Cover Kids

Deshayla Kimble

Sixth grader who spends her free time at soccer, track and cheer practice.

“I want to be a teacher when I grow up. I just love a lot of the teachers that I’ve had in school.”

Allyson Gomez

Fifth grader who is bilingual and loves to sing and makes new friends everywhere she goes.

Favorite subject in school? “Recess. Definitely recess.”

Hunter Smith

Seventh grader who’s an only child but enjoys hanging out with his two dogs: Pancake and Waffles. What does he want to be when he grows up? “I haven’t really thought about it too much. I’ll figure that out in college.”

Lonnie Rogers

Seventh grader who just can’t believe he has to be at school every day from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He’d much rather be playing basketball.

“Basketball isn’t just something I like randomly. It’s my favorite hobby and it’s my dream to be in the NBA.”

Ariyanna Underwood

Seventh grade straight-A student who wants to be a baker when she grows up.

“I have a big family and I like to hang out with them. There’s always a lot of people, games and food. Especially fried chicken.”

Adamari Hernandez

Sixth grader who loves basketball, volleyball, Girl Scouts and all things acting and singing.

“I want to be a singer, but if I can’t do that, I’ll be an actress. If I can’t do that, I’ll be a YouTuber. If I can’t do that, I’ll get a regular job.”

What’s it like to be a visually impaired teen?

Trinity Lewis is a gregarious, kind-hearted, confident 18-year-old entering her final year of high school. She loves to swim, dance and watch scary movies with younger sister, Tristain. Her mom describes her as someone who’s never met a stranger and her gift with words was recently highlighted in a speech at the State Capitol. Lewis dreams of pursuing a career in education.

Lewis’s captivating smile belies that her future hasn’t always looked so bright. Born at just 32 weeks after mom Sylvia Lott was in a car accident, Lewis spent several months in the NICU. Her first pediatric appointment after her release revealed pupils that weren’t dilating, and an immediate visit to an ophthalmologist confirmed Lewis had a visual impairment.

“I was devastated,” said Lott. “You worry about what they’re not going to be able to experience, how it will hold them back or how other people will hold them back because of it. You don’t want your baby to be thought of as ‘less than.’”

As a child, Lewis said new experiences intimidated her and she got lost often. Stints in both private and public school included extensive work at home to ensure she wouldn’t fall behind. Bullied by classmates, Lott recalls birthday parties where no guests showed. While the challenges of low vision will always be part of her, Lewis said her family, NewView Oklahoma and the Oklahoma School for the Blind have taught her to embrace it.

“I realized this is how it’s going to be and I had to learn to adapt to it,” Lewis said.

Cathy Holden, senior vice president of rehabilitation and clinical operations for NewView, has watched Lewis gain confidence that she can achieve anything.

“We are affording a child the opportunity and training to overcome the stigma of a visual impairment,” Holden said. “We help them feel accepted and develop the confidence and skills to go forth.”

As evidenced by Lewis, NewView helps equalize the playing field for children and adults with visual impairments.

“We teach children to maximize their vision, to overcome and to adapt,” Holden said. “When Lewis came to our program, she had no clue what she would be capable of. Now she mentors other kids in the same predicament. She is such an encourager.”

The Gift of Hope

Opened in 1949, NewView Oklahoma is the only private in-state provider of comprehensive services for people with significant vision loss that can’t be corrected. It’s also the largest employer of blind and vision impaired individuals in Oklahoma. Those comprehensive services include access to visual specialists, occupational therapists, mobility and travel specialists, adaptive software and technology, Braille and even summer camps for elementary students through young adults.

Holden calls blindness the most misunderstood and feared disability. She takes parents of her young patients on tours of their facility to see adults who are blind or visually impaired succeeding in administrative, manufacturing, management and rehabilitation careers.

“We want to give them hope,” said Holden. “We don’t expect for them to get it all at once, but to give them time to observe and build trust.”

