Music to Our Ears! Children with Vision Loss Receive Ukulele Lessons & Experience Hands-On Aircraft Touch Tour

TORRANCE, California — Partners for Pediatric Vision (PPV) and Vistas for Children partnered up once again for their annual event, "Notes Bring Hope" free ukulele lessons on July 28, 2024, at the Torrance Airport community room.

Volunteer musician Mark Fitchett of Fitchett Guitar School in Torrance shared his enthusiasm and talent for playing ukulele with children who receive vision education and support services from Partners for Vision. Vistas for Children, a philanthropic organization comprised of volunteers from the Greater South Bay coordinated the sighted buddies from Junior Vistas who were paired with a child with vision loss. All the children took home their ukuleles to continue building their skills and playing for fun thanks to the generosity of Vistas member Shari Sunada and her husband Craig.

A short walk away, the Western Museum of Flight welcomed the children and families for an up-close experience with aircraft and space exploration. Volunteers with knowledge of aeronautics led the children with visual impairment through experiences that included sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet and exploring engines, missiles, model aircraft and a kids aerospace discovery zone.

Children who receive services from Partners for Pediatric Vision learn experientially because of their vision loss. Hands-on opportunities like ukulele lessons and up-close museum touch tours are unique learning experiences. Notes Bring Hope and the Western Museum of Flight Touch Tour are two of PPV's meaningful family events where parents and siblings of children with visual impairment can meet one another and have fun.

“It's a very nice experience, the children learn a lot of new things. These kinds of events help our children learn that they can accomplish so much in life, despite their visual impairment," said Maria and Ezequiel, parents of Camila and Jacob, siblings who have vision challenges due to their Oculocutaneous Albinism.

Check out NBC 4's coverage of the event below