SeeSaw Club

The arts and crafts volunteer on May 15th was more than just crafts— it was a reminder for me  that creativity knows no boundaries. The project involved the skill of knotting; our objective was making a doorbell and a bag charm. As I was concentrating on tying the knots, I found my partner, who was visually impaired, struggling to tie knots. Therefore, I guided her to tie the knots the right way and also regularly checked over her work to see if she was doing it correctly. Although the process was tiring, we successfully created both the doorbell and the bag charm. That day, I realized that teamwork can overcome challenges and I was truly happy to become my partner’s eyes and support her throughout the session.

 Volunteering for the Showdown League for blind individuals was an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to support and connect with visually impaired athletes, helping with tasks like setting up equipment, guiding players, and keeping score. Witnessing their passion, skill, and determination was inspiring, and it deepened my appreciation for inclusivity in sports. This experience not only taught me patience and empathy but also reminded me how powerful community and accessibility can be in creating equal opportunities for everyone.

     Today, I volunteered at a showdown tournament for visually impaired athletes, and it ended up being one of the most intense and unforgettable experiences I've had. I worked as a scorekeeper, which meant I had to pay really close attention to every move and make sure the scoreboard was updated correctly. It was a lot more serious than I expected–everyone around was super focused, and I could feel the pressure as soon as the games started. I didn't want to mess up even once, especially since each point mattered so much.      What made it even more memorable was that I got to keep score for the finals matches for both the men's and women's divisions. The energy during those games was very intense. The men's finals especially stood out–it went all the way to the last set, and every second felt important. The atmosphere was quiet but tense, and even though I was just keeping score, I was honestly really nervous. It was intimidating being that close to such ...

       A Seattle-based startup called OneCourt is changing the way visually impaired fans experience live sports. Using a tactile broadcasting device, the company allows users to feel the game in real time through a specialized tabletop mat. This mat replicates the layout of a sports field and uses moving haptic "pixels" to represent players, the ball, and key game actions. As users run their fingers across the surface, they can follow the flow of the match–where the ball is, who's moving where, and what just happened–all through touch.      The technology syncs with real-time game data from sources like NFL's Next Gen Stats and broadcasts the action with minimal delay, making it possible for blind fans to stay in the moment alongside everyone else in the stadium. OneCourt has already tested this system at Portland Trail Blazers games, working closely with blind athletes and students. It combines tactile sensing with optional audio prompts, giving user...

The past month, I was given an invaluable opportunity to attend a volunteering activity, where visually impaired individuals paired up with students to craft doorbells. We wrapped knots around round wooden frames and tied small bells to create a satisfying product.  Each pair worked closely, aiding one another in every step.  Everyone was so joyful and engaged — the atmosphere was full of happiness and warmth. After we finished, we shared our thoughts and feelings, and the reflections were truly moving. It was a beautiful experience that reminded me how much connection and care can be expressed through simple acts of creativity.

 It was my first time today to volunteer in such a big showdown competition, over 100 people gathering in this place to compete and have fun with such a uniue sport called Showdown. Because of this, I was unsure and lost at first. However, as I got used to the atmosphere, what was for volunteering was now for my own will.  Today, I was assigned to be part of the "Student Group", meaning I was in charge of helping the student athletes go to their designated rooms for competing, and use the restroom if they needed. Seeing students of my age work passionately in this game helped me reflect myself, and respect their positive attitude. I made a friend who is my age, who is visually impaired, but no different than me in the inside. I believe the role I was assigned was very lucky, able to enjoy the possibly overwhelming atmosphere. In sum, I am very thankful for this experience and the fact that I was able to meet all the amazing student athletes. 

 On May 18th, our club gathered together with the visibly impaired community in order to create doorbells. We learned that the doorbells bring a sign of luck and a reminder that a valuable visitor/ thing is coming. As I was paired with my partner who was visibly impaired, we got much closer and created this bond as we formed knots. Surprisingly, I was the one who struggled more than my partner, which my partner led me through the steps after her work. Through this activity, not only did we learn to make the knots and a lucky doorbell, but also form this unforgettable bond between us and the blind community. In sum, this experience was very hearwaeming, giving me a sense of guidance and motivation to commit myself even more in these kind of activities.

On May 18th, our SEESAW team organized an art fair as a means of fostering connection and inclusiveness by reaching out to visually impaired people through an interactive session of creating keychains from threads of cotton fiber. A simple idea became so much more. We were greeted by a surprisingly large group of people from ages ranging from 25-70.  It was very uplifting to witness individuals from various backgrounds uniting for something that was based on imagination and the human touch. What struck me most was not just the diversity, but the sense of mutual respect and openness in the room.  As we led their hands through the tactile process of weaving and knotting the keychains, a few of the volunteers openly shared their stories of blindness.  The experience was intensely humbling. It was the first time for most of us to consider how much we take for granted our own physical capacities. We move around unaware of the privileges that colors our lives, such as being abl...