[Applause] when I was growing up I never saw
when I was growing up I never saw
when I was growing up I never saw anybody who is visually impaired or
anybody who is visually impaired or
anybody who is visually impaired or blind that’s because they weren’t in the
blind that’s because they weren’t in the
blind that’s because they weren’t in the community they weren’t in my schools at
community they weren’t in my schools at
community they weren’t in my schools at that time children with visual
that time children with visual
that time children with visual impairments were educated in residential
impairments were educated in residential
impairments were educated in residential schools and so they were virtually
schools and so they were virtually
schools and so they were virtually invisible in the community like if you
invisible in the community like if you
invisible in the community like if you had asked me if someone who is visually
had asked me if someone who is visually
had asked me if someone who is visually impaired or blind could swim or run a
impaired or blind could swim or run a
impaired or blind could swim or run a mile I would have said no I mean 35
mile I would have said no I mean 35
mile I would have said no I mean 35 years ago how many of you would have
years ago how many of you would have
years ago how many of you would have thought someone who is visually impaired
thought someone who is visually impaired
thought someone who is visually impaired or blind could run a mile anybody I
or blind could run a mile anybody I
or blind could run a mile anybody I didn’t and now that all changed on when
didn’t and now that all changed on when
didn’t and now that all changed on when I went to college I had two professors
I went to college I had two professors
I went to college I had two professors who ran the VIP program and that was
who ran the VIP program and that was
who ran the VIP program and that was visually visually impaired person
visually visually impaired person
visually visually impaired person program and it was a recreation program
program and it was a recreation program
program and it was a recreation program for adults who are visually impaired and
for adults who are visually impaired and
for adults who are visually impaired and through that program that it ran every
through that program that it ran every
through that program that it ran every semester and I went every single year
semester and I went every single year
semester and I went every single year that I went to school there and I met
that I went to school there and I met
that I went to school there and I met adults who are competent and independent
adults who are competent and independent
adults who are competent and independent athletic and really funny and so from
athletic and really funny and so from
athletic and really funny and so from that program I heard about ski for Lake
that program I heard about ski for Lake
that program I heard about ski for Lake which is a recreation program for adults
which is a recreation program for adults
which is a recreation program for adults who are visually impaired in the Poconos
who are visually impaired in the Poconos
who are visually impaired in the Poconos in Pennsylvania and they heard about me
in Pennsylvania and they heard about me
in Pennsylvania and they heard about me from the VIP program and so they asked
from the VIP program and so they asked
from the VIP program and so they asked me if I wanted to volunteer for that
me if I wanted to volunteer for that
me if I wanted to volunteer for that cross-country ski program
cross-country ski program
cross-country ski program I immediately said yes the fact that I
I immediately said yes the fact that I
I immediately said yes the fact that I didn’t have a pair of cross-country skis
didn’t have a pair of cross-country skis
didn’t have a pair of cross-country skis and I didn’t know how to ski didn’t
and I didn’t know how to ski didn’t
and I didn’t know how to ski didn’t really matter to me and so after we at
really matter to me and so after we at
really matter to me and so after we at this ISA Lite program they taught us in
this ISA Lite program they taught us in
this ISA Lite program they taught us in an orientation about visually impaired
an orientation about visually impaired
an orientation about visually impaired visual impairment about how to die
visual impairment about how to die
visual impairment about how to die someone who’s blind they taught us the
someone who’s blind they taught us the
someone who’s blind they taught us the cues that we needed and then they taught
cues that we needed and then they taught
cues that we needed and then they taught us how to cross-country ski under
us how to cross-country ski under
us how to cross-country ski under blindfold and then I met Susan now Susan
blindfold and then I met Susan now Susan
blindfold and then I met Susan now Susan who was 48 years old and she was blind
who was 48 years old and she was blind
who was 48 years old and she was blind and she had done that program the year
