ABCTX Helps Students Reach for the Stars

May 16, 2023

Reaching for the Stars has been the theme for SCVIS (Space Camp for Visually Impaired Students). Today, this theme shines brightly as the new logo for All Blind Children of Texas.

We are seeing our blind children reaching higher, achieving more and exploring new dimensions. This trajectory is happening all because of our wonderful donors who are partnering with ABCTX.

a young student and his mother standing side by side in front of a large space shuttle replica. The boy is holding a Texas flag

As a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, thanks to the support of ABCTX, I experienced a remarkable opportunity to take students from Texas to Huntsville, Alabama, to embrace life at the US Space and Rocket Center Space Camp for Visually Impaired Students.

Space Camp for Visually-Impaired Students (SCIVIS) is a week-long camp giving children an experience that’s truly “out of this world.”

A young male student flexing his muscles in space camp t shirt, hat and sunglasses, standing in front of a giant United States rocket statue

One student from our trip described the camp by saying, “it felt as though I had literally touched the moon,” as he was voted captain of his space shuttle in a real-life mission simulation.

It was said that “SCIVIS has something else other camps don’t. It lets students with visual impairments learn and have fun, just being themselves with others who are just like them.”

What may be a small step for others — is a huge step for them.

a young boy in a nasa flight suit and hat with his hands on his hips

A young male student in a white space suit and helmet

I remember on graduation day, my student was so excited as he dressed in his flight suit, adorned with all his medals he earned on his missions that week. He was also astonished by all the new friends from around the world (Canada, Ireland, Australia and the US) who were like him and had similar life experiences due to blindness.