Monday, August 2, 2010

RINGLING HOSTS BLIND CHILDREN TO A TOUCH & FEEL CIRCUS

Cho, 5, tentatively feels the nose of a pony. Dorothy was one of about 15 blind and visually impaired children from the Blind Children's Learning Center who visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Thursday. Parents and siblings also got to feel the costumes, animals and props ahead of a visit to the show. Maya Graves, 4, smiles as she's lifted into the air by Fantasy Troupe member Cristian Anghel. "I want to do it again," she said, as soon as her feet touched down on solid ground. Her older brother and younger sister get to watch the show, so for Maya to experience the circus tactilely gives her better knowledge of what's going on, said her mother. Maya was one of the students who visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.TEXT BY ELYSSE JAMES, MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER



Katelyn King, 4, tries out a dirt bike with help from her mother, Kim. "It's amazing. It's a wonderful experience for them to get their hands on and to feel the animals and get up close, especially for the kids with visual impairment,” Kim said. The lights and sounds of the circus really grab at Katelyn's attention and draw her into the experience, Kim said.

Matthew O'Toole, 4, rides a mini dirt bike with help from Paulo Cesar, who rides the bike in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show. Matthew smiled and held tightly to the handle bars as Cesar rolled the bike foward, making engine sounds. During the show, seven motorcycle riders perform in a Globe of Steel.

Fantasy Troupe member Marius Oraca helps Maya Graves, 4, push down on a teeter board used during the circus show. Children ages 3 to 10 from the Blind Children's Learning Center got to feel their way through the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Thursday.Dorothy Cho, 5, feels the side of a pony. Cho said later that the ponies loved her. She was able to touch their ears, nose, eyes, mane and tail as she pet the miniature horse held by presenter Victoria Zsilak. Cho joined other blind and visually impaired children on Tuesday during the Blind Children's Learning Center visit to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Honda Center in Anaheim.


1 comment:

  1. Wow this is amazing! I came across your blog in a search to find parents with blind kids who homeschool because my oldest daughter is blind. Your blog popped up. Is this something that happens often? Is this a one time thing in a particular area? I live near Austin and I would love to take my daughter to something like this.

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