Bomb squad rigs beepers for egg hunt, to delight of visually impaired

Among about 300 guests who showed up Saturday at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina for a unique Easter egg hunt for the visually impaired was Jenny Kirkland, a mother of three who recalls attending the same event when she was a child.

The annual Beeper Egg Hunt, organized by the nonprofit Beyond Blindness, features brightly colored plastic eggs that are equipped with special beepers laid out among smaller, candy-filled plastic eggs. The guided activity transitions the visually impaired and blind children toward independent skills by learning navigation through auditory clues.

“We went to the Newport Dunes 25 years ago when I was in preschool,” Kirkland said. Two of her children now receive services in the Beyond Blindness program, she said, making Saturday’s hunt a family affair.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department donated and placed 50 beeper device eggs for the holiday-themed event.

“The collaboration relationship gives our bomb squad team the opportunity to construct and communicate with the community,” said Carrie Braun, spokeswoman for the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. “It helps us to connect with kids in a way that is beneficial for the organization, and we’re so glad to do it.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Daniel Smith, left, Sgt. Timm Pusztai and Investigator Ernie Ragadio prepare to place plastic eggs that they equipped with beepers on the grassy area of the Newport Dunes & Waterfront Resort for children attending the Beyond Blindness event on Saturday.

(Susan Hoffman)

Among the three bomb squad specialists involved in the project was Sgt. Timm Pusztai, who explained that the beepers were a simple switch series circuit with a battery.

“It’s similar to training with bomb-making,” said Pusztai. “It gives our guys a better understanding of basic electronics.”

He added that the nonprofit International Assn. of Bomb Technicians and Investigators provides the circuits, and the O.C. Sheriff’s Department supplies the battery and assembly.

“The local bomb squad makes them, and we donate our time to support the event,” said Pusztai. “The IABTI has done this throughout the U.S. for the visually impaired.”

Caedia Seo places a plastic egg in her bag on Saturday during the Beyond Blindness Beeper Egg Hunt held at the Newport Dunes & Waterfront Resort.

(Susan Hoffman)

Beyond Blindness, formerly Blind Children’s Learning Center, was formed 62 years ago with a mission of empowering children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential, according to its website.

Meredith Cagle, director of strategy and innovation for Beyond Blindness, explained how the organization’s new name, adopted last June, better represents what the nonprofit does.

“By providing services to other challenges, we’re serving wider age and abilities and different areas with challenges,” said Cagle.

“The partnership with Newport Dunes created an event where all abilities can adapt, for example, depth perception, limited fields of view, low vision, no vision, limited mobility, walkers and wheelchairs,” Cagle said.

Jenny Kirkland, a former Blind Center for Children student, helps her daughter, Bree, 4, decorate an Easter bag to collect plastic eggs at the Newport Dunes & Waterfront Resort on Saturday.

(Susan Hoffman)

She explained that families love these events because they allow a child to have new experiences in a safe environment without pressure.

“Nobody batted an eye because it’s a safe supportive environment,” said Cagle. “Parents are inspired and encouraged by the way children are able to participate in all kinds of activities that they would have [otherwise] been cautious to try.”

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