New Braille Book Makes City of Presidents More Accessible
History at Your Fingertips
A new braille book is making the City of Presidents and downtown Rapid City easier to explore, thanks to a Girl Scout Gold Award project by local Riley Thomasson that was completed in time for the America 250 celebration.
"Riley saw a gap and did something about it, and that's worth celebrating," said Ally Formanek, CEO of Visit Rapid City. "Accessibility is always at the forefront of our minds, and this project moves us closer to a downtown that truly welcomes every visitor."
There are four braille booklets – each containing directions and details about the City of Presidents and local Rapid City information – that are available to be checked out at the Rapid City Visitor Center downtown. The booklet allows people to know where the presidential statues are located and to learn about them, while a separate tactile map allows users to feel the streets and buildings in Rapid City.
This project came about as Thomasson was working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award in Girl Scouts, and considering how she could make a difference in her community.
“While there are plaques, apps and maps for the City of Presidents, they were not useful for individuals who are blind or visually impaired,” said Thomasson. “My focus for my Girl Scout Gold Award – which has high standards – was how I could make a difference in my community and have a long-term impact.”
Thomasson began working on this project nearly a year ago, with research, ease of use and more going into the development of the braille booklets. To earn a Girl Scout Gold Award, a minimum of 80 hours must be spent on a project that makes a lasting impact on the community. Thomasson has spent nearly triple that amount of time and has taken a thoughtful approach to the project that would help her earn her award.
“I wanted to be sure that individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the same access to a big part of Rapid City,” said Thomasson. “It’s important that all locals and visitors feel welcome and can learn about what makes Rapid and the City of Presidents so special.”
While Thomasson spearheaded the project, she worked with other groups – including state and accessibility groups, schools and Visit Rapid City – to make sure pertinent information was included and that the book was laid out and designed in the best way possible.
“My biggest hope for this project is that it can have an impact on at least one person, but hopefully many more,” added Thomasson. “History deserves to be at the fingertips of all people and this project makes that dream one step closer.”
Booklets can be checked out at the Rapid City Visitor Center, located at 613 Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October 31.
For more information about Visit Rapid City, check out VisitRapidCity.com.
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About Visit Rapid City
Visit Rapid City is the official marketing organization for Rapid City and promotes leisure travel, meetings and conventions, and sporting events to Rapid City and the Black Hills area. More information can be found at VisitRapidCity.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest or discover images and content with #VisitRapidCity.
Visit Rapid City Media Contact:
Tia Troy
tia@lightningbugpublicrelations.com