and she had done that program the year
and she had done that program the year before except she hadn’t cross-country
before except she hadn’t cross-country
before except she hadn’t cross-country ski than a whole year so she was really
ski than a whole year so she was really
ski than a whole year so she was really nervous and so I got her on the course
nervous and so I got her on the course
nervous and so I got her on the course and we were we were cross-country skiing
and we were we were cross-country skiing
and we were we were cross-country skiing and we’re gliding and our arms were
and we’re gliding and our arms were
and we’re gliding and our arms were moving and I thought we were doing
moving and I thought we were doing
moving and I thought we were doing pretty well until we got to the top of
pretty well until we got to the top of
pretty well until we got to the top of the hills and she just tensed up and so
the hills and she just tensed up and so
the hills and she just tensed up and so you know we had to sidestep down the
you know we had to sidestep down the
you know we had to sidestep down the hills every time we got to a hill I
hills every time we got to a hill I
hills every time we got to a hill I thought it was a little slow going there
thought it was a little slow going there
thought it was a little slow going there and it made me a little frustrated
and it made me a little frustrated
and it made me a little frustrated because we’re moving so slowly because I
because we’re moving so slowly because I
because we’re moving so slowly because I didn’t think the hills were that big but
didn’t think the hills were that big but
didn’t think the hills were that big but then again I could see the hills and she
then again I could see the hills and she
then again I could see the hills and she couldn’t see the hills so the next day
couldn’t see the hills so the next day
couldn’t see the hills so the next day we went out on the cross-country course
we went out on the cross-country course
we went out on the cross-country course and we did an entire loop of this hilly
and we did an entire loop of this hilly
and we did an entire loop of this hilly loop and we did it twice and it was two
loop and we did it twice and it was two
loop and we did it twice and it was two and a half miles and it was the farthest
and a half miles and it was the farthest
and a half miles and it was the farthest Susan had ever skied and frankly it was
Susan had ever skied and frankly it was
Susan had ever skied and frankly it was the farthest I’ve ever skied at it time
the farthest I’ve ever skied at it time
the farthest I’ve ever skied at it time – but she looked up to me and she said
– but she looked up to me and she said
– but she looked up to me and she said Lauren I never could have done that
Lauren I never could have done that
Lauren I never could have done that without you and I was 21 years old I
without you and I was 21 years old I
without you and I was 21 years old I will never forget that moment that sense
will never forget that moment that sense
will never forget that moment that sense of validation that sense of
of validation that sense of
of validation that sense of accomplishment up until then I had
accomplishment up until then I had
accomplishment up until then I had taught people and I had never felt that
taught people and I had never felt that
taught people and I had never felt that feeling before I mean it was
feeling before I mean it was
feeling before I mean it was like a drug I had to do it again and
like a drug I had to do it again and
like a drug I had to do it again and like I remember thinking right then and
like I remember thinking right then and
like I remember thinking right then and there I am going to figure out a way to
there I am going to figure out a way to
there I am going to figure out a way to do this for the rest of my life
do this for the rest of my life
do this for the rest of my life luckily after I went to graduate school
luckily after I went to graduate school
luckily after I went to graduate school and got my master’s degree I got a job
and got my master’s degree I got a job
and got my master’s degree I got a job at the Perkins School for the Blind in
at the Perkins School for the Blind in
at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston Massachusetts and so I taught in
Boston Massachusetts and so I taught in
Boston Massachusetts and so I taught in the deafblind program and I taught
the deafblind program and I taught
the deafblind program and I taught adapted physical education and so you
adapted physical education and so you
adapted physical education and so you might have heard of Perkins School for
might have heard of Perkins School for
might have heard of Perkins School for the Blind because that’s the school
the Blind because that’s the school
the Blind because that’s the school where Helen Keller was educated anybody
where Helen Keller was educated anybody
where Helen Keller was educated anybody I did not teach Helen Keller but I did
I did not teach Helen Keller but I did
