So, this weekend was incredibly hectic, but totally worth every minute. Friday, around lunch, I went with a group of Interpreting students and a couple of the teachers from EKU to a Deaf-Blind retreat out in the middle of nowhere…seriously. When we arrived, one of our teachers did an orientation time for us where she explained what would happen throughout the weekend and then gave us time to practice guiding our blindfolded classmates from place to place. I was a little worried about guiding people considering I ran one of my friends into a door frame on accident while guiding…she was fine…it just scared her a bit. She definitely didn’t walk as fast after that. Getting used to having double the body width would take some time.
After people arrived, they could request to have an SSP (Support Service Provider)…all the students that went were SSP’s. People could request either an SSP to voice things for them (more for those with varying degrees of blindness) or one who would sign for them (more for those with varying degrees of deafness). Each SSP would then be matched with a person to assist them at different times throughout the weekend. We helped them find their rooms, get their food during meal times, and basically just be there to help them out if they needed it.
I was nervous at first, but quickly became more at ease with the setting and people around me. It was very interesting and I’m really looking forward to working with the Deaf-Blind in Michigan this summer. I met some incredible people and have lots of fun stories that I don’t have time to type. Overall, this weekend really helped prepare me for this summer…I just wish I could have stayed longer than I did.
