[Travelandtourism] Local teen brings world into focus for the blind

[cheryl echevarria]

Since this is all about travel and tourism. I got this information from the Ziegler today, and went to the news website.  I hope you enjoy this, and I encourage the young and old to go outside your box and start traveling. Sure it will be a challenge, but isn't everything.

Take care

Local teen brings world into focus for the blind 

Fredericksburg Academy student helps lead blind students on an expedition at the Grand Canyon. 

BY JEFF BRANSCOME
<http://fredericksburg.com/Feedback/emailreporter?User=jbranscome&headline=%20Local%20teen%20brings%20world%20into%20focus%20for%20the%20blind>Date published: 8/1/2011 

BY JEFF BRANSCOME 


Rory Dunn stood near the edge of the Grand Canyon and described what he saw.

"It's like a painting," he said. "You move closer, and it never gets smaller. There are cliffs everywhere, and they have brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. There are spots of green trees all along the sides of the cliffs."

Some of the students accompanying him gasped. They appreciated the scene, even though they are blind or visually impaired.

Rory, 15, of King George County<http://fredericksburg.com/community/home/king_george> was among five students selected nationwide to lead blind students on an 11-day trip in June to Grand Canyon National Park.

He applied for the Arizona expedition through Global Explorers, a nonprofit that specializes in educational travel for students. The journey was sponsored by the organization's Leading the Way program, which was formed in partnership with Erik Weihenmayer--the only blind man to summit Mount Everest.

At the canyon, the guides and visually impaired students ranged from 14 to 21 years old and came from across the country.

"It's very humbling being among people that are so energetic and so ready to go places even when they have such a serious disadvantage," said Rory, a rising sophomore at Fredericksburg Academy in Spotsylvania County<http://fredericksburg.com/community/home/spotsylvania>.

During the hikes, Rory alerted students--who used trekking poles or canes--to obstacles. He referred to large rocks as "ankle rollers" and low tree branches as "head hunters."

The guides also had bells on their backpacks so the blind students would know where they were at all times.

Rory said he removed the bells because some students preferred his voice over constant ringing.

"It gets kind of grating after a while," he said of the ringing. 

Rory said it took time to adjust to his responsibilities. At first, he was almost overprotective of the blind students, warning them of every potential obstacle. 

"I almost went too overboard with the amount of help I provided," he said.

He also learned to be descriptive.

You can't just call a cliff "massive," Rory said. The blind students want to know how many feet it is, its colors and the kind of trees that are growing on it.

Overall, though, they are very independent. They're quite remarkable, Rory said.




A lot of the blind students play instruments, including the guitar and clarinet, and one spoke Russian fluently. Another told Rory she once prepared Pad Thai for 70 people--by herself.

"I don't think I can do that," Rory said. "That's impressive."

Now the students have an 84-mile trip down the Colorado River under their belts, thanks to some help from Rory and others.

The final hike out of the Grand Canyon was seven miles and took 10 hours, Rory said. The temperature was 107 degrees.

Rory's father, Gary Dunn, said it was a neat experience for his son.

"He had an adventure, and he also got to see how other people live," he said. Rory's parents, Gary and Stacy, run White Oak Animal Hospital in southern Stafford County<http://fredericksburg.com/community/home/stafford>.

In five or 10 years, Rory and his fellow travelers hope to have a reunion.

"Everyone liked everyone," he said. "It was a very closely knit group." 

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
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