Lewis’s initial NewView experience was through Oklahomans Without Limits summer camp. Designed for ages 8 to 14, OWL camp includes rock climbing, swimming, art, music, boating and field trips to local attractions. Though Lewis and her mom were nervous, both were mollified knowing Lewis would have a buddy camper without sight limitations.

“The buddies spend their week building that camper up,” Holden said. “They are there as a support but also allow them to be independent.”

Buddies are vetted through interviews and then trained with a blindfold to better understand the challenges campers with sight impairments face.

“The kids with sight impairments just want to be treated normally,” Holden said. “Many of them have been bullied, but by the end of the week they realize kids with sight aren’t bad after all.”

OWL camp gave Lewis confidence, inspiring her to try out for her school’s basketball team and serve as the school mascot. Lott still harbored fear when Lewis tried new things, like swimming, riding a bike, roller skating or even going to the mall, but OWL camp demonstrated the benefits of stepping outside their comfort zones.

“She was building friendships and that’s something she craved,” Lott said. “It’s heartbreaking that it takes someone who your kid will only interact with for a week to show kindness, versus kids from school who wouldn’t take the time to get to know her.”

Empowering the Future

Through OWL camp, Lewis and her family learned about Oklahoma School for the Blind, and Lewis was determined to attend. Though hesitant for Lewis to live at the school’s campus in Muskogee during the week, Lott relented, recognizing the importance of fostering Lewis’s independence.

“I want to handle everything for Trinity,” Lott said. “But I also don’t want her to miss the opportunity to build relationships or experience life. I’m afraid I’ve held her back because I was scared the world wouldn’t accept her.”

At OSB, Lewis is a cheerleader and involved in FCCLA. Academics are top-notch and Lewis appreciates the small class size and accessibility to resources she didn’t have in other schools. OSB hosts weekly outings for students and facilitates sleepovers at classmates’ houses, as approved by parents, an experience most students have never had. Via FaceTime and dorm parents, Lott ensures Lewis is keeping up with laundry and cleaning her room. Through a program called ABLE, Lewis learns about technology she’ll need in college and beyond and in a work study program, she earned a job in OSB’s front office. Sorting the mail, taking phone calls and delivering packages assured her she will succeed in the professional world one day. In the spring, Lewis was selected to share her experiences at the Capitol on Disability Awareness Day.

“I hope I widened people’s horizons about being visually impaired,” said Lewis.

Holden said most people think of visually impaired individuals as unable to see anything, but that’s not the case. Though Lewis can’t distinguish facial details, she is very attuned to vocal inflections, tone and body language, recognizing Lott’s emotions as soon as she walks in the door from work or sensing someone making fun of her in public. Though such situations distress her mom, Trinity responds by saying those people aren’t worth her time.

“She’s always had positive role models to keep encouraging her not to be disheartened but to brush off negativity,” said Lott. “She has a beautiful spirit and a positive outlook on the world.”

Lewis said people with vision impairments are usually pretty open, and that it’s always okay to ask questions.

“Just teach kids to ask questions in a way that’s not disrespectful,” Lewis advised.

The biggest lesson Lewis has learned in her 18 years—and what she wants to impart to the world—is that there is no such thing as normal. Lewis’s heart of gold means she stands up for others. She’s traveled five hours to attend the funeral of a friend’s parent, and she made it a priority to attend prom with a friend with low vision who’d never been to a dance before.

Whether trying out for basketball, public speaking and, now, approaching her future as a young adult, Lewis doesn’t let anything stand in her way.

“With every new thing I do or learn a new way to do something, it feels like I get more freedom,” said Lewis.

Editor’s Note: Cathy Holden died tragically in late July, after this article was written. We dedicate this article to her and all the hard work she did to bring awareness and equality to people with vision impairment.

Sensory-Friendly Fun With the OKC Thunder

Fall is approaching and it’s time for Okies to Thunder Up! Families across the state will spend their days sporting their favorite players’ jerseys and talking to everyone about the big game: coworkers, classmates, the cashier, even the stranger in line at the store. On game day, some parents rush from work, pick up the kids and get to their seats just in time for tipoff. And as the crowd roars with excitement, some parents are at home turning down the volume on the remote. Because even if your family is the biggest Thunder fan on the block, catching the game at home has historically been the only good option for kids with sensory sensitivities.

