On December 18th, 2024, students from the Explorer Course visited the Aichi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired (愛知県立名古屋盲学校) to enjoy activities together. The highlights of the afternoon were the delicious lunch provided by the School for the Visually Impaired, as well as a great series of special volleyball games between students from both schools.
At first, the Explorer Course students were escorted onto the campus of the School for the Visually Impaired by the teachers at that school. They began the afternoon with a hearty lunch of gyudon, potato salad, and a bowl of fruit. Luckily, some students who were still hungry were able to have seconds. During the lunch, students at both schools were seated in a mixed arrangement such that they could converse with each other. Although lunch was short, everyone had a great time, and it was a good icebreaker leading up to the sports that would soon follow.
Next, the real activities began, as the students and teachers of the School for the Visually Impaired demonstrated for the Explorer Course students how to play a special style of volleyball called “Floor Volleyball.” Floor Volleyball is modified from regular volleyball such that even participants who cannot see (either completely blind or partially blind) can still enjoy the sport. There are no overhead strikes in the game, and the ball is meant to be hit or rolled along the floor only (under the net). Each team has a 3-person defensive group, all of whom are blindfolded. The rest of the team on either side are not blindfolded, and can see normally. As such, verbal communication between the defensive and offensive members of each team is essential.
Students from the Explorer Course all had a chance to play in a series of Floor Volleyball games, and through this experience, they could come to more fully and deeply understand the meaningful ways in which our senses help us interact with the world around us. Furthermore, (and more importantly), they could gain a sense of empathy with others who may not be able to use all their senses and still be able to navigate and succeed in society at large.
In summary, the Explorer Course visit to the Aichi Prefectural School for the Visually Impaired was a fun and memorable experience for all, and we hope that there is a chance for our schools to work together again in the near future.
