Camp Abilities… A Camper Can Do Anything!

Posted by: West Georgia Eye Care Center in Frontpage Article on June 5, 2017

“What is a visually impaired camper able to do?……Anything!”

~ Dr. Jeanine Fittipaldi-Wert, PhD

 

Columbus State University recently hosted a very special camp for some amazing young people at the 6th annual Camp Abilities!

We all know that summer and camp just go together, but youth who are visually impaired face unique challenges in attending traditional camps.

Under the directorship of CSU’s 2016 Educator of the Year, Dr. Jeanine Fittipaldi-Wert, Camp Abilities breaks down those barriers. Camp Abilities provides a safe and encouraging environment for its visually disabled campers, but it is still packed with activity!  Riding on a six-seater bike is one counselor’s favorite, while other recreational activities include beep soccer, beep baseball, rock-climbing, tennis and more.   But it’s not the array of sports that makes this camp special, it is the attitude, as exemplified by the camp motto: “Loss of sight, never a loss of vision!”   On the informational video from the Camp Abilities webpage, https://hpex.columbusstate.edu/camp_abilities/ , a smiling camper enthusiastically proclaims, “This camp doesn’t judge you!”

Low vision is also no longer a roadblock to camp fun thanks to the generous support from sponsors like: CSU, West Georgia Eye Care Center, Country’s BBQ, CSU Spring Swing, Zaxby’s, Georgia Society of Ophthalmology, Georgia Blind Sports Assoc., Run Across Georgia, Dr. & Mrs. James Brooks, Ride on Bikes, Christopher Scott Special, and Beep Kick Ball.

Education, awareness, and management of visual impairments has made great strides; just like the advances in treating eye disease. New technologies allow for the treatment of many eye diseases that were previously deemed untreatable.   At West Georgia Eye Care Center we are dedicated to providing Columbus, Georgia and surrounding region with the most advanced eye care available.  To that end, we have recently invested in the only FDA approved therapeutic treatment for progressive Keratoconus.  Check out next week’s blog for details!

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