disAbility Awareness Challenge 2010

Dedicated to David S. Davies Dave Davies, one of the founders of the dAC, passed away before the 2010 Jamboree. We dedicated our efforts to making this the best dAC yet to his memory.

dAC Staff Tee Shirts , 1997, 2001, and 2005

dAC Staff Tee design and Chair Sonya Whitehead honoring Russ, its designer

The Staff of dAC 2010

“Legacy” dAC equipment arrives from Virginia Beach, VA

dAC Staff on break --- awaiting pre-Jamboree training on dAC events

Wheelchair and curb interaction --- what NOT to do!

dAC Staff Member, Tim Birt, demonstrates technique to “spot” a participant and to break their fall.

Tim gives an “active” demonstration to show the effectiveness of the spotting technique.

Blind (laser) BB shooting --- note the target to the left.

Blind (laser) BB --- which stance makes sense?

Mindbender ---- dyslexia experiences Dysgraphia experience in foreground. Trace inside two concentric shapes using a mirror. Dyslexia experience in rear.

Mindbender ---- dyslexia experiences Dyslexia experience --- exposure to variations of reading disabilities (4 cards with examples of how a passage might appear to a person with dyslexia)

Wheelchair Bowling Two approaches --- assisted (with ramp) and unassisted (without ramp)

Assisted Wheelchair Bowling (with ramp)

Unassisted Wheelchair Bowling (without ramp)

Assisted Wheelchair Bowling (with ramp)

Blind Confidence Run

Unfair Hearing Test Participants listened to recordings of words. The recordings were specifically distorted to represent specific levels of hearing impairment. Sometimes the ambient noise in the area (or the aftermath of the previous evening’s arena show) further challenged participants!

Unfair Hearing Test A group of Scouts take the “unfair hearing test”

Beep (Blind) Baseball Pitcher and catcher are the only “sighted” players. (Blind) batter prepares to hit the beeping baseball.

Beep (Blind) Baseball …and here’s the pitch!

Beep (Blind) Baseball Looking down third base line toward the plate --- blind fielders await a hit. If the batter hits the ball he runs to either first or third base (which is then activated to beep (different tone from ball). If batter reaches base before a fielder touches the ball, he scores a run --- otherwise the batter is OUT.

Obstacle Course Course is a series of 8 obstacles that participants must negotiate on one leg using crutches. In first set of tires, participant must put crutches in each pair of tires and navigate between the parallel tires.

Obstacle Course Second series of tires --- participant must put foot in each tire.

Obstacle Course Participants must cross the alligator infested swamp without touching the gators or water. There’s more than one way to do this, but you must be careful!

Home Front Challenge New in 2010! This gave participants an opportunity to navigate a kitchen in search for a midnight snack --- using a wheelchair.

Home Front Challenge Now how am I going to get that bowl of cereal?

Home Front Challenge I think what you want is on the top shelf…

Meet The Voice New in 2010! Neil had a laryngectomy. It saved his life but cost him his voice. He now uses a hand held device to “speak”

Meet The Voice Neil “talked” with one Scout or many Scouts, and then he took a break in the Staff Tent for a chat with the dAC Chairperson.

Depth Perception New in A two part activity to demonstrate the loss of depth perception if one were to lose sight in one eye. Above, two staff members, training on the event, attempt to wrap a “bolo” around each of the three rungs (with their dominant eye closed).

Depth Perception Participants attempt to “hook” a wooden fish --- again with dominant eye closed. The loops for hooking the fish are progressively tighter as the fish value (score) increases.

Signing Participants learn to spell and communicate using American Sign Language (ASL)

Signing Alphabet in American Sign Language (ASL)

The Maze Participants navigate a maze with their eyes closed and using a cane.

The Maze Participants navigate a maze with their eyes closed and using a cane.

The Maze Participants navigate a maze with their eyes closed and using a cane.

Wheelchair and curb experience

One-armed, Wheelchair Archery Participants, using a wheelchair and only one arm, shoot arrows with a fixed bow.

One-armed Volleyball Participants play volleyball with dominant arm behind their back (or inside their shirt).

Braille (Blind) Compass Participants are shown how to use a Braille Compass and then asked to find a specific direction (with their eyes closed).

Wheelchair Basketball Always a hit! Participants play basketball using wheelchairs (no feet are used!)

Wheelchair Basketball Participants are coached on the rules of the event by a “Wounded Warrior” who assisted us during the Jamboree.

“Wounded Warrior” confers with Ft A.P. Hill Military Police

dAC Staff Member, Tim Birt, demonstrates his “roller board” technique for our visiting “Wounded Warriors” and participants

Wounded Warrior” demonstrates his “alternative” mobility!

One-armed Golf Participants attempt to putt with one arm (trying both dominant and non-dominant arms)

One-armed Golf Participant attempts to “drive” a golf ball (trying both dominant and non- dominant arms)

The Tent of Possibilities This is a traditional event at the dAC. Every participant is encouraged to visit the tent, observe the various devices used by individuals who have various disAbilities, and imagine what other devices could be used to accommodate other disAbilities.

The Tent of Possibilities This Jamboree, we added artwork by staff to foster participants giving thought to other possibilities.

The Tent of Possibilities

The keg had a coin slot… and we found a small donation of cash by the end of the Jamboree --- all of which was donated to a disAbility organization!

The Tent of Possibilities Artificial leg and modified skate (roller) board

The Tent of Possibilities Hand tricycle and audio devices

The Tent of Possibilities Modified utensils

The Tent of Possibilities Braille examples of words for colors and tags for clothing (for individuals who have visual impairments)

The Tent of Possibilities Staff member presents examples to group of participants