Texas State hosts 'Camp Abilities' for visually impaired children

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
July 23, 2010

The Department of Health and Human Performance will host Camp Abilities Texas 2010 for visually impaired children July 25-31 at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Camp Abilities is a one-week developmental sports camp for children age 11-16 with a range of visual impairments, including blindness. Children from across Texas will participate in activities and outdoor recreation, including canoeing/kayaking, tubing the river and a mini-triathlon.

The program will teach sport skills and promote active participation in children with visual impairments and fill the gap in the need for recreational opportunities in the community for these children and their families. It will also provide college students in the field of exercise science hands-on experiences on how to teach and adapt activities for children with visual impairments. The goal of the camp is to provide children with visual impairments with an experience that will promote physical activity participation, sport skill development, socialization and independence.

The volunteer initiative is lead by Carlos M. Cervantes, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, in collaboration with Joe Paschall, physical education teacher and athletic director at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Jim and Diana Sagnes. Volunteers are undergraduate students from PE 4323 and PE 5311 summer courses at Texas State, with additional students from Texas Woman’s University and St. Edward's University.

Sponsors of the program include the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), San Marcos Lions Club, Zilker Park Boat Rentals, Tom’s Dive and Swim, and C-Different.

For more information on Camp Abilities or how to support the program, contact Cervantes via email at cc85@txstate.edu.