Ledger

Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Abby Williamson Steve Gilpin manages to play a game of Jenga blindfolded at the Vision Awareness event, held in Philip Hall Tues., Jan. 26.

As students trickled in to the William Philip Hall Student Commons, many found it humorous to play Jenga or write their names on a Twinkie blindfolded. Yet for some at the event, this activity was not just a game.
On Jan. 26, UW Tacoma's Student Activities Board held a Vision Awareness event to educate students about the vision disabilities.
"I wanted people to experience different daily activities that other people around them have to do with vision impairments," junior Melanie Hart and SAB Diversity and International Awareness Chair said.
While these activities seemed to be most popular, on one table sat a machine from Disability and Student Services that magnified any text that was held under it.
"For me, a lot of the students in my classes have vision disabilities and I always wondered what it'd be like in class," Hart said.
Students at the event found out first hand. Many found it difficult to read through this machine, which magnified the reading so much that they could only view one word at a time.
"This event means more to me personally. I grew up around these disabilities," UWT prospective student Chris Small said.
This event meant something in particular, however.
"My mom has diabetes, and recently because of her diabetes, she's going blind," Small said.
Yet, beyond the seriousness of the event for some, the event consisted of multiple tables with fun activities. Participants chose from a variety of tables including activities such as playing Jenga blindfolded, reading through glasses that represented different vision impairments and the opportunity to prepare and eat Cup o' Noodles blindfolded.
"It's hard to find more noodles when you're near the end, but it doesn't really make me feel bad for people with vision impairments, being that I have one," junior Steve Gilpin said.
Other students found the eating activity to be almost impossible.
"The set-up was the hardest part. We got to the part where we needed to pour the water in, and it didn't work," junior Basilio Ruiz said.
Though, setting up the meal wasn't originally part of the plan. "Students took it a step further by trying to set up their meal. We weren't going to have them do that since they could burn themselves with the hot water," Hart said. Participants were taking advantage of this event to fully what it would be like to suffer from low vision.
Although students found multiple activities to be more difficult than imagined, one activity proved to be easier blindfolded. Students gathered around to play the game some grew to love during childhood, Bop It.
"I think it's easier because you're more focused on the sound," junior Bryant Huynh said. As participants couldn't exactly see where they needed to pull, twist and bop, they held the complex toy up to their ears for better results.
"I think students will find it humorous, but eye-opening," Hart said. While most students may have used the event as something to pass their time, there proved to be an underlying educational aspect that they took away with them.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools