Barrier Awareness events planned in Aberdeen today

From: Aberdeen American News, SD - May 7, 2004

The seventh annual Barrier Awareness Day is today.

The event, sponsored by the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Aberdeen.

Students from several area middle schools will spend the day learning about barriers to people who have disabilities, according to a release from the mayor's committee.

According to the release, the morning session will include:

• Presentations by Chelsea Tobin, who will speak about being deaf, and Jodi Heller, who will speak about learning disabilities.

• Goal ball played by student participants and students from the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The afternoon will include:

• Stations allowing hands-on experiences with disability barriers, including a wheelchair obstacle course, vision impairments, "unfair" hearing test, orientation and mobility, learning disabilities, and assistive technology, according to the release.

• Presentation by Bev Swartz of All-Purpose Canines.

For more information, call Nancy Kelsey at (605) 626-2395.

© 2004 American News and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.