DGCKids

DGCKids Receives Funding from the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources!

At its board meeting, the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources (DD Resources) approved an investment in DGCKids' Youth Programs.

That investment is part of $7,654,593 in total FY27 community investments supporting almost 1,600 individuals and families across St. Louis City, and we're grateful DGCKids is one of them.

Thank you for making adventure possible for DGCKids!



(for accessibility)
A dark blue graphic with "Thank you!" in white cursive script, the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources logo, and the DGCKids logo, alongside three photos: a child horseback riding with two adults, a child in blue goggles smiling, and two people playing accessible mini golf on a green.

75 years, one Thursday (and sometimes Friday!) at a time. Follow along as we dig into the DGCKids archives to celebrate how far we've come!

2010s: Tandem Adventurers Takes Off

Throughout the 2010s, the Tandem Adventurers program gained momentum, connecting children who are blind or have a visual impairment with sighted Captains for the joy and freedom of cycling.

That momentum hasn't slowed down. Riders (ages 10 and up) and Tandem Captains (incredible long-term volunteers!) are still logging mile after mile together.

Have you ridden with a Tandem Adventurers Captain, or have you volunteered with this cool and empowering cycling program? Tell us about it in the comments!

Adventurers


Two cyclists ride a tandem bicycle down a road, a woman pedaling in front and a young rider seated behind her, both wearing helmets and matching jerseys. A third cyclist rides alongside them on a solo bike.

What a wonderful afternoon at Daniel's Farm & Greenhouses!

Thank you to Daniel's Farm for hosting our All-Family Event. DGCKids enjoyed a petting zoo, a train ride, and pumpkin decorating with tactile materials so every child could join in the fun.

A special thank you to the women from Delta Gamma at Saint Louis University for volunteering their time to make the day extra special. Moments like these remind us how much community support means to the families we serve!



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Image 1: Five Delta Gamma volunteers smile together at a check-in table decorated with a DGCKids banner, a "Welcome to Daniel's Farm" sign, and a "Volunteer Sign-In" sign, inside a greenhouse.

Image 2: Four decorated pumpkins with felt hats, googly eyes, stickers, and pipe-cleaner mustaches sit lined up on a wooden fence rail.

Image 3: A young child stands at a petting zoo fence, reaching toward a cow through the wire, with hay scattered on the ground.

Image 4: A child sits on a bench chatting with a volunteer at the check-in table, with a DGCKids tablecloth and "Volunteer Sign-In" sign visible nearby.

Image 5: A volunteer pets a gray cat standing next to a small cardboard box.

DGCKids in the COMMUNITY

What a great day at the VisionWalk in Creve Coeur!

Thank you to the Foundation Fighting Blindness for putting on such a meaningful event, and to everyone who stopped by our table to learn more about DGCKids and the families we serve.

It's always energizing to connect with our partners across the vision community and remind folks that support and resources are available right here in St. Louis, from birth through high school graduation!

Anne, Director of Community Engagement, is pictured with friends from Missouri School for the Blind and St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We are grateful to stand alongside such strong partners in this work.




Three women stand together smiling under a white canopy tent, in front of a table with a Missouri School for the Blind/DBTAP Outreach tablecloth and water bottles, with willow trees in the background.

75 years, one Thursday (and sometimes Friday!) at a time. Follow along as we dig into the DGCKids archives to celebrate how far we've come!

2008: A New Home for DGCKids

In 2008, DGCKids reached a major milestone: purchasing our current home at 1750 S. Big Bend Blvd. To make it possible, we launched a $3.5 million capital campaign, an incredible undertaking that reflected just how much our community believed in the mission.

The Center houses classrooms, an art room, a light room for sensory needs, a music room, a gross motor room with a ball pit and swings for therapy, a community room, a garage for our Tandem Adventurers bikes, and the office space where our staff works every day to bring our mission to life.

Have you visited us at 1750 S. Big Bend? What's your favorite room in the building? Tell us in the comments!





A circular room in the middle of the Center has red, green, orange, and teal columns with different tactile surfaces beneath a ceiling reading "Lighthouse for the Blind," leading down a hallway.

September is CVI Awareness Month.

Did you know Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is the most common cause of childhood blindness and low vision?

An estimated 1 in 30 kids have CVI-related visual difficulties, and most go undiagnosed. CVI is still widely misunderstood, and often missed or mistaken for something else.

At DGCKids, we support children who are blind or have a visual impairment, including those with CVI, and their families. We also bring free vision screenings directly into the community, prioritizing underserved and at-risk families who may not otherwise have access to care, because early detection can make all the difference!

Want to learn more about CVI? Check out this resource from Perkins School for the Blind: https://www.perkins.org/what-is-cvi/



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Image 1: Illustration of a child wearing glasses. Text reads: "September is CVI Awareness Month."

Image 2: Illustration of a head with colored shapes near the eyes. Text reads: "When the brain struggles to process what the eyes see, it's called Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). CVI is often missed or mistaken for something else."

Image 3: Graphic with illustrated children's silhouettes. Text reads: "1 in 30 kids have CVI-related visual difficulties. Most go undiagnosed."

Image 4: Illustration of a person using a white cane. Text reads: "CVI is the most common cause of childhood blindness and low vision. But CVI isn't widely recognized, diagnosed, or understood by educators or the medical community."

Volunteer UPDATE

Thank You, Maryville Reaches Out (MRO)!

We're grateful to the volunteers from Maryville University's annual MRO program.

This dedicated team rolled up their sleeves to clean and sanitize our classrooms, motor room, and light room, giving kids a healthy, safe space to gather.

They also tackled the art supply closet, getting it organized so our staff can spend less time searching and more time creating.

These "behind-the-scenes" projects don't always get the spotlight, but they make a big difference.

Thank you, Maryville volunteers, for your hard work and heart!




Image 1: Four women stand together smiling in front of a DGCKids step-and-repeat backdrop, all wearing matching black "Maryville Reaches Out" T-shirts.

Image 2: Two volunteers kneel on the floor of a music room, wiping down toys and setting up small chairs and colorful instruments.

Image 3: A volunteer sits on the floor near a play mat, organizing toys including a shape sorter, stacking rings, and toy vehicles.

Image 4: An open supply closet with shelves of cluttered craft materials, art supplies, and children's seating equipment.

Image 5: An open supply closet with shelves of organized craft supplies, paper goods, and children's seating equipment.

75 years, one Thursday (and sometimes Friday!) at a time. Follow along as we dig into the DGCKids archives to celebrate how far we've come!

2003: The GRADS program goes permanent!

What began as a pilot became a mainstay. GRADS (Group Recreation and Developmental Support) officially joined DGCKids as a permanent program, giving school-age kids a place to play, try new things, and grow together.

That one program grew into the six groups families know today: Buddy Builders, Explorers, Navigators, Voyagers, Challengers, and Pathfinders!

What program or activity made a difference for your family? Tell us below!



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Three people stand on a snowy ski slope wearing skis, helmets, and goggles. A child in the middle wears a purple jacket and yellow helmet, with a volunteer ski guide on each side, both wearing orange "Blind Ski Guide" safety vests.

Community Event!

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