Camp Abilities closes out successful summer

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- Friday marked the final day of competition for this summer’s Camp Abilities, a program run by Kean University for young people with visual impairment and blindness.  

The campers, ages seven to 19, had the chance to participate in a variety of sports at Tom River’s Field of Dreams, including soccer, basketball, and golf. 

Dr. Alex Stribing, an assistant professor of physical education at Kean and the director of the New Jersey Camp Abilities, said campers learn to trust verbal cues and sounds. 

“In a lot of the different pieces of equipment, it’s just sound,” said Stribing. “In the blind soccer ball, there are rattles and bells so they can hear it, and there are a lot of different coaches on the sidelines communicating to the players.” 

Stribing said campers leave the three-day program much differently than they entered it. 

“They come in unsure, not really confident in themselves,” said Stribing. “By the time they leave on Friday, they’re kicking a soccer ball. They’re running independently. They’re shooting a basketball independently.” 

Physical education majors at Kean University serve as camp coaches. 

“We have all the kids wear blindfolds,” said Kean senior Michael Auriemma, explaining how they play blind soccer. “So what that does is give everyone the same playing field.” 

“They have made everything so accessible and equitable that it is just incredible,” said Kim Ventarola, whose nine-year-old son, Dominic, was one of the campers. 

“Dominic didn’t know not one soul when he entered here, and for him to be able to be out there blindfolded and have to be listening and trust[ing] is a testament to this program,” said Ventarola. 

Other parents expressed similar sentiments.

“Here, he has an opportunity to be equal and excel,” said Natalie Dawkins, whose 13-year-old son Delano just completed his second year with the camp. 

“It makes me feel happy that I can go here and play games with other people that are similar,” said Delano Dawkins. “I definitely think I’m gonna come back next year. It’s gonna be fun.”