Class of '14 Donates $500 to Blind Teen's Braille Project at Morristown High School

Andrew Chin’s handicap hasn’t stopped him from doing anything in his young life, and he’s on the verge of helping others just like him.

Thanks to a school community that believes in giving and helping its own, Chin can finally realize his project.

Chin is a freshman at Morristown High School that suffers from Stargardts Disease, a form of Juvenile Macular Degeneration. He currently only has peripheral vision and is legally blind. The disease, unfortunately, is progressive and Andrew will eventually become completely blind.

But that hasn’t stopped him for one second. The Life Scout in Troop 228 of Morristown is working on his Eagle Scout project and plans to put Braille signs throughout the school so other visually impaired students can independently move around the school without assistance.

The outgoing senior class has come to Chin’s aid and donated $500 to him for the project on behalf of the Class of 2014. With the guidance of advisor Susan Mele, the seniors raised money over the past four years in a variety of ways including their famous Gertrude Hawk chocolate sales, t-shirt, pinnie, powder puff jersey, and bake sales.

Chin is planning on having a Blindness Awareness Day in the fall to education the community to the needs of those who live with blindness. Chin has already surpassed his goal of producing 89 Braille signs to be posted throughout the high school.

Information courtesy Susan Mele.