For some visually impaired children and their families, there's more to discover at the annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt than the delights of spring.

FILE 2007/Staff photo

Felisa Minor led Jennifer Vargas, 8, under a canopy as Jennifer and TyJanae Duncan, 6, participated in some pre-hunt activities at the annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt last year in Dallas.

It can be a parent's lifeline.

"There are a lot of new parents who don't know what to do," said LaTanya Aaron, whose daughter, Kele Gonzales, 7, participates each year. "They've not been around a lot of blind children. It's a chance to uplift them as well as the kids.

"I was fortunate that when I found out my daughter was blind, I met a woman who had a 16-year-old blind child, and she was able to give me guidance. Now, I can give that to someone else."

The Thursday hunt at Flag Pole Hill Park is sponsored by AT&T's Pioneers and held in conjunction with the Dallas school district.

The children track down beeping eggs. There will also be a petting zoo, photos with the Easter bunny and other activities.

"We provide them with lunch and goodies, and then we partner them with an AT&T employee for the hunt," said Shirlene Wilkerson, president of the employee group. "They also receive goodies when the hunt is over."

There are about 260 visually impaired children in the Dallas district. Between 50 and 75 children participate in the hunt. They are joined by their parents, siblings, teachers and AT&T volunteers.

"It will bring tears to your eyes," said Ms. Wilkerson, who has volunteered at the hunt for about 16 of its 21 years. "It's something to behold. The children listen to the sound and follow it. We decorate the egg and set it in Easter grass with candy and toys and all sorts of things around it."

The event is popular with the students, who meet and make friends with others who share their struggles.

"Boy, they talk about it from the beginning of the school year," said vision skills teacher Carol Danielson. "It's one opportunity our kids have to get with other vision-impaired kids in the district – for them to get together and renew friendships."

Ms. Aaron said Kele is the only visually impaired student at Seagoville Elementary.

"Fortunately, it's a small school, and she gets a lot of attention from the staff and the other children," Ms. Aaron said. "However, a lot of schools are bigger, and there's maybe only one blind child, and they don't get that attention from the other children. A lot of children have never met another blind child."

Ms. Danielson said the children aren't the only ones who benefit from the hunt.

"It's also a chance for all the parents to meet other parents of visually impaired children," she said. "Our parents can be just as isolated as the kids."

The school district knows it can rely on the Pioneers group, Ms. Danielson said.

"The help they give our visually impaired students is just wonderful," she said. "If we really have a need, they're the first people we call. What is ultimately the most important thing is for families to participate in a normal spring activity. With some modifications, their blind children can do what any other child does at Easter."

Carolyn Tillery is a freelance writer in Dallas.

tillery@swbell.net

Event: AT&T Pioneers Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

When: Thursday, 11 a.m. for ages 1-6 and 11:30 for ages 7-12

Where: Flag Pole Hill Park, 8100 Doran Circle in Dallas

In case of rain:

Knights of Columbus Hall, 10110 Shoreview Drive in Dallas