BALTIMORE — For many of us, it's hard to imagine how blind people are able to accomplish the many tasks that they do every day to be part of society.
The Maryland School for the Blind, on Taylor Avenue in northeast Baltimore, has long been shattering stereotypes and defying expectations. It created the nation's first-ever soccer team for blind youth several years ago, and competed with other teams for the first time in 2019.
Now the school is opening its doors to the community to get a taste of what it's like to live life blind.
The first annual "See Beyond Festival," set for this Saturday, is a free community event that will let residents try playing sports "blind" - or specially blind-folded. Attendees can check out lacrosse, soccer, sprint races, "goalball," "beep baseball," and relay activities to see how blind people adapt themselves to games without the use of sight.
There will also be a blind food tasting challenge, live music, and food and drinks from local restaurants Giovanna's Italian Kitchen, Olympia Masala and OneDo Coffee Roasters. More than 40 vendors and merchants are signed upfor the event.
The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 30, at 3501 Taylor Avenue in Baltimore. For more information, click here.
BALTIMORE Md. - April 2022 – The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) is hosting the 1st Annual ‘See Beyond Festival’ on the MSB campus on April 30th. The event is designed to show the community how individuals that are blind and have low vision accomplish tasks and are a part of our society. The goal is to show the public that low vision and blindness are a difference, but not an obstacle to living a whole life.
The free event is open to the public and will feature live music, games, sensory arts and crafts, a kid’s zone, and a maker’s market featuring over 50 vendors. Attendees can also challenge themselves and discover how to adaptwithout the use of sight by trying blind sports, including beep baseball, lacrosse, soccer, sprint races, goalball, and relay activities. In addition, guests can test their taste buds in the blind food tasting challenge and enjoy food from local
restaurants. The MSB community hopes the public will learn accessibility for all is possible and be inspired to make simple changes in their own businesses, workplace, home, and family to make things more accessible.
Each year, the school serves approximately 1,300 students from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions through on-campus and outreach programs. “We are excited to welcome the community to our campus for this one-of-a-kind event. The See Beyond Festival will have something for everyone. We hope the public will join us for a day of fun and will leave empowered by seeing the world through a different lens,” said Robert Hair, MSB Superintendent.
Details:
The See Beyond Festival
Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
The MSB campus: 3501 Taylor Avenue, Baltimore.
Interviews available upon request:
• Robert Hair, MSB Superintendent • Alumni
• Students
