Closing her eyes, Lilou Petrucci reached into a bag, grabbed a mystery object and tried to identify it using all her senses except for sight. Smiling, the Cabot Elementary School student figured out the cube with telltale circular bumps was a large Lego. However, other items were more of a challenge, like a small, cylindrical container and a rectangular piece of paper (a can of tuna and a $1 bill, respectively).
Petrucci and her fellow third-graders gamely learned the challenges of trying to recognize common objects through touch during a program on low vision and blindness offered by Understanding Our Differences (UOD).
The Newton-based nonprofit, which is marking its 45th anniversary this year, is an organization “that uses a hands-on, participatory curriculum to foster respect, acceptance, and inclusion for people of all abilities in elementary schools and communities at large,” according to its website.
Cabot Elementary School third-grader Jo Bel Morris recently tried out a “brailler,” or braille typewriter, as part of an Understanding Our Differences program on low vision and blindness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
From left, Cabot Elementary School third-graders Lilou Petrucci, Jude O’Flaherty and Rayna Taube recently learned about blindness and low vision during an Understanding Our Differences program. Here, Petrucci closed her eyes and reached into a bag to identify objects using senses other than sight. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
From left, Cabot Elementary School third-graders Alexander Bohossian and Olivia McClain, front, and Jude O’Flaherty, in hoodie, recently tried out “braillers,” or braille typewriters, as part of an Understanding Our Differences program on low vision and blindness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Clockwise, from left, Cabot Elementary School third-graders Melanie Estrada, Izaiah Brantley, Christophe Millet-Woo and William Nelsen recently tried out “braillers,” or braille typewriters, as part of an Understanding Our Differences program on low vision and blindness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
From left, Cabot Elementary School third-graders Fionn Twohig, Christophe Millet-Woo and Eshaan Uzzi recently learned about blindness and low vision during an Understanding Our Differences program. Here, Millet-Woo tried to identify an object using his sense of touch. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
As part of an Understanding Our Differences program, college student Darya Iranamesh spoke to Cabot Elementary School third-graders about her experiences having low vision. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Lisa DePalma, a program manager for Understanding Our Differences, showed a book written in braille to Cabot Elementary School third-graders during a program on low vision and blindness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen)
In addition to trying to identify objects with their eyes shut, the children watched a video about blindness and low vision, listened to a speaker, and got a chance to use Perkins Braillers, which look and function like typewriters.
After a brief explanation about the nine-key machines, the students concentrated and typed out their names and other words in braille onto thick paper.
Braillers “are fun and I want one,” said third-grader Jo Bel Morris after experimenting on the metal keyboard. Most kids were fascinated by the tactile dots that were imprinted in the paper.
In addition to learning from the fun and engaging activities, students gained a deeper understanding of what it is like to live with a sight disability after listening to speaker Darya Iranamesh. She was born with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), which impacts her ability to see facial details and perceive depth, among other issues, she said.
Before coming to Newton in person, she had been participating in UOD workshops via Zoom.
“I loved answering the kids’ questions,” she said during a phone interview. An undergrad at UMass, Iranamesh thought the Newton kids were friendly and wanted to learn.
She said that although students have been curious about topics she was not expecting, she said, “No question is a bad question.”
When telling the children about life’s challenges, Iranamesh described the difficulties of traveling to new places, but said she uses her other senses to help her each day. For example, she told the children that she memorizes people’s voices, piano keys, and more.
“I always seek to learn new things,” she said, while acknowledging it can be scary.
What was most difficult growing up, she said, was to be excluded, and she encouraged the students to be friendly when meeting people with disabilities.
Asked why she decided to become a UOD speaker, she said that “this program is very important and it’s something I wish I had at that age.”
After Iranamesh answered a variety of questions, Morris said she learned that “People with disabilities can do the same thing as us … [and to] treat them the way you want to be treated.”
