Visually-Impaired Kids Find No Limitations at Oklahoma City Arts Camp

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It's an exciting week for dozens of visually-impaired Oklahoma children. They're attending an arts camp designed to challenge them with activities they've never done before.

The camp is meant to teach them there are no limitations in spite of their disabilities. Monday was the first day of what's promised to be a week full of fun.

"I absolutely love this camp. I think it's a great way for vision-impaired kids to show their disabilities and feel OK with that. And they do things that allow them to have extra fun because they can't see or have issues seeing," said 10-year-old camper Jillian Drinnon.

Drinnon is a camper from Thomas. She admits she doesn't know a thing about ballet, but is looking forward to the challenge.

The camp is put on by New View Oklahoma, an organization dedicated to helping those who are blind and visually-impaired. Since art is being included for the first time this year, the Oklahoma City ballet is also involved, teaching these kids the right moves.

"I really like it here because of all the neat activities, the things we don't usually get to do on a regular basis," said 13-year-old camper Adam Hagen.

"So we tried to incorporate something every year that they haven't done before and hope that it starts to develop those independent skills, and start broadening their horizons and so they'll start thinking outside the box. And thinking in terms of what they can do instead of what they can't do," said Lauren White with New View Oklahoma.

Besides dancing, the kids are also sculpting, weaving, and acting in plays. The camp will culminate with a big performance Friday, July 30 at 3:30 p.m. at City Arts Center.