Families who have a loved one with sensory sensitivities learn to make trade-offs and compromises almost reflexively. Parents know that the sights and sounds that come with attending a game may overwhelm and overload their young Thunder fan who has additional needs. While the family may want to show up and cheer for their players, one of their loved ones may require additional accommodations to enjoy the big game.

The Thunder staff wants everyone to have the opportunity to catch a game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. They have partnered with the inclusive-conscious nonprofit, KultureCity, and together, created a sensory-friendly experience for fans with additional needs who want to cheer their team to victory.

Upon Arrival

For families who prefer to avoid a bulk of the crowd, it is recommended to enter the arena through the east doors, located directly beside the Marriott parking garage, and close to sections 108-109 as well as family restrooms. Fans of all abilities will be greeted warmly by staff who have gone through sensitivity training provided by KultureCity. Immediately to the right is a guest service desk where an assortment of weighted lap pads and 50 sensory bags containing items such as fidgets, headphones and visual icon cards are available to check out, free of charge. Sunglasses are even provided for light-sensitive fans. A lanyard with KultureCity’s sensory icon is also included for anyone in the group to wear in order for staff to identify a family from afar who may need an assist with an overwhelmed child or some extra high fives and thumbs up for an outing that most take for granted.

The only requirement for checking out a bag or lap pad is to leave a photo ID with one of the staff members manning the sensory station.

“You do not have to be a certain age, have a formal diagnosis, or ‘prove’ anything to us to check out a sensory bag,” said Joy Dyer, Thunder’s manager of guest relations. “If you ask for one, we will give you one, no questions asked.”

Once the bag is returned, every item is sanitized before being reissued to the next family.

The Sensory Room

A child on the verge of a meltdown can mean trouble on family outings. Taking a break from all of the stimulation and sensory input can be paramount in de-escalating an overstimulated loved one. The sensory room inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena provides a safe space for your children to take a break and relax if the buzzers, whistles and cheering become a little too much.

Located near section 112, the sensory room can be accessed by walking through the First Aid room and into a small sitting area that leads to the Sensory Room and also a private restroom for families who may need to assist their older child. The room is available to overstimulated fans who need a moment to regroup or relax before returning to the game. Additionally, nursing mothers may make use of the room for privacy if desired. Since only one family is allowed to use the room at a time, a 15-minute limit is requested if others are waiting, however, staff will never tell a family they must leave the room before they are ready.

Experts at KultureCity carefully designed the sensory room to be a relaxing, nonstimulating environment. Walls are painted calming tones and a water feature pumps rows of moving bubbles that imitate a soft bubbling brook. There are beanbags and crashpads available for guests to relax on, as well as a rocking glider. A beautiful custom designed piece of wall art made from textured wooden pieces and painted in the Thunder colors was donated by KultureCity for those who enjoy tactile input. Various puzzles and textured wall art has been positioned at specific heights to purposefully invite the young child, the lanky teen or adult to comfortably experience the calming effects of the room.

Other Tips

Partners who need to split up the children to de-escalate can easily do so. Next door at section 113 is the Kids Zone, where your busier little buddies can find fun activities to keep their attention. The Thunder Kids Cart is also in this area where kids can get a variety of snacks for only $1 each. Persons who have dietary restrictions can find gluten-free food options by asking any staff member or by downloading the Thunder app and searching under “Fan Assist.”

Families going to a game on a Sunday will be able to watch their child have the opportunity to go down on the court after the game and take one free throw shot.

For more information about the Thunder and their commitment to a positive sensoryinclusive game day experience for all, contact the OKC Thunder business office at 405-208-4800 or email them at fans@ okcthunder.com.

Editor’s Note: A Thunder game isn’t the only local family attraction getting some assistance to be more inclusive. KultureCity has also partnered with the Oklahoma City Zoo to make zoo adventures easier for the sensory-sensitive family members. Learn more at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/ inclusive-zoo.