Just about every day, 11-year-old John Lipsey tells a joke to his classmates at Copperview Elementary School.
Lipsey can tell by the laughter - or the groans - from his fifth-grade colleagues if his bit is well received, but he can't see the smiles on faces he entertains.Born blind, Lipsey tipped the scale at just under 2 pounds when he was born 15 weeks early, but the fifth-grader holds a weighty presence among a roomful of students - and recently, among legislators at the Utah State Capitol.
In his first year of mainstream schooling in the Jordan District, Lipsey parlayed a school assignment to write an "I Have a Dream" speech into a legislative resolution that urges county clerks in Utah to provide ballots in Braille.
Tenets of the resolution fit the assignment theme, which was to describe how to make the world a better place, Lipsey said. "Since I'm blind, I just thought of something that makes it easier for a blind person to get around without assistance."
In a letter to Gov. Mike Leavitt, Lipsey said: "I think there should be Braille ballots because blind people are entitled to privacy." Blind voters must take a person with sight into the voting booth and have that person punch the correct buttons.
Cheri Hall, who teaches Lipsey math, spelling and writing and music, said she found the "teaching moment" in each step of Lipsey's quest. She put Lipsey in touch with Sen. Scott Howell, D-Granite, who wrote the resolution.
Her class studied how a bill becomes a law, then how to write a business letter and telephone etiquette as the students called and wrote their representatives in support of the resolution.
After hearing testimony from Lipsey in late February, the Senate unanimously passed SCR3. The House followed shortly after.
Later this month, Leavitt has invited the fifth-graders to the Utah State Capitol for a signing celebration, and an assembly April 10 will honor Lipsey's efforts.
Before 1959, more than half of visually impaired students went to residential schools for the blind. In the 1960s those percentage were reversed, with the bulk going to mainstream schools, said Lee Robinson, superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
So schools like his have adjusted.
"As communication and transportation have improved, more have been able to attend regular school," Robinson said. Technology has changed, and more emphasis is placed on computers now. Like always, the school tries to adhere to state-mandated core cur-riculum, and daily living skills training hasn't changed much.
There are 97 students enrolled in the Jordan District: 47 are in special education and 43 are mainstreamed, said Patty Dahl, a district spokeswoman. Another hand-ful attend "cluster units" in special education classes within schools throughout the district.
In the Copperview classrooms where Lipsey spends his days, classmates take over some of the helping roles.
Hall says the students have learned much about tolerance and differences this year, and students who attend class with Lipsey are proud of their classmate and of their limited knowledge of the Braille language and the "Braille and Speak" machine he uses.
"In the cafeteria we tell him what to eat and what not to eat," said Trevor Lang, 11.
Lance Brown, also 11, says he and others are willing to lead their friend to the auditorium or out to recess, but only if Lipsey asks for assistance.
There are fun aspects of his disability. In his first few days at Copperview, Lipsey came into Hall's room and announced: "We've been playing blind man's bluff, and I've been the blind man!"
Shane Landon, 11, marvels that Lipsey can follow voices around the room and remember students' voices. Lipsey skis and is learning to cook.
Even without the novelty of his disability, Lipsey would be a highlight in a classroom, say Hall. He's a better than average piano player. He loves to sing and will gleefully applaud the songs and events and comments from friends that bring him joy.
He entertains his class with anecdotes from his favorite show of the week from the Nickelodeon Channel.
"He's wonderful to have in class," Hall said. "He's teaching us all a lot."