OCR Text |
Show Wednesday, March 31, 2010 AggieLife Page 5 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Life with four senses USU STUDENTS QUINN PRICE, LEFT, and Lewis Burdette, right, are often seen together on campus. Both students have visual impairments and use various tools to assist them in day-to-day life. One tool is called BrailleNote, also known as a notetaker. This piece of equipment has similar aspects as a computer such as e-mailing, taking notes and reading books. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photos By COURTNIE PACKER features editor For many students, watching the life of a visually-impaired student looks challenging. However, for Quinn Price and Lewis Burdette, it is a way of life. Their way of life. The two men met 11 years ago at a summer camp. They bumped into each other at events across the state of Utah for many years but did not get to build a strong friendship until they came to USU. Price, sophomore in social studies composite teaching, said after attending USU for a year, the two decided to become roommates. Price and Burdette were born with visual impairments. Price had some eyesight until he was 2 years old. By losing his eyesight at a young age, he said, he does not remember the shapes and details of objects but remembers learning colors and a few items. Burdette, junior in exercise science, was born with a degenerative disease that caused his retinas to slowly degenerate. Because he can slightly see, most of his movements are done tactically and spatially. He is able to contrast between light and dark, and can see the difference between sidewalk and grass. Price and Burdette chose to attend USU for similar reasons: the abundant transportation to and from campus. They are often seen around campus helping each other cross the street or are seen together in classes. It is not uncommon for them to be in the wrong classroom or in a surrounding completely different than where they were hoping to be. Burdette said many bus drivers are considerate by letting them know which stop they are at and which stop they need. Even though Price and Burdette are frequently I See BLIND, page 6 Building children's lives with a promise By KELLYN ANDERSON staff writer The Youth and Families with Promise program was started in 1998 by a group of professors at USU, and soon spread throughout Utah and, eventually, the entire country. A nonprofit organization funded by Workforce Services, the program was evaluated as a Best Practices Program and, except for the two paid director positions, run on a volunteer basis. Volunteers, primarily USU students, mentor kids ranging from ages 10 to 14. The kids live in various situations, such as single-parent homes, blended-family circumstances or homes where parents work and want an uplifting place for their child to spend time. The program started out on an entirely volunteer basis with no funding and only 10 participants. After funding was garnered, co-directors Sharilee Griffiths and Rachel Davidson have been able to expand the program to 50 participants. "We have absolutely wonderful stories, where it's really changed lives," Griffiths says. The program works to match children with their own mentor and then provides activities for them to do once a month. During the other three weeks, the directors encourage mentors to involve the kids in their lives and to do all kinds of activities. From reading a book to ice skating to playing games, the program does it all. "There are a great many benefits for the mentors as well as the kids," Griffiths said. "We pay for a lot of free entertainment, and we always have food." The USU student mentors can receive two upper-level credits for participating in the program, and the service looks directors prepare loads of food and teach the kids valuable great on a résumé. lessons through games, such as budgeting and table etiquette. Youth and Families with Promise is always looking for This past Wednesday, the children were given a menu and mentors, as of right now it does not have enough mentors to fake money, then told to decide what they want, using the match with each child. It will not match a mentor unless he or $1.50 they had to spend. Then mentors helped the mentees she will be in Logan for the summer or is coming back next count and budget correctly, so the children could eat what fall, as it can greatly affect the child. they wanted. Matching a mentor involves personMary Smith, a young participant "Many of these kids ality traits, practical influences, such as in the program whose name has been transportation, and availability. Once changed, says she really likes the activihave been mentally mentors are matched with mentees, they ties. abused and abandoned. spend the rest of the year together, and "I like how the people teach you The last thing we want interesting stuff. It's a learning experisudden desertion can hurt the child even more. ence," Smith says. to do is abandon them All of the kids love having a mentor "Many of these kids have been menagain." tally abused and abandoned. The last to look up to, as well as the opportunity - Sharilee Griffiths, thing we want to do is abandon them to hang out with someone older doing again," Griffiths says. co-director for Youth and free activities. Sara Jones, a graduate With the 50 kids who need menstudent in health education whose name Families with Promise toring, the Youth and Families with has been changed, says the program is a Promise is always advertising for new way to reach out to the kids. mentors, especially males. The Living She says, "It is a kind of social supand Learning community has helped a lot, both with menport system. We share common experiences, and it gives them tors and location of activities, but the program is continually an outlet of someone to talk to." expanding, and with expansion comes a need for more volunMentoring is an easy way to get involved in the communiteers. ty. Katie Spackman, freshman in elementary education, heard "You build a great relationship with these kids," Griffiths about the program from a friend and quickly signed up. says. "It's really a great opportunity to make a difference in "I wanted an opportunity to serve. It's a great way to know the life of a child." your influencing the kids, making a difference," she says. The mentors and families meet every Wednesday and — kellyn.anderson@aggiemail.usu.edu Thursday, depending on whichever day works best, to have an activity. Once a month on the special activity nights, the |