September 2017
When we were Brownies, our Troop Leader told us why she sometimes could not see our hands raised or hear us when we called her name. She had us try on glasses which simulated her vision. She then told us she has Usher syndrome. We were sad…then mad…then we decided to make a difference.
April
2018
Girl Scout Brownie Troop 1673 hosted an Usher Syndrome Awareness Event where they gave a presentation about Usher syndrome and how to use the Girl Scout Law (Strength and Courage) to overcome adversity. They also encouraged empathy through deaf/blind simulations and invited local girl scouts in their community to Dance for a Cure.
This resulted in an interview with Alison Starling on WJLA.
September 2019
Girl Scout Junior Troop 1673 met with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pam Northam to receive a signed proclamation recognizing September 21st as Usher Syndrome Awareness Day. This earned the girls part of their Bronze award.
October 2019
Girl Scout Troop 1673 heard about NoisyVision’s Yellow the World campaign and decided to Paint it Yellow! NoisyVision designed this awesome logo for our campaign.
#PAINTITYELLOW2C
#YELLOWTHEWORLD
#GIRLSCRUSHUSH
October
2019
Girl Scout Junior Troop 1673 walked in the Vienna Halloween Parade as the Three Blind Mice to raise awareness for Usher syndrome. The parade had a fairy tale theme.
February 2020
Girl Scout Junior Troop 1673 visited their state capitol to meet with Delegate Mark Keam and Janet Muldoon, Chief of Staff for Senator Richard Saslaw to talk about their Paint it Yellow campaign. The girls raised awareness for low vision and presented the need to paint it yellow for curbs, sidewalks and stairs to keep all members in our community safe. Preparation for this project earned the girls their Bronze award. However, there is much work to be done to turn a bill into a law and the girls will be returning to see their project through. This might lead to a Silver award!
September 2020
Girl Scout Troop1673 is Zooming with Governor Ralph Northam. He helped us Paint It Yellow by signing a Proclamation to recognize Usher Syndrome Awareness Day on September 19th, 2020!
September 2020
Girl Scout Troop 1673 and fellow school Girl Scout Troops 4363, 6327, 50013 and 50018 painted Meadow Lane Park benches yellow with Mayor Linda Colbert and Delegate Mark Keam. Yellow provides a high contrast making the benches easier to see for people with low vision. The troops were given a lesson in painting by RG Contractors of McLean, who also provided supplies for the event. The girls worked well together, exemplifying the sisterhood that is Girl Scouts all while helping members of their beloved town of Vienna community.
January 2021
We were finally ready to lobby our bill. We presented HB 1841 to 16 Virginia state legislators and/or their aides via Zoom. We also met with Governor Northam’s Policy Director to ensure he knew about our bill. We each presented slides explaining the importance of high visibility crosswalks and detectable warning surface tiles. We provided information about the low vision community and that well-marked crosswalks not only improve their daily lives, but keep all pedestrians safe. The presentations were well received and the delegates were very supportive. They, too, want safe crosswalks for their constituents.