2001
Boy Scout National Jamboree
disAbilities Awareness Challenge
July 23-31, 2001
OBJECTIVES: To provide Boy Scouts and their leaders the opportunity to become aware of devices that have been developed for the disAbled, give them the opportunity " to experience" being disAbled and demonstrate to them that those who have severe limitations can adapt and lead wholesome lives.
PHASE I - AWARENESS
The “Tent of Possibilities”
Using more than 50 devices that have been developed by the Telephone Pioneers of America, scouts and their leaders will learn through a variety of devices and hands‑on demonstrations, that the needs of the visually, mentally, hearing, speech and physically challenged have successfully been addressed by the dedication and inventiveness of the Pioneers. A number of these devices can be made by scouts. Demonstrations include:
- ADAPTIVE TOYS: Toys whose on/off and control device have been modified to allow limited individuals to still play with the toys.
- BINGO: Raised letters/numbers allows blind or limited sighted people to enjoy a good game of bingo.
- CHECKERS: Modified to permit those with limited grasp to enjoy a game of checkers.
- ELECTRONIC DART BOARD: Emanates a beep tone for the blind to play darts and changes tone when "bullseye" is achieved.
- “SOUND” HOCKEY: Electronic device emanating a beep tone so the blind and limited sighted can play hockey.
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- BRAILLE TAGS: When sewn into clothing, identifies the color of the material to be worn to assure proper mix of colored clothing.
- ELECTRONICS OF BEEPBALL: Demonstrates the electronic components within the beepball and how the ball is constructed
- BEEP BASEBALL: Allows blind people and those with limited sight to play baseball
- BEAN BAG TEACHING AID: For teaching visual perception, manual dexterity and color awareness to slow learners and multiple handicapped children.
- "CRICKET": Electronic device emanating a beep tone so the blind and limited sighted can swim, play horseshoes, basketball, etc.
- TALKING DOGS: Teaching aid for children with speech problems.
Other devices available in the “Tent of Possibilities”:
- ALPHABET-NUMBER SEQUENCE BOARDS: The alphabet board teaches capital letter recognition, matching letters and reinforces the concept of alphabetical order.
- The number board teaches number recognition, numerical order and counting.
- MOBILITY BOARD: Allows a child, unable to walk, to become mobile.
- STATIC ARM SUPPORTS: To support and prevent uncontrollable movement of
- arm while eating.
- SWITCHES: Used to permit children with limited physical skills to participate 'in cognitive, communication, motor, self‑help and social development activities.
- TIC‑TAC‑TOE: To improve eye‑hand coordination and permit children with impaired motor skills to play tic‑tac‑toe.
- MONEY BLOCK: To teach mentally challenged or blind children to count, add, make change and learn the feel of money.
- TEN POSITION ELECTRONIC SCANNER: To provide communication for a non‑verbal child. Communicator lights scan horizontally and are stopped and started by a pressure switch. The scanning rate is controlled by a knob.
- AUDIO BALL: A sponge‑rubber, sound‑equipped ball with which visually impaired or other handicapped children can play various ball type games indoors or outdoors.
- AUDIO BASKETBALL: To help a blind person shoot baskets.
- MODIFIED SILVERWARE: Allows an individual who has limited use of a "grasp" to feed himself/herself
- HUG‑A‑BEARS: Brings comfort to a child who has been traumatized. Used by police, fire departments, and ambulances, emergency squads, etc. Some are modified with an arm or leg missing so a child who is physically limited can better relate to bear since both bear and child are the same.
- LIGHT SOURCE INDICATOR.‑ Operation of key telephone systems and various PBX's by blind persons, finding direction by overhead light, determine floor arrival in lighted button‑controlled elevators, tuning stereo radios and the mode of tape recorders, dark rooms to splice films, X‑rays, etc.
- LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR: To enable a totally blind person to fill a glass, cup, or saucepan with liquid without causing a flood or scalding themselves.
- BEEPING EGGS: Allows blind children to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt.
- HORSESHOES: Electronic tone on post allows a blind and limited sighted people to enjoy the game of horseshoes.
- -“HOT” TRIKE: Modified “Hand Operated Tricycle” allows youngsters who can not use their legs to ride a trike by "peddling" it using their arms with eccentric handle bars.
- BRAILLE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.‑ Allows blind or limited sighted person to read and understand the cornerstone document of our country.
- BASKETBALL "SCORE" INDICATOR: Permits limited sighted person to play basketball and know when a basket is made.
- PUPPET FOR NON‑VERBAL: Encourages those with limited or no speech to try and talk to the puppet.
- GUIDE DOGS. Trained dogs permit blind and limited sighted people to lead more productive lives.
