The "look, but don't touch" rule at the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum was briefly suspended recently.

Wearing white gloves to protect the automobiles, about 20 visiting teens ran their hands over the massive, luxurious Packard automobiles. They poked the 2-foot tires, caressed the leather seats and palmed the steering wheels twice the size of their heads.

"It's really interesting because I can see the differences, and a few similarities, compared to cars today by touching them," said Silvio Plata, 15. "It's almost as if I had eyes and was able to see the structure, and I can get an idea of what they had back then."

Silvio and the other teens, visiting from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, listened as assistants described the dozens of cars lined around the shop so that through their senses of touch and hearing, they could "see" the vehicles for themselves.

The museum visit was part of the organization's transition program that aims to prepare teens for future job opportunities, said Carol Brady-Simmons, the chief program officer. It also places a special focus on independent living and communication skills one needs for employment and college.

"Someone who is blind can do anything a sighted person can do. They just have to do it differently," she said. "But it's really important that these kids get blind and technical skills at an early age so they can be included in society."

Bob Jacko, chief restoration officer for the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, welcomed the group with a brief history lesson about the cars, some of which date to 1908.

Packard cars were all custom built by hand, which was why they were so expensive, Jacko told the teens. He explained how much work went into creating these nearly 5,000 pound metal beasts and how the museum has maintained them all these years, which spurred a lot of questions.

"How loud is the engine?"

"How fast can it go?"

"How much gas can it hold, and what gas do you even put in it?"

"How do you keep these cars so shiny?!"

Jacko answered all of them with ease while also providing visual descriptions of the cars, such as size, color, varying parts and design.

Virginia Jacko, the president of Miami Lighthouse and Bob Jacko's wife, said it's vital to speak with blind and visually impaired persons the same as you would anyone else, so it's easier for them to assimilate into society.

She said that when people see someone with a cane or seeing-eye dog, they often attempt to communicate with them through another person, instead of speaking directly with the blind person.

Kaden Jamid, 13, said he was the only blind student at his middle school. A self-proclaimed social butterfly, blindness didn't stop Kaden from making friends and interacting with other students, but he said he loves being surrounded by others like him at Miami Lighthouse.

Silvio and Kaden, who both lost their eyesight to cancer at a very young age, have been with Miami Lighthouse since they were babies and agreed that they would not be where they are today without it.

"With Miami Lighthouse, you have an ocean of opportunities that no other person would have," Silvio said. "You have to be very special to come here, and that's what Miami Lighthouse has given us - a unique experience."

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