Read the full article on KETV 7
DOZENS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIT THE SLOPES AT CRESCENT HILL AT HITCHCOCK THIS MORNING. IT’S ONE OF SEVERAL EVENTS OUTLOOK ENRICHMENT HOSTS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MARY REGLI INTRODUCES US TO ONE YOUNG GIRL WHO CONQUERED A NEW CHALLENGE ON THE HILL. WE’RE JUST DOING ALL THE REGULAR THINGS, BUT PUTTING A SPECIAL TOUCH ON IT SO PEOPLE THAT ARE BLIND OR LOW VISION CAN DO IT TOO. THAT’S OUTLOOK ENRICHMENTS MISSION. THEY ADAPT ACTIVITIES LIKE SKIING TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE. IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO DO WHAT TYPICALLY TAKES THOSE OF US WITH GOOD VISION ONLY ONE PERSON TO DO. THEY PAIR VOLUNTEERS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO HELP GUIDE THEM DOWN THE SLOPES. GOOD. GOOD WORK. GO. KEEP GOING. KEEP LEANING ON YOUR HEELS. THE GUIDE IS THERE TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT YOU AVOID THE OBSTACLES. KEEP A LOOKOUT, SKI AROUND YOU BY GOING ON YOUR TOES AND YOUR HEEL. ANNA WEBER HAS SKIED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT THANKS TO OUTLOOK, SHE GOT THE CHANCE TO TRY HER HAND AT SNOWBOARDING FOR THE FIRST TIME. I’VE SEEN PEOPLE IN IT LIKE SNOWBOARDING AND IT JUST LOOKS REALLY FUN. ANNA HAS SEALED THREE BATTEN DISEASE, A FATAL GENETIC DISORDER THAT CAUSES VISION IMPAIRMENT AND LOSS OF MOVEMENT DESPITE THE DISEASE. ANNA EMBRACES THE DIFFICULTY. JUST HAVING FUN AND LEARNING A NEW THING. THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHE DECIDES TO DO ON ON HER OWN BECAUSE SHE SHE WANTS THOSE CHALLENGES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS, AND SHE MAKES IT LOOK SO EASY. SHE REALLY DOES TRY TO WORRY ABOUT ME. ANNA’S MOM SAYS WATCHING HER DAUGHTER MAKE HER WAY DOWN THE SLOPE MADE HER EMOTIONAL. IT’S SUCH A WARM. HEART FEELING, AND IT ALMOST KIND OF MAKES MY HEART FLUTTER A LITTLE EXTRA TO KNOW THAT THAT SHE IS OVERCOMING SO MUCH JUST BY. JUST BY BEING HERE. SHE’S GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OUTLOOK PROVIDES AS THEY HELP FAMILIES LIKE HERS MAKE CONNECTIONS AND FORM COMMUNITY, WHICH THEN IN TURN HELPS ANNA BECOME. MORE BRAVE AND JUS
Advertisement
Snowboarding and skiing for all: Volunteers help the visually impaired shred the slopes
Outlook Enrichment, an organization making it easier for those who are blind or visually impaired, dedicated their time and efforts to help people who are visually impaired enjoy the wonders of skiing and snowboarding at Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Sunday.The organization’s mission is to adapt activities, like skiing, to make them more accessible.Event organizers say they’re just doing all the regular things, but putting a special touch on it so people who are blind or low vision can do it too.Instead of one going down the hill at a time, two go down instead, as a volunteer helps guide them visually to avoid obstacles, keep a lookout and those skiing around them.Anna Weber has CLN3 Batten Disease, a fatal genetic disorder that causes vision impairment and loss of movement. She took to the slopes today after skiing a few times before, trying her hand at snowboarding for the first time, saying, “I’ve seen people in it, like snowboarding, and it just looks really fun.”Weber says despite the disease, she embraces the difficulty, saying she’s “just having fun and learning a new thing.”Weber’s mom says watching her daughter down the slope made her emotional, recalling,”These are things that she decides to do on her own. Because she wants those challenges just like everybody else has. And she makes it look so easy. She really does,” she said.She’s grateful for the support Outlook provides, making sure they help families like hers make connections and form community.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Outlook Enrichment, an organization making it easier for those who are blind or visually impaired, dedicated their time and efforts to help people who are visually impaired enjoy the wonders of skiing and snowboarding at Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Sunday.
The organization’s mission is to adapt activities, like skiing, to make them more accessible.
Advertisement
Event organizers say they’re just doing all the regular things, but putting a special touch on it so people who are blind or low vision can do it too.
Instead of one going down the hill at a time, two go down instead, as a volunteer helps guide them visually to avoid obstacles, keep a lookout and those skiing around them.
Anna Weber has CLN3 Batten Disease, a fatal genetic disorder that causes vision impairment and loss of movement. She took to the slopes today after skiing a few times before, trying her hand at snowboarding for the first time, saying, “I’ve seen people in it, like snowboarding, and it just looks really fun.”
Weber says despite the disease, she embraces the difficulty, saying she’s “just having fun and learning a new thing.”
Weber’s mom says watching her daughter down the slope made her emotional, recalling,
“These are things that she decides to do on her own. Because she wants those challenges just like everybody else has. And she makes it look so easy. She really does,” she said.
She’s grateful for the support Outlook provides, making sure they help families like hers make connections and form community.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
