Sight unseen: Committee sponsors event to spread awareness
Phoebe O'Dell
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News
On November 16 Patriot Hall held an event like nothing else the Mount has seen before. In fact, participants could not see.
'A Day in Their Shoes' Committee sponsored an event last Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where participants were able to experience how it felt to be blind or another type of disabled vision. According to Committee member Janee Phillips, "This is a test-run for a program that will hopefully take place next semester-it's like the pilot."
It was a successful event in that students were constantly lined up to try the next activity. There was an obstacle course, different leveled puzzles, signature machine, and a Braille activity. These activities allowed students to experience the difficulty of sight disabilities.
The obstacle course was especially challenging. The participant was required to wear blind folders that covered and blocked light at all angles making them essentially blind. With the glasses on, the participant then used a walking cane to help navigate their way through cones and then around Patriot Hall. Another person was on the participant's side the whole time in order to avoid any unwanted collisions. This activity was especially interesting in that participants learned firsthand the feelings of a blind individual.
Myke Robinson, an organizer of the event, said the purpose of the event was to, "raise awareness and just think about how somebody else might feel."
According to Robinson the Committee will sponsor a similar event in April. This event will focus on other disabilities and cultures as well.
"Everyone's different, everyone has a flaw, but we're all equal," stated Robinson. Events like these are good for the Mount community to recognize one's flaws, understand them, and learn to better accept them.
'A Day in Their Shoes' Committee sponsored an event last Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where participants were able to experience how it felt to be blind or another type of disabled vision. According to Committee member Janee Phillips, "This is a test-run for a program that will hopefully take place next semester-it's like the pilot."
It was a successful event in that students were constantly lined up to try the next activity. There was an obstacle course, different leveled puzzles, signature machine, and a Braille activity. These activities allowed students to experience the difficulty of sight disabilities.
The obstacle course was especially challenging. The participant was required to wear blind folders that covered and blocked light at all angles making them essentially blind. With the glasses on, the participant then used a walking cane to help navigate their way through cones and then around Patriot Hall. Another person was on the participant's side the whole time in order to avoid any unwanted collisions. This activity was especially interesting in that participants learned firsthand the feelings of a blind individual.
Myke Robinson, an organizer of the event, said the purpose of the event was to, "raise awareness and just think about how somebody else might feel."
According to Robinson the Committee will sponsor a similar event in April. This event will focus on other disabilities and cultures as well.
"Everyone's different, everyone has a flaw, but we're all equal," stated Robinson. Events like these are good for the Mount community to recognize one's flaws, understand them, and learn to better accept them.
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