CALABASAS : Leonis Adobe Delights Deaf, Blind Visitors

Hands flew fast and furious in silent conversation Wednesday, as 60 deaf and blind visitors from throughout the United States toured the Old West-era Leonis Adobe in Calabasas.

“It’s so pretty,” said Kathleen Spear of Pennsylvania, who is legally blind, as she rubbed a shoe worn by the wife of settler Miguel Leonis. “What color is it?”

Outside the historic ranch house, some of the more than 40 volunteer specialists tapped the hands of their adult companions, translating letter by letter the history of Leonis, who ruled most of the western San Fernando Valley with an iron fist during the late 1800s.

Other groups gathered at displays set up by the Adobe staff to feel tools and artifacts from the Wild West days.

“It’s a spice grinder,” Pat Scepan said, tapping the words into the hand of Lois Finocchiaro, who is both blind and partially deaf. Finocchiaro seemed not to understand until her hand found the object and she began turning the antique handle. Then her face lit up with recognition, and she was eager to move on to the next object--an early waffle iron.

“We picked out some of our best objects to feel,” said Phyllis Jones, director of the Leonis Adobe. “Other than that, this is a lot like our regular tours.”

The visit to Calabasas was part of the weeklong itinerary for about 350 delegates to the American Assn. of the Deaf and Blind’s 17th annual convention. The event, held in previous years in mostly Eastern and Southern cities, is being hosted hosted by Cal State Northridge this year.

The schedule for the blind and deaf and their interpreters, many of whom also traveled from the East Coast for the convention, includes self-help and other workshops, games and dances and trips to Olvera Street, Venice Beach and various amusement parks and cultural centers.

“Without an interpreter, it would be very difficult to understand and communicate in places like this,” motioned Stephen Erlich, a Seattle resident who says he was the first totally blind and deaf person to earn a master’s degree from CSUN. “But a skilled interpreter really enables me to enjoy all of this.”