I did not teach Helen Keller but I did teach Eddie now Eddie was deafblind and
teach Eddie now Eddie was deafblind and
teach Eddie now Eddie was deafblind and he could see some lights and darks
he could see some lights and darks
he could see some lights and darks and he could see some shapes and the way
and he could see some shapes and the way
and he could see some shapes and the way he communicated was he I signed and he
he communicated was he I signed and he
he communicated was he I signed and he felt my hands my sign language and then
felt my hands my sign language and then
felt my hands my sign language and then he would just sign back to me and Eddie
he would just sign back to me and Eddie
he would just sign back to me and Eddie was on the community rowing team and he
was on the community rowing team and he
was on the community rowing team and he was on my crest cross-country running
was on my crest cross-country running
was on my crest cross-country running team and the track and field team he was
team and the track and field team he was
team and the track and field team he was on swimming and he was a good athlete
on swimming and he was a good athlete
on swimming and he was a good athlete and so that first year at Perkins some a
and so that first year at Perkins some a
and so that first year at Perkins some a teacher go with the flow we had parade
teacher go with the flow we had parade
teacher go with the flow we had parade Halloween parade and so I dressed up in
Halloween parade and so I dressed up in
Halloween parade and so I dressed up in my clown outfit and I was riding my
my clown outfit and I was riding my
my clown outfit and I was riding my unicycle it’s me my clown outfit my
unicycle it’s me my clown outfit my
unicycle it’s me my clown outfit my unicycle and so I was going around
unicycle and so I was going around
unicycle and so I was going around campus and if the kids were blind I
campus and if the kids were blind I
campus and if the kids were blind I would let them feel my clown outfit I
would let them feel my clown outfit I
would let them feel my clown outfit I let them feel my unicycle and so I got
let them feel my unicycle and so I got
let them feel my unicycle and so I got to Eddie and Eddie’s feeling my unicycle
to Eddie and Eddie’s feeling my unicycle
to Eddie and Eddie’s feeling my unicycle my clown outfit he says Loren you have
my clown outfit he says Loren you have
my clown outfit he says Loren you have to teach me how to ride the unicycle I
to teach me how to ride the unicycle I
to teach me how to ride the unicycle I want to learn how to ride the unicycle
want to learn how to ride the unicycle
want to learn how to ride the unicycle and I’m skeptical I mean I’ve been
and I’m skeptical I mean I’ve been
and I’m skeptical I mean I’ve been riding my unicycle since I was 10 and I
riding my unicycle since I was 10 and I
riding my unicycle since I was 10 and I know even for hearing excited people
know even for hearing excited people
know even for hearing excited people riding a unicycle isn’t easy and how
riding a unicycle isn’t easy and how
riding a unicycle isn’t easy and how many of
many of
many of you can ride a unicycle anybody nobody
you can ride a unicycle anybody nobody
you can ride a unicycle anybody nobody derive unicycle so I’m thinkin okay
derive unicycle so I’m thinkin okay
derive unicycle so I’m thinkin okay here’s a student he’s deaf and blind and
here’s a student he’s deaf and blind and
here’s a student he’s deaf and blind and he kept saying when are you gonna teach
he kept saying when are you gonna teach
he kept saying when are you gonna teach me harm please when are you gonna teach
me harm please when are you gonna teach
me harm please when are you gonna teach me and he persisted and persisted so we
me and he persisted and persisted so we
me and he persisted and persisted so we made a plan all right what we’re gonna
made a plan all right what we’re gonna
made a plan all right what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna meet at the track and
do is we’re gonna meet at the track and
do is we’re gonna meet at the track and at Perkins they had a guide wire along
at Perkins they had a guide wire along
at Perkins they had a guide wire along the whole side for kids who are blind so
the whole side for kids who are blind so
the whole side for kids who are blind so they can run so they can run straight so
they can run so they can run straight so
they can run so they can run straight so he held onto the guide wire with one
he held onto the guide wire with one
he held onto the guide wire with one hand and he held on to me with his other
hand and he held on to me with his other
hand and he held on to me with his other hand and what he did was he’s riding up
hand and what he did was he’s riding up
hand and what he did was he’s riding up and back he’s riding up and back so we
and back he’s riding up and back so we
and back he’s riding up and back so we met every week and we went a little bit
met every week and we went a little bit
