ORLANDO, Fla. — Inclusivity was the focus of an Easter egg hunt held in downtown Orlando, just outside the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
It was led by members of the Orlando Fire Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad, along with leaders of Lighthouse Central Florida. The nonprofit works with people who are visually impaired in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
“It’s a confidence builder. We’ve had some of our older kids share that it’s the first time they’ve hunted for eggs by themselves without their siblings helping them or without a parent helping them,” said Director of Program Services Kerri Marczuk.
OFD’s Lieutenant Aaron Stover says all it took was simple wiring on their end to make large plastic eggs beep.
“We have a switch on the bottom that activates egg,” explained Stover. “Inside the egg, we have a simple wire setup, we have a nine volt battery going to a buzzer, and when it’s fully activated, the switch will activate a loud buzzer that makes the audible sound.”
Families, such as Molly Baugher and her four-year-old son Maverick, participated. Baugher says her son has bilateral microphthalmia, a condition where his eyes are a smaller size.
“For him, the microphthalmia does equate to being blind, but there’s a broad spectrum of it,” said Baugher.
The quick fix to a standard plastic egg allows kids like Maverick enjoy a holiday tradition, while parents know they are not alone.
“It feels more like I have a family that gets what’s happening and that they’re pretty cool,” said Baugher.
Stover says it is a heartwarming event to throw each year.
“With the background of our knowledge in electronics, we decided to put this in here and give children a unique holiday experience that they normally wouldn’t have,” he said.