National Federation of the Blind
Youth Slam 2007
Introduction
By Elizabeth Campbell
Youth Slam—the largest gathering of blind high school students ever assembled—is off to a rockin’ start!!!
Students from across the United States are studying about geckos or learning the finer points of launching a rocket this week at Johns Hopkins University. The Youth Slam is a collaboration between the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute and the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering.
The opening day, July 30, was a rollicking time of students and their mentors checking in to the Charles Commons Dorm and unpacking their bags for an exciting week of learning. The fun continued at the opening ceremony with a rousing welcome from Mark Riccobono, Executive Director of the Jernigan Institute. Dr. Betsy Zaborowski, senior advisor to the Jernigan Institute, called the first Youth Slam “the largest gathering of blind students in history.”
“Do you realize that you will be in a historic gathering?” she asked the 200 students. “We want you to learn about science and other careers to wet your whistle, but we also want you to learn about blindness. We are going to give a lot to you this week,” she said. Zaborowski added that after the Youth Slam, she hopes students will go back to their homes and spread the word about positive attitudes toward blindness to their friends.
The ceremony closed with keynote speaker, Michael Hingson who told of his harrowing escape from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Hingson, who grew up along the San Andreas Fault, knew what to do in an emergency. “Teamwork was the key to getting out safely that day,” he said. Hingson told the students that blindness is not an obstacle in his life.
He joked, “Most people in this country have a disability, it is light dependency.”
Youth Slam Activity Updates
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