The most popular teacher at CEID isn’t a person, though — it’s a Labrador/golden retriever named Nan that lives with CEID’s executive director, Cindy Dickeson. She teaches the kids abstract concepts such as “up,” “down,” “over,” “under,” etc.
In addition to pulling the kids in a cart in the play yard, she helps them select words during speech therapy. Best of all, Nan never judges them. She always greets the children with a happy face and a wagging tail, and they adore her. For 19 years, CEID’s biggest fundraiser has been the annual Walk-A-Thon around Lake Merritt in Oakland, but they had to cancel it for the last two years because of the pandemic. Ever resourceful, they turned it into a virtual event, with people participating virtually in their own neighborhoods, getting friends and neighbors to sponsor their walks and sending pictures on social media.
The virtual version will be back this year, but it also will be joined by the returned in-person event, which will take place Saturday. If you want to take part, meet just to the left of the entrance to Children’s Fairyland at 10 a.m. to buy a T-shirt. The walk will start at 11, and Nan will lead the parade. Whether you want to get involved online or in-person, visit CEID’s webpage atAnd please, if you suspect your child or child someone else’s has hearing problems, contact CEID immediately.