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Board hears student account of Space Camp for visually impaired trainees
Summary
A Danville student and staff described accessibility features and hands‑on STEM activities from the Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SIVIS) program; presenters credited local Lions Club and city donations for support.
Miss Mentor and accompanying staff introduced Sarah Combs, a