Racha Turki is an elementary school student, she is deaf-blind, and she is a potter.

Racha began pottery at the Moshier Community Art Center in Burien in the fall of 2004, working with Donna Shaman and Meg Johnson, a pediatric occupational therapist and an orientation and mobility instructor respectively.

Pottery is definitely Racha's favorite activity, and she is always delighted to play and create with clay during pottery sessions.

On a Saturday pottery morning, Racha's foster mother, using tactile sign language, signs the phrase "pottery wheel" into Racha's hand. Racha becomes so excited, and she responds with sign language, "pottery wheel, clay, happy."

At Moshier, Racha uses a "schedule box" to communicate the schedule of her Saturday pottery program. In the box, from left to right, are pottery-related symbols. As each pottery activity is completed, Racha puts the symbol into a "finished box".

For example, first Racha picks up a piece of apron string, Meg signs "apron on," and Meg and Racha walk to find an apron. Next, a wire represents "wedge clay." When wedging is finished, a small metal disc informs Racha that it is time to work on the wheel.

Racha loves the pottery wheel, where she sits with Donna and Meg on each side of her. Racha controls the speed-the faster the better.

After the phrase "1, 2, 3 whack!" is signed under her hand, Racha throws a ball of clay onto the wheel. With help, Racha has learned to push down the clay, make a hole in the center and pull open the walls to make a bowl.

When the bowl is finished, Racha is newly learning that the bowl is a "finished product" instead of happily squishing the finished bowl!

Deaf-blind persons learn and understand only what they can reach and touch. The pottery wheel offers an extraordinary mode for intense tactile exploration, language development, enjoyment and learning.

Racha has learned a lot while making pottery. She has expanded her knowledge of many new words, such as: clay, wheel, wire, hole, and hand build.

Racha has also learned the routine and sequence of wedging, dividing the clay into balls, and throwing bowls, as well as learning to make choices between hand building and working on the pottery wheel.

During the next year, there will be lots more for Racha to learn at Moshier.

Soon, Racha will make the important connection of "bowl"-understanding that there is a connection between her thrown, wet bowl and her cereal bowl at home.

She will learn about kilns and glazing.

And Racha will learn that there are many pottery wheels, other potters, and many beautiful pots at Moshier.

As Racha gains more independence on the wheel, she will learn to make different types of pots.

Racha, her foster mother Doris Camp, Donna and Meg expressed thanks to the Moshier Community Art Center of the Burien Parks and Recreation Department and its staff for their generosity in providing a long-term scholarship and providing Saturday studio space for Racha to study pottery.

Watching Racha learn pottery at Moshier has been an extraordinary and joyful experience for all of us.

Gina Kallman is an Art Specialist at Moshier Community Art Center in Burien.