met every week and we went a little bit each time and he got better and better
each time and he got better and better
each time and he got better and better and then it got cold out so we went
and then it got cold out so we went
and then it got cold out so we went inside into the gym and in our gym we
inside into the gym and in our gym we
inside into the gym and in our gym we had a big ladder along the whole entire
had a big ladder along the whole entire
had a big ladder along the whole entire wall the whole gym so Eddie was holding
wall the whole gym so Eddie was holding
wall the whole gym so Eddie was holding on to the wall and he let go for a
on to the wall and he let go for a
on to the wall and he let go for a second and he could hold on let go for a
second and he could hold on let go for a
second and he could hold on let go for a second and he started getting better and
second and he started getting better and
second and he started getting better and better letting go and then he was able
better letting go and then he was able
better letting go and then he was able to push himself off the wall and ride
to push himself off the wall and ride
to push himself off the wall and ride into the gym what’s getting pretty
into the gym what’s getting pretty
into the gym what’s getting pretty excited but this might really happen so
excited but this might really happen so
excited but this might really happen so then it got warm outside and we went out
then it got warm outside and we went out
then it got warm outside and we went out back out to the track and he could see
back out to the track and he could see
back out to the track and he could see the thick lines on the track and I’ll
the thick lines on the track and I’ll
the thick lines on the track and I’ll show you what Eddie can do now
those are the guide wires
those are the guide wires [Music]
in six months I taught one of my
in six months I taught one of my students who’s deaf and blind
students who’s deaf and blind
students who’s deaf and blind how to ride a unicycle but Eddie’s will
how to ride a unicycle but Eddie’s will
how to ride a unicycle but Eddie’s will and his determination and his
and his determination and his
and his determination and his perseverance really taught me to believe
perseverance really taught me to believe
perseverance really taught me to believe Eddie made me believe in what kids who
Eddie made me believe in what kids who
Eddie made me believe in what kids who are visually impaired or deafblind can
are visually impaired or deafblind can
are visually impaired or deafblind can do so I got the bug I wanted to teach
do so I got the bug I wanted to teach
do so I got the bug I wanted to teach other people how to teach kids all the
other people how to teach kids all the
other people how to teach kids all the sensory impairments so I went back to
sensory impairments so I went back to
sensory impairments so I went back to school for my doctorate I got my
school for my doctorate I got my
school for my doctorate I got my doctorate I went to the college at
doctorate I went to the college at
doctorate I went to the college at brockport in Brockport New York SUNY
brockport in Brockport New York SUNY
brockport in Brockport New York SUNY Brockport that’s where I am now and we
Brockport that’s where I am now and we
Brockport that’s where I am now and we have a great adapted physical education
have a great adapted physical education
have a great adapted physical education program with a wonderful curriculum but
program with a wonderful curriculum but
program with a wonderful curriculum but when I first arrived there I realized
when I first arrived there I realized
when I first arrived there I realized that we had one problem because after
that we had one problem because after
that we had one problem because after teaching at Perkins I know that kids
teaching at Perkins I know that kids
teaching at Perkins I know that kids with visual impairments can do sports
with visual impairments can do sports
with visual impairments can do sports but I also know that the people who
but I also know that the people who
but I also know that the people who teach them need to learn from experience
teach them need to learn from experience
teach them need to learn from experience not a textbook you can’t learn how to
not a textbook you can’t learn how to
not a textbook you can’t learn how to teach kids with visual impairments or
teach kids with visual impairments or
teach kids with visual impairments or deafblindness from a textbook there are
deafblindness from a textbook there are
deafblindness from a textbook there are 61 thousand children with visual
61 thousand children with visual
61 thousand children with visual impairments in our schools today and
impairments in our schools today and
impairments in our schools today and what I wanted to do is help make them
what I wanted to do is help make them
what I wanted to do is help make them invisible and so my solution was
invisible and so my solution was
invisible and so my solution was capabilities so chem abilities is a
capabilities so chem abilities is a
