Tech’s community had a taste of what life is like with a visually impaired disability last week at “A New Perspective,” a residential life program created by the new Able Bodies Community club to raise awareness about visually disabilities.
Participants began the night by being blindfolded. Next, they were handed a white cane to help find their way through a maze of chairs and tables outside at Capital Quad.
A question and answer session was held with Butch Price and Hannah Willis, club members with vision disabilities. Most participants engaged in talking with them about what their lives are like living with a disability.
“I think this was a real eye-opener for everyone here,” said Stephanie Tanksley, a communications major.
The second half of the program included eating dinner in the dark. The participants were blindfolded and served pizza, corn, grapes, and a Capri-Sun. Most participants said the corn was the most difficult portion of the dinner to eat.
The club’s president Josh Hunter and vice president Price said it was important to them and club members that everyone came together at this event to help their cause.
Brandon Patterson, a residential hall director at Capital Quad, said, “The program’s turnout was awesome. We had 151 people attend, which is huge for an educational program.”
The ABC club’s membership drastically increased after “A New Perspective.” At the beginning, of the fall 2013 semester, the club included 12 people. On Nov. 4, the membership had risen to 103 people, according to the Able Bodies Community Facebook page.
“We hope our membership continues to grow,” said Price. “We want as many people within the community that we can get.”
