Louis, Carney's Kids Foundation, Big Shark Bicycle Company, and Move by BJC.

Thank you to Seth at Regular Guy Creative for creating this video!

What happens when a skilled cyclist teams up with a child with a visual impairment? Pure joy, confidence, and freedom on two wheels.Tandem Adventurers is a D...

05/12/2026

Survey for a Community Partner!

We appreciate our partners at the Missouri History Museum! They're working hard to make their museums welcoming and accessible for everyone.

Please take a moment to read the post below and complete their survey. Your voice matters!

The Missouri History Museum is looking for feedback on their accessibility efforts and is inviting the community to take a quick (4-minute) survey about their programs, exhibits, facilities, and services.

Your input can help identify barriers and shape improvements to make their museum more welcoming and usable for people with a wide range of needs.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BXZBQL6

05/11/2026

Community RACE!

Achilles International St. Louis is holding their Hope & Possibility race tomorrow (May 12). DGCKids and their families, or anyone who wants to run or bike for a good cause, can register or come cheer on the participants at Creve Coeur Lake Park!

Please read the post below for additional information.

The 4th Annual Achilles Hope and Possibility 5K and 1 Mile is on Tuesday May 12, 2026. It includes the following events: 5K (timed), 1 Mile (Untimed), and New this year! bike with Achilles tandem and adaptive cycling program around Creve Coeur Park trail.

05/08/2026

GRADS Update!

What better way to wrap up the school year than a pool party at The HEIGHTS!

We are so proud of our GRADS group. What an amazing year it has been. And the fun doesn't stop there… their next adventure will be a Challenge Trip this summer. Stay tuned! 🌟





Image 1: Two children with kickboards smile alongside a volunteer in the pool.

Image 2: A staff member supports a child in a life jacket in the pool.

Image 3: A child with a kickboard smiles as a volunteer guides her through the water.

Image 4: A participant smiles at the camera while using a kickboard in the pool.

05/07/2026

Today is Give STL Day, and we are asking you to help us celebrate 75 years of serving children with visual impairments and their families in St. Louis!

Since 1951, DGCKids has been here for every family that needed us, from early intervention to youth programs to the Tandem Adventurers hitting the road on two wheels.

This Give STL Day, we're asking for a gift of $75 to honor 75 years of impact supporting kids who need us most.

Give today at https://www.givestlday.org/organization/dgckids

75 years. Countless kids. One community. Let's keep building bright futures together!





Image 1
The interior of the DGCKids building features colorful columns in red, green, orange, and blue, with a "Lighthouse for the Blind" sign arched overhead and a Give STL Day logo overlaid in the center.

Timeline 1 (1951–1996)
1951 — A black and white photo of the Shining Light Christmas Tree Lot sign, advertising trees as a benefit for Delta Gamma Alumnae Nursery School for Blind Tots.
1962 — A black and white photo of firefighters at the scene of the Giles building fire.
1975 — A black and white photo of a young child sitting with an adult, smiling together.
1979 — A black and white photo of two children in what appears to be a library or resource room.
1984 — A black and white illustration of the Henry Road building exterior.
1993 — A black and white photo of a large group of runners at the start of a race through downtown St. Louis.
1996 — No photo; text notes the first Family Retreat at Meramec State Park.

Timeline 2 (1990s–2026)
1990s — A color photo of staff or volunteers working on the floor with a young child in what appears to be an early intervention or classroom setting.
2000s — A color photo of the book cover for A Look Into Our "i's," a compilation of introspective writings from a group of extraordinary young people.
2003 — A color photo of a group of children and adults in ski gear and helmets on a snowy slope, wearing bright orange safety vests.
2008 — A color photo of the interior of the DGCKids building at 1750 S. Big Bend Blvd., featuring a bright, open hallway with colorful columns.
2010s — A color photo of children and adults riding tandem bicycles together on a road, wearing helmets.
2024 — A color photo of a smiling man in a blue DGCKids shirt sitting outdoors with a young toddler on his lap, both smiling at the camera.
2026 — Text only, noting that DGCKids celebrates 75 years.