capabilities so chem abilities is a one-week educational sports camp for
one-week educational sports camp for
one-week educational sports camp for children who are blind visually impaired
children who are blind visually impaired
children who are blind visually impaired lines and so what we do is we pair up a
lines and so what we do is we pair up a
lines and so what we do is we pair up a counselor who’s usually a college
counselor who’s usually a college
counselor who’s usually a college student with a camper who’s visually
student with a camper who’s visually
student with a camper who’s visually impaired and the counselor teaches the
impaired and the counselor teaches the
impaired and the counselor teaches the camper
camper
camper motor skills they teach some different
motor skills they teach some different
motor skills they teach some different sports and they teach them modifications
sports and they teach them modifications
sports and they teach them modifications that they need for their type of visual
that they need for their type of visual
that they need for their type of visual impairment and at camp the other thing
impairment and at camp the other thing
impairment and at camp the other thing that we do is we assess all the kids and
that we do is we assess all the kids and
that we do is we assess all the kids and so they learn how to push themselves so
so they learn how to push themselves so
so they learn how to push themselves so that they’re not just participating but
that they’re not just participating but
that they’re not just participating but they learn how to achieve because so
they learn how to achieve because so
they learn how to achieve because so many people look down at kids with
many people look down at kids with
many people look down at kids with visual impairments and they think they
visual impairments and they think they
visual impairments and they think they can’t achieve and then the last thing we
can’t achieve and then the last thing we
can’t achieve and then the last thing we do is we teach about advocacy we teach
do is we teach about advocacy we teach
do is we teach about advocacy we teach them how to advocate for themselves so
them how to advocate for themselves so
them how to advocate for themselves so they’re included in physical education
they’re included in physical education
they’re included in physical education and so they’re included in their
and so they’re included in their
and so they’re included in their after-school sports teams and they can
after-school sports teams and they can
after-school sports teams and they can join sports teams and so a wonderful
join sports teams and so a wonderful
join sports teams and so a wonderful story here is Christopher one of our
story here is Christopher one of our
story here is Christopher one of our campers just this this semester was
campers just this this semester was
campers just this this semester was getting a push back from his athletic
getting a push back from his athletic
getting a push back from his athletic director and the coach of his
director and the coach of his
director and the coach of his cross-country team because they were
cross-country team because they were
cross-country team because they were afraid he was going to get her well he
afraid he was going to get her well he
afraid he was going to get her well he advocated for himself and he joined his
advocated for himself and he joined his
advocated for himself and he joined his cross-country team and in the first meet
cross-country team and in the first meet
cross-country team and in the first meet he came in third place out of 66 other
he came in third place out of 66 other
he came in third place out of 66 other kids he showed them okay so in 22 years
kids he showed them okay so in 22 years
kids he showed them okay so in 22 years now we have twenty capabilities around
now we have twenty capabilities around
now we have twenty capabilities around the country and we have eight camp
the country and we have eight camp
the country and we have eight camp abilities all around the world and it’s
abilities all around the world and it’s
abilities all around the world and it’s still growing and so let me just tell
still growing and so let me just tell
still growing and so let me just tell you the story about Peter so Peter is
you the story about Peter so Peter is
you the story about Peter so Peter is one of our campers from our Alaska camp
one of our campers from our Alaska camp
one of our campers from our Alaska camp he’s Native Alaskan he’s 15 years old
he’s Native Alaskan he’s 15 years old
he’s Native Alaskan he’s 15 years old here he’s blind and he had done camp
here he’s blind and he had done camp
here he’s blind and he had done camp abilities six times at this point and
abilities six times at this point and
abilities six times at this point and Peter because of his advocacy when he
Peter because of his advocacy when he
Peter because of his advocacy when he learned at camp who joined his wrestling
learned at camp who joined his wrestling
