New Club Spotlights Challenges Faced By Visually Impaired Students

Knox Elementary School in Canton is opening the community’s eyes to the challenges faced by visually impaired students through the establishment of a new club to support them.

Katie Strack, the school’s teacher of students with visual impairments, this school year started Blind Believers, an extracurricular group open to visually impaired students in all grades from throughout the Cherokee County School District. 

“While we have only had a couple of meetings, we hope to become an influential group,” Strack said. “Our motto is ‘I can do anything you can do, just in a different way!’”

The club’s mission is to raise awareness for individuals with visual impairments, offer activities that promote independence and participate in related service projects.

Activities so far this school year have included a fundraiser to purchase Beep Kickball, an adapted version of the game for the visually impaired, and the creation of an entry for the Riverfest scarecrow competition and display that was designed with tactile decorations and orientation and equipped with a mobility cane.

The scarecrow, named “BB” for Blind Believers, won first place, and kicked off the Beep Kickball fundraiser; for a $15 donation, supporters could buy “insurance” to keep “BB” out of their yard or forego the “insurance,” and then pay to have “BB” moved out of their yard to a friend’s yard.

Blind Believers raised $725 to purchase the Beep Kickball set and now is forming a team to compete with teams from around the state. Strack said she also envisions the Beep Kickball set being used in PE classes throughout the district to “help to further the concepts of respect and acceptance.”

Charter members of the club include Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy fifth-grader Riley Crawford, Macedonia Elementary School fourth-grader Sofia Howard, Knox fifth-grader Sarah Liebert, Indian Knoll Elementary School second-grader Reagan Waycaster and Macedonia kindergartener Emily Worosz.

For information on joining or assisting Blind Believers, contact Strack at katie.strack@cherokee.k12.ga.us or 770-324-5939.

Photo 1: Blind Believers members, sponsor Katie Strack and friends enjoy cupcakes after a free day of fun at Sky Zone provided by its manager, David van Hurst. From left to right: Isabella Howard, Mr. van Hurst, Alaynah Jackson, Emily Worosz, Reagan Waycaster, Ms. Strack, Sarah Liebert, Riley Cantrell, Mina Naparano and Sofia Howard.

Photo 2: Blind Believers member Knox Elementary School fifth-grader Sarah Liebert presents Ms. Strack with donations raised by the club for Beep Kickball.

Credit: Cherokee County School District