Blind teen girl experiences Rose Parade floats through touch and AI technology

PASADENA, Calif. - As visitors to Floatfest walked along the rows of floats from the Rose Parade, you could sense the "oooohs and ahhhs!" One visitor said, "They're gorgeous."

Every year after the Rose Parade, thousands head to the event where the floats people watched on TV are on display for a closer look. Another visitor said, "Oh, they look really wonderful."

But not everyone can see the beauty of the roses, flowers, beans, seeds, and leaves or the amazing designs of the floats, like this year's sweepstakes winner from the San Diego Zoo.

Chloe Padilla is 13 years old. She's blind. She saw Floatfest through her fingers. She told FOX11, "I thought a float was a humongous balloon that would carry people. Now I know it's just flowers, and they can be on top of a car or a trailer. There were roses, there was grain." She said it smelled natural. "It felt very wonderful!"

Her mom, Melissa Brownfield, said, "I have to hold back tears. It's just amazing for her to have the opportunity to explore in the way that she can." Her dad, Gilbert Padilla, noted that "it's just the joy of her getting the experience of life that everyone else gets to experience. We all get to see it, and now she's seen it for the first time in her life."

And for the volunteer, Maria Olson, watching the 13-year-old was touching. Olson was the one who granted Chloe's dad's wish that his daughter be allowed to move closer to the float inside the barricade. On that, she said, "This is my 15th parade, and this is the first time that anyone has ever asked me, and it's been... I can't even describe."

Chloe uses some new glasses with artificial intelligence and a camera. She said, "You press that button, it takes a photo." Then the AI describes what she can't see. Maria Olson said, "She doesn't have vision, and a lot of people take it for granted. I think a lot of us don't realize until you don't have something."

Now, Chloe has something she'll remember for the rest of her life, and to that, she said, "I'm very fortunate."

Floatfest continues for two more days from 1:30 to 5 p.m., with special hours in the morning for senior citizens. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, and children under five are free.