learned at camp who joined his wrestling team at his high school and he got so
team at his high school and he got so
team at his high school and he got so good that he was on the news all over
good that he was on the news all over
good that he was on the news all over Alaska many people sent me that
Alaska many people sent me that
Alaska many people sent me that it was source of pride for me and so at
it was source of pride for me and so at
it was source of pride for me and so at camp that year that I went to visit the
camp that year that I went to visit the
camp that year that I went to visit the camp abilities Alaska you know just like
camp abilities Alaska you know just like
camp abilities Alaska you know just like any last day of camp it’s bittersweet
any last day of camp it’s bittersweet
any last day of camp it’s bittersweet and everybody’s really sad it’s the last
and everybody’s really sad it’s the last
and everybody’s really sad it’s the last day and so the parents were coming and
day and so the parents were coming and
day and so the parents were coming and after the award ceremony they’re taking
after the award ceremony they’re taking
after the award ceremony they’re taking their kids home everybody’s hugging you
their kids home everybody’s hugging you
their kids home everybody’s hugging you know the kids are crying they are
know the kids are crying they are
know the kids are crying they are exchanging phone numbers and Peter’s
exchanging phone numbers and Peter’s
exchanging phone numbers and Peter’s parents haven’t come yet
parents haven’t come yet
parents haven’t come yet it was one o’clock pick up so okay so
it was one o’clock pick up so okay so
it was one o’clock pick up so okay so we’re cleaning up he’s helping me clean
we’re cleaning up he’s helping me clean
we’re cleaning up he’s helping me clean up we had a lot to clean up it takes
up we had a lot to clean up it takes
up we had a lot to clean up it takes hours so we’re cleaning up he’s helping
hours so we’re cleaning up he’s helping
hours so we’re cleaning up he’s helping his parents still hadn’t come and he
his parents still hadn’t come and he
his parents still hadn’t come and he says to me Lauren when when is camp next
says to me Lauren when when is camp next
says to me Lauren when when is camp next year and I told him the dates for
year and I told him the dates for
year and I told him the dates for camping next year he’s not quiet
camping next year he’s not quiet
camping next year he’s not quiet we’re still cleaning up it’s three it’s
we’re still cleaning up it’s three it’s
we’re still cleaning up it’s three it’s 3:30
3:30
3:30 and I said hey Peter wouldn’t your
and I said hey Peter wouldn’t your
and I said hey Peter wouldn’t your parents coming he said oh they’re not
parents coming he said oh they’re not
parents coming he said oh they’re not really coming until 5:00 I told him to
really coming until 5:00 I told him to
really coming until 5:00 I told him to come at five we’ll pick up time as at
come at five we’ll pick up time as at
come at five we’ll pick up time as at once and why aren’t they coming till
once and why aren’t they coming till
once and why aren’t they coming till five
five
five he said Lauren I just don’t want it to
he said Lauren I just don’t want it to
he said Lauren I just don’t want it to end and he came over to me and he put
end and he came over to me and he put
end and he came over to me and he put his hands on my shoulders and he said
his hands on my shoulders and he said
his hands on my shoulders and he said Lauren thank you so much for starting
Lauren thank you so much for starting
Lauren thank you so much for starting camp abilities I love everything about
camp abilities I love everything about
camp abilities I love everything about it
it
it I love the sports I love the music I
I love the sports I love the music I
I love the sports I love the music I love my friends I feel like I fit in
love my friends I feel like I fit in
love my friends I feel like I fit in here
here
here and he said Lauren only 360 days till we
and he said Lauren only 360 days till we
and he said Lauren only 360 days till we can come
can meant a lot to Peter and so let me
can meant a lot to Peter and so let me tell you about Martha so Martha is from
tell you about Martha so Martha is from
tell you about Martha so Martha is from Allegheny New York little town and she
Allegheny New York little town and she
Allegheny New York little town and she came to camp first when she was 13 and
came to camp first when she was 13 and
came to camp first when she was 13 and just like any other kid she made friends
just like any other kid she made friends
just like any other kid she made friends she did all the sports and she learned
she did all the sports and she learned
she did all the sports and she learned advocacy and she had a great time so she
advocacy and she had a great time so she
advocacy and she had a great time so she went back to her school and then her
went back to her school and then her
went back to her school and then her freshman year in high school she joined
