GULFPORT, Mississippi (WLOX) – There are many things that most people take for granted in everyday life.
We expect our senses to work every day, but some don’t have that luxury.
“I’m deaf, blind and can’t see, so we have to rely on our gut feeling,” said Jackie Broussard, a resident of Louisiana.
Fortunately, despite their differences, members of the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana do not let them stop them from living their lives to the fullest.
The group came to the Gulf Coast to visit the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and experience dolphins and stingrays.
“It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” said Janice Lejeune, a member of Affiliate Blind of Louisiana. “It will be a beautiful memory to look back on.”
Events like this one are part of the organization’s Project COPE initiative, also known as the Choices and Opportunities Project for the Elderly Blind. Project COPE builds confidence for the visually and hearing impaired through classes and fun activities.
Dr. Moby Solangi, Director and President of IMMS, said it was a no-brainer to welcome the Blind of Louisiana subsidiary as it would provide a new opportunity to visitors and its staff.
“It’s a difficult situation for them when they are hearing and visually impaired,” said Dr. Solangi. “Such unforgettable experiences really brighten their lives.”
Some were born without senses, others lost them later in life. Broussard said the dolphins’ senses reminded her of a show she saw as a child before she lost her sight.
“I’ve seen TV shows, the TV show Flipper,” Broussard said. “Back then, I could see. I’ve lost my vision, so I don’t really know what they look like anymore, and I never felt them. Today, I was able to touch them, and now I have that memory.”
For the members of Affiliated Blind of Louisiana, this adventure was enough to lift them up and make them feel stronger than before.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re afraid, you should just fight that fear, live through it and experience it,” Lejeune said.
Affiliated Blind of Louisiana has been supporting the visually and hearing impaired since 1983.
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