- SQUARE FOOT GARDENING: Raised garden area to allow person in wheelchair to enjoy gardening. Also good for the aged who find it difficult or impossible to get down on their hands and knees.
- REVERSE MIRROR TEST: Allows participant to appreciate what it means to have dyslexia.
- YOUNG EARS: Using a “muppet”, encourages children who are hard of hearing to speak.
- LARGE DOMINOS: Dominos that have been enlarged to enable the visually impaired to participate in the game.
- STROBE SMOKE DETECTOR: Allows the hard of hearing to be warned in the event of a fire by seeing a strobe light activated when detecting smoke.
- BRAILLE PLAYING CARDS: Enables visually impaired people to participate in a variety of card games.
- BEEP GOLF CUP: Device allows the visually impaired to putt a golf ball 'into a cup. The tone changes when the ball goes into the cup.
PHASE II – “EXPERIENCING” BEING disAbled
Fifteen activities have been developed for scouts and their leaders to “EXPERIENCE” the limitations of being disAbled. Activities include:
1- WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL: Using half‑court sized playing areas, ten scouts and their leaders will have the opportunity to play basketball in wheelchairs.
2‑ BEEP BASEBALL: Participants will each take a turn at hitting an electric beeping softball while blindfolded. They will also run blindfolded to a base and attempt to secure a rolling Beep Ball.
3‑ CHAIR BOWLING: Scouts and leaders will be seated in a chair and attempt to knock down bowling pins using a standard sized bowling ball.
4‑ GOLF: Each participant will have the opportunity to drive a practice golf ball using a driver while one arm is affixed behind his back. He will also be blindfolded and attempt to putt a real golf ball into a standard cup with the assistance of a beeping device.
5‑ VOLLEYBALL: With one arm tucked inside their T-shirt, each participant will join a team playing volleyball. Being limited and "OFF BALANCED" will be a new challenge for the scout and their leaders.
6‑ SIGNING: Each patrol will be divided in half. Using sign language posters, each group will be expected to “SEND” a message to the other group and comprehend the message.
7‑ OBSTACLE COURSE: With one leg incapacitated and using crutches, each member will:
‑ Negotiate over barrels, tires and balance on a plank.
- Go up and down stairs.
8‑ BRAILLE COMPASS: All participants will learn how to use a Braille compass, understanding where the major points of the compass are as well as identifying if
specific degree locations.
9‑ MIND BENDER: using a series of large letters, each person will be expected to read the instructor's lips and spell out the word that has been conveyed to them in silence.
10‑ BLIND TRUST RUN: Two poles forty yards apart, connected by a stranded cable, will enable a blindfolded participant, suspended from the cable using a harness, to run at his top speed while experiencing a blind environment.
11‑ IMPAIRED VISION HOCKEY: Using an “ELECTRONIC” hockey puck, scouts and their leaders will have the opportunity of playing hockey blindfolded. A teammate at each participant's goal will direct the shooter where he should shoot the puck.
12‑ ONE ARM ARCHERY: Using a specifically constructed platform and bow holding device, wheelchair participants will be able to shoot an arrow and hit the bullseye.
13 ‑ PARALYZED DISCUS THROW and SHOT PUT: Participants will experience throwing a discus and shot put while confined to a chair.
14 ‑ LASER B‑B GUN SHOOTING: Using a laser beam, pairs of scouts will shoot at targets; one scout being blindfolded and his partner directing him where to aim with the aid of the laser dot.
15- COPE COURSE: Scouts/Scouters will participate in a variety of challenges to determine if they can “cope” with experiencing a number of disAbilities.
o Drive a tent stake into the ground while blindfolded, assuring the tent cord is taut.
o Negotiate a curb in a wheelchair.
- Participate in a running broad jump while using only one leg.
- Team snowshoeing will pit two teams of four scouts in a race against each other. Using two boards (2”x 6”x 6’) with rope loops for their feet, they will race each other and understand that TEAMWORK is necessary in order to succeed in life.
- Tie shoes using heavy work gloves.
- Swing from one rung of Monkey Bars to another rung, using only one arm.
- Jump with a pogo stick while using only one hand.
PHASE III ‑ ADAPTATION
Several video tapes will be used to demonstrate to the participants that people who have severe limitations can adapt and lead wholesome lives.
Roger Crawford is a U.S. ranked tennis player. He has one finger on each hand and has only one leg. After seeing him play tennis, he makes the point that people can succeed if they focus on the goal and not on their own limitations.
Highlights of the Telephone Pioneers of America sponsored 1992 World Series Beep Baseball will vividly show how blind players can successfully compete in America's favorite pastime.
Static display of adaptive skiing equipment...
Static display and video for Canine Companions ...