freshman year in high school she joined
freshman year in high school she joined her high school swim team and she did
her high school swim team and she did
her high school swim team and she did pretty well with her psychic tears on
pretty well with her psychic tears on
pretty well with her psychic tears on her swim team and the next year when she
her swim team and the next year when she
her swim team and the next year when she came back to camp
came back to camp
came back to camp she’s very athletic again she’s doing
she’s very athletic again she’s doing
she’s very athletic again she’s doing all the sports but our swim director
all the sports but our swim director
all the sports but our swim director noticed mark that was extremely fast at
noticed mark that was extremely fast at
noticed mark that was extremely fast at swimming and so we recorded her times
swimming and so we recorded her times
swimming and so we recorded her times and when we looked up her times with
and when we looked up her times with
and when we looked up her times with against the same kids her age gender and
against the same kids her age gender and
against the same kids her age gender and her level of visual impairment right
her level of visual impairment right
her level of visual impairment right then she would have become an eighth in
then she would have become an eighth in
then she would have become an eighth in the world right then so when her parents
the world right then so when her parents
the world right then so when her parents came to pick her up we were telling her
came to pick her up we were telling her
came to pick her up we were telling her parents all about the Paralympics and
parents all about the Paralympics and
parents all about the Paralympics and about the United States Association for
about the United States Association for
about the United States Association for blind athletes and how cool would it be
blind athletes and how cool would it be
blind athletes and how cool would it be if she could swim against other girls
if she could swim against other girls
if she could swim against other girls with the same level of visual impairment
with the same level of visual impairment
with the same level of visual impairment what would that be like and so that next
what would that be like and so that next
what would that be like and so that next year at camp abilities Martha wasn’t
year at camp abilities Martha wasn’t
year at camp abilities Martha wasn’t there she was out competing on the
there she was out competing on the
there she was out competing on the junior circuits and winning and her
junior circuits and winning and her
junior circuits and winning and her senior year she was recruited to get a
senior year she was recruited to get a
senior year she was recruited to get a scholarship to go to college for
scholarship to go to college for
scholarship to go to college for swimming but from college she was
swimming but from college she was
swimming but from college she was recruited from the US Paralympic swim
recruited from the US Paralympic swim
recruited from the US Paralympic swim team
team
team to train in Colorado Springs for two
to train in Colorado Springs for two
to train in Colorado Springs for two years this past Paralympics in Rio
years this past Paralympics in Rio
years this past Paralympics in Rio Martha came in eighth in the world
Martha came in eighth in the world
Martha came in eighth in the world representing the United States and now
representing the United States and now
representing the United States and now she’s training for Tokyo
she’s training for Tokyo
she’s training for Tokyo so camp truly made a difference for
so camp truly made a difference for
so camp truly made a difference for Martha I could go on and on about all
Martha I could go on and on about all
Martha I could go on and on about all these athletes I could tell you story
these athletes I could tell you story
these athletes I could tell you story after story but I want to share this is
after story but I want to share this is
after story but I want to share this is Maddie she’s one of our athletes and
Maddie she’s one of our athletes and
Maddie she’s one of our athletes and after her fourth year at Camp her
after her fourth year at Camp her
after her fourth year at Camp her parents wrote me a letter and this is
parents wrote me a letter and this is
parents wrote me a letter and this is what a part of the letter said she is
what a part of the letter said she is
what a part of the letter said she is strong independent outgoing and mature
strong independent outgoing and mature
strong independent outgoing and mature she believes in herself she believes she
she believes in herself she believes she
she believes in herself she believes she does not have a disability she has a
does not have a disability she has a
does not have a disability she has a different ability and I’d like to close
different ability and I’d like to close
different ability and I’d like to close with a message from any
”
Be First to Comment