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Without sight, other senses guide these visitors to the Minnesota State Fair

A group of staff and students from BLIND Inc. navigated the Minnesota State Fair by planning ahead and using environmental cues.

By Jerry Holt

September 2, 2023 at 7:27PM
Chelsey Duranleau, Assistant Director BLIND, Inc. leads a group of students from their school to the bus stop. Staff and students spent the day navigating crowded streets, eating cheese curd tacos, cheeseburgers, corn, Sweet Martha's cookies and enjoying rides in the midway at the Minnesota State Fair.
Harley Acy, a home management instructor at BLIND, Inc. took a city bus ride to the Minnesota State Fair. Paying attention to environmental cues such as the sun as well as the knowledge of the grid-like streets of the fairgrounds helps those who are blind navigate the fair.
Isabellah Khang 21, left a student at the Blind, Inc. in Minneapolis, shared a ride at the fair with Chelsey Duranleau, Assistant Director BLIND, Inc. Asking thoughtful questions like "Could you tell me where the cheese curd taco stand is from here?" helps the group have a better understanding of how they can get to where they want to go.
Isabellah Khang 21, a student at the Blind, Inc. in Minneapolis, (front) shared cheese curd tacos with Dillion Kuester, 23, left, Jamie Richey, interim Executive Director, and Chelsey Duranleau, Assistant Director BLIND, Inc. at the Minnesota State Fair.
Harley Acy, a home management instructor at BLIND, Inc. reads braille for instructions on a scavenger hunt.
Chelsey Duranleau, Assistant Director BLIND, Inc. says "the smell of farm animals or hay could tell us that we are near the horses". She touched a lamb in the Miracle of Birth Center. Smells of beer, farm animals, french fries, mini donuts and more help them navigate the fair.
Isabellah Khang left, and Dillion Kuester touch a bunny at the Miracle of Birth Center.
Isabellah Khang right, and Christopher Cruz with Jamie Richey laughed as they made the sounds of a baby lamb at the Miracle of Birth Center. Sound cues such as animal sounds, karaoke, loud music from the midway and other's conversations helped the group navigate the fair.
Jamie Richey left, interim executive director and Isabellah Khang 21, both are blind and spent the day with other students from the school.
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Chelsey Duranleau, Assistant Director BLIND, Inc. leads a group of students from their school to the bus stop. Staff and students spent the day navigating crowded streets, eating cheese curd tacos, cheeseburgers, corn, Sweet Martha's cookies and enjoying rides in the midway at the Minnesota State Fair. (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/guest)
about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Holt

Photographer

Jerry Holt has been a Minnesota Star Tribune staff photographer since 1990.

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