MSOE baseball pitches in to help children with vision loss play ball
MSOE’s Baseball Team, in collaboration with Vision Forward Association hosted a Beeper Baseball event for area youth who are blind or visually impaired. The event gave children a unique opportunity to play baseball that has been adapted to rely more on sound than sight and to be with others who fully understand the daily challenges that vision loss can cause.
MSOE baseball players introduced the children to the fundamentals of baseball and offered several hands-on-experiences. The children were able to handle baseball equipment, such as bats, balls, mitts, and catcher’s equipment prior to playing the game. The bases and balls beeped – giving the students with vision loss audible cues to help support them while playing this sport. Many youth with vision loss often are excluded from opportunities relating to athletics because of their vision loss. This event also provided an excellent opportunity for students to socialize with others who also have visual impairments from the surrounding area.