November 21, 2022

Children with low vision should be embraced for their uniqueness. They want the same acceptance as you and me, but their journey may come with challenges along the way. With your support, children can develop the confidence and self-esteem needed to feel valued in our community.

Ten-year-old Drake wants to do and experience everything as other children his age but it’s not always easy for him to participate in leisure activities because of his visual impairment. He has Oculocutaneous Albinism which is a genetic condition that causes decreased sharpness of vision, rapid eye movements, crossed eyes or increased sensitivity to light. A simple activity such as playing catch with his father can be challenging for Drake since he cannot see the ball coming toward him.

Your support provides opportunities such as youth camps for children with low vision to experience activities focused on building confidence, developing friendships and connecting with their peers. Drake energetically participated in youth camps at Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, which provided a whole new world for him to explore. Whether Drake was playing “fowling” which is a combination of football meets bowling, baking delicious cookies, creating a musical masterpiece at Elementz or sharing laughs with his new friend Jessie, he was all too eager to be a part of the excitement.

“Drake had a blast! He met some nice boys and made good friendships,” said Diana, Drake’s mother.

Drake and his mom Diana smiling for the photo

Drake enjoys being a kid and all of the wonderful things that come along with it at his age. He likes playing video games, camping, swimming, building Legos, watching YouTube videos and he has a green belt in Taekwondo. He also enjoys staying in contact, via Zoom, with his youth camp friend Jesse.

Your dedication provides opportunities for children with low vision to explore new activities and helps them to gain the confidence needed to be successful in their lives.

“Getting children to be independent, which is part of Clovernook Center’s philosophy, is a great thing,” said Darien, Drake’s father.

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