DGCKids

Volunteer OPPORTUNITY!

Our outdoor playspace needs some TLC, and we're looking for a volunteer (or a crew!) who can bring a power washer and help us get it clean and safe for our kids to enjoy this summer.

A freshened-up outdoor space will make a real difference for the children and families we work with.

Have a power washer and a few hours to spare? Drop us a comment, send a message, or email [email protected].




Volunteers Needed for Powerwashing is the title on a green-background graphic with three bullet points (clean up the outdoor playspace, BYO power washer, July 10 goal), a circular photo of a power washer in action, and contact info at [email protected]. The DGCKids logo is in the bottom right-hand corner.

Thank You, The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum!

What an incredible evening! Last weekend, 137 people, including DGCKids families, staff, and volunteers, took over The Magic House for our All Family Night.

The joy in every room was impossible to miss. From exploring exhibits to making new connections, it was exactly the kind of night our community needed. Thank you to The Magic House for opening its doors and making this free, fun evening possible for our families!





Image 1: Three DGCKids staff members in red volunteer shirts smile together in front of The Magic House's "A 90s Summer" photo backdrop, surrounded by colorful balloons.

Image 2: A parent holds her young child, who uses a white cane, as they explore the photo backdrop together.

Image 3: A young girl with a white cane smiles proudly on a bench in front of the backdrop, holding a Stitch plush toy.

Image 4: Families gather around a child in a mobility device in the main hall of The Magic House.

Image 5: Two toddlers explore an interactive alphabet wall.

Center UPDATE

DGCKids will be closed on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

We will reopen on Monday, June 22!




A bold graphic with the word "Juneteenth" in gold lettering on a dark background, with red, green, and gold accents, and the DGCKids logo.

We are so proud of Luke!

Luke, a DGCKid, has been named a winner of the 13th Annual Youth Leadership Award by the Governor's Council on Disability.

Luke was the first blind student at his school to enroll in an AP course and apply to the Bridge to Success Program. He completed the S.O.A.R. program through Lighthouse for the Blind - St. Louis, evaluates digital materials for textbook publishers, secures audio descriptions for community events, and tutors younger students in assistive technology. He plans to pursue certification as an Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist, so he can keep improving the lives of others with low vision.

He is also a leader in the DGCKids program, Tandem Adventurers, cycling hundreds of miles each season!

Luke, you inspire us every day. Congratulations!




Luke stands with his family and a representative from the Governor's Council on Disability on an outdoor balcony overlooking a lake. He is holding his white cane and his award, smiling for the photo.

Important Study Needs Our Help!

Researchers at Northern Illinois University are studying word learning and vocabulary development in children who are blind, and they need our help!

This NIH-funded study is working to create age-based language norms that don't yet exist, which could make a real difference for kids and families in our community.

Participating families will receive $250, and sessions are conducted online.

A child may be eligible if they:
✔ Are ages 5–14
✔ Met the WHO definition of blindness by age 2
✔ Reside in the US or Canada and speak English as their primary language

Visit the PenLAB website to sign up or learn more: niu.edu/pen-lab/participate

Please share widely, this research matters!

Participate | PEN Lab | Northern Illinois University Earn an Amazon e-gift card by participating in a vocabulary study! We are recruiting children who are blind and children who are sighted, ages 5-14.

Space Camp Registration is Open! 🔭🪐

DGCKids and families the information is below!

Lighthouse for the Blind - St. Louis

Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students "We are all here to learn with our peers. Let us celebrate our similarities and our differences. Let us respect other cultures, religions, and languages. At our beginning, many were given little chance but due to the people in our lives, we find ourselves in a wonderful place with wonderful people.....

Thank you to Jack and Troop 492 for an incredible Eagle Scout project! 🦅

Jack built balance bars and a ball ramp for DGCKids, handcrafted tools that will help our kids build strength, balance, and confidence every single day.

We are grateful for the heart behind this project. Jack and Troop 492, you've made a lasting difference in the lives of our kids and families. Thank you!





Image 1: Jack Inkley in his Scout uniform delivering the balance bars through the front entrance of DGCKids.

Image 2: Close-up of a balance bar with a metal plaque reading "Proud Eagle Scout Project of Jack Inkley – Troop 492 – May 2026."

Image 3: Jack standing proudly with the completed balance bars and ball ramp inside the Center.

A heartfelt thank you to the Productive Living Board!

At their May board meeting, PLB approved over $31 million in total community investments supporting more than 4,600 individuals and families across St. Louis County. DGCKids is proud to be part of the community of organizations they trust to do this critical work.

PLB's publicly funded services help residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities live more independently and participate fully in their communities.

That mission runs parallel to everything we do at DGCKids every single day, where we provide services from birth through high school graduation to children who are blind or have a visual impairment, helping every child and family thrive.

We are grateful for partners like PLB who believe that every person deserves the opportunity to shine.

Thank you, PLB!

Learn more about PLB at PLBoard.com.




A joyful toddler wearing a graduation cap is holding a diploma up in the air against a purple and teal background, alongside the PLB logo, the text "Thank you," the PLB logo with the tagline "Empowerment Across a Lifetime," and the DGCKids logo.

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! 💦🌈

🌱 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.