By
Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona Summer Wildcat
With the help of a federal grant, over 50 blind and visually impaired students were given the chance to compete in athletics.
Standing at his mark for the long jump, a young boy prepares to jump with his coaches and friends cheering him on. He makes his jump, and after several practice tries, he has impressed everyone with his longest jump yet.
There is something different about his young boy and his friends, however.
They are all blind or visually impaired, though it has not stopped any of them from getting out and trying their hardest.
For the first time in many of their lives, more than 50 blind and visually impaired children ages 10 to 16 from all over Arizona were given the chance to seriously compete in athletics with others their age by participating in a sports camp hosted by the UA College of Education.
The camp, which began June 24 and lasted until Thursday, was one of four outreach camps of its kind in the country.
Activities ranged from swimming and wrestling to track and tandem bicycle riding.
The campers rode for two hours up and down North Campbell Avenue Wednesday morning, covering more than 20 miles with the help of volunteers.
The campers and volunteers, many of whom stayed in Coronado Residence Hall for the week, rose early each morning to get started on a new activity.
At the track and field competition held at the student recreation center, the campers participated in shot-put and long jump competitions.
For the long jump, campers were instructed by the coaches to feel with their toes the difference in the texture of the carpet they were standing on and the sand they were attempting to jump onto.
The activity was a struggle for some at first; however, the coaches worked to keep the students focused by encouraging them to use their other senses.
"Feel with your toes," one coach reminded a jumper.
With each practice jump, the students jumped further and became more comfortable with their surroundings.
When they each took their final jump, coaches made sure to take accurate measurements of the distance in order to make sure the competition was competitive and fair.
After the shot-put games, the final activity of the camp, students sat and talked about their week.
Many students, looking back on the camp, named the bicycle riding as their favorite activity.
Goal ball, a game similar to soccer but with a sound enhanced ball, was also a favorite.
Irene Topor, an associate professor in the UA department of special education, said that the social connection that the students find in the camp is very important.
"Visually-impaired students are many times left out," Topor said. "We want them to have a better attitude about sports and about themselves."
Victoria Bracamonte, one of the teenage students who participated in the activities, was nervous going into the camp; however, she soon overcame her fears.
"You don't know anyone going into (the camp)," Bracamonte said. "But everyone is really fun and easy to be around."
Lindsey McHugh, another camper, had never had a chance to play some of the sports that she learned during the camp.
"They teach you to do stuff you don't know," she said. "We can all be athletes. Maybe not the best, but we can still get out there and try really hard."
Bracamonte and McHugh said that the ice was broken when many of the students stayed up late to sing together.
The camp focused on helping students make a social connection and having a good time, while still making sure that the events were competitive and challenging for the students, Topor said.
Of the more than 40 volunteers participated in the camp, some were UA students in the department of special education hoping to specialize in working with visually impaired children.
The UA was given a grant to host the event, said Jane Erin, an associate professor in the College of Education.
Erin said this is the first time that the university hosted a camp of this kind and the first time one has been held in the state.
While most campers said they were excited about returning next year, Topor said she is hoping the university will have the opportunity to host the camp for at least one more year before another location is selected.
