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Olympian empowers visually impaired youth

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    Marla Runya on her mission to help children overcome disabilities and achieve their dreams

  • Duration 5:11
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RA we have got yet another as switching gears topic to get -- -- and I have a guest here on set has been brought him while we were talking to keep.

We have got here Marla Runyan a former 2002004.

Track and field paralympic.

I thank you so much for joining us and you're here today -- to talk to us about.

The mission of capabilities the empowerment of children with sensory impairments.

And you are -- blind athlete.

Who's been giving hope and education and empowerment to visually impaired.

Children so tell us about what you're doing -- -- ability.

Is a camp a sports camp for kids.

Ages nine to nineteen who are visually impaired blind or deaf blind.

It was founded by doctor Lauren Lieberman have -- brought -- she's a professor there and adapted physical education.

And the camp friends for one week every June and this year I was honored to be one of help -- with track and field and and work with the kids and with just incredible.

What this camp is really doing is teaching kids.

Well teaching them that they can't be involved in sports when may be in public schools that isn't happening.

But it's also providing them that opportunity to experience sports that they've never had a chance to do before.

And there also be instructed in ways that work better for them so using teaching methods that work for kids who can't see.

As opposed to methods that are -- courtside it's all right and -- and my apologies I got the title wrong for you and efforts synergies due 2000.

And 2004 track and field Olympian correct tell me tell me about being an Olympian tell me about those times.

Making the team I made them of the team in the 15100 meters back in 2000 went to Sydney Australia that was incredible.

I mean my second Olympic team to have Borland and competed in Athens.

How cool very cool excellent.

And and tell me about that the track and field you you tell me about competitions that you -- Outlook in addition to beyond the game is -- I well I -- You know granite the national championships in between those Olympic Games won three national championships -- one -- -- actually most memorable races of the 2002 New York City Marathon.

Where I finished fourth wow.

-- -- It was it was it was -- still to this day even those ten years ago it is actually my personal best performance in marathon.

That's very good memories.

Now -- the back to the camp ability is it called camp ability it is -- -- camp abilities and you have mentioned what it does.

How many children take part in this and where do they take part in this is -- all over.

What capabilities the -- resonated and Rockport.

New York but Lauren.

Has.

-- to have it spread to other states I think it's right now working -- other ten other states and three other countries.

But what is coming out of this camp it's really significant is that through some findings support through the -- are institute and through the American -- house for the blind.

Lauren has done quite a bit -- research on motor development for kids with vision impairment and from that research we've been able to develop a curriculum motor development curriculum.

That's going to be available to physical education teachers that they know how to include kids with vision impairment in their physical education classes that's terrific what we're watching some terrific tape watching this -- action.

And and watching those kids you could -- who looks on their faces that they are in news that they're getting involved and and I imagine are these children who may not have this type of opportunity -- in the past exactly I think what most will not realize is how much of a role vision plays in your motor development and so when you can't see how other people move you don't have that.

That to imitate.

And so what happens is very quickly our motor motor development skills for kids were blind.

Becomes very delayed and -- -- someone coming in and really with hands on teaching them how to kick -- ball.

How to run.

You know how to throw a ball all these skills even how to jumpers get.

They don't learn those by accident like sighted kids do they have to be taught and -- has -- very specific methods to doing that what what has been the greatest joy for you.

And -- -- unseen video and see what you guys do either must be I'm sure a long list of things that bringing -- that.

The sense of accomplishment you talk about your confidence an athlete.

The accomplishment of this where where does the joy reaching your heart must have I think I think that joy is like for example I was out on the track with the kids this week and -- the ten year old -- way.

I ran nearly ran a mile he ran brandish at a mile and he finished and the first thing you said was -- I can't believe I can do that I know I can do.

That's -- that's kind of the moments where these kids realize how I can only do this and that's what it.

Why we do this terrific and you have a website as a way people can find you sure they can they can search capabilities online and should look I didn't look for the -- -- camp that's the main camp abilities your original camp abilities.

At the website now -- and you can check it out and also you know every camper that comes the -- has a counselor or coach and that's mostly college students and college students can actually earn college credit -- Were being camp counselor all right Marla Runyan -- thank you so much for joining us here today terrific story.

And just congratulations to you -- best of luck to you thank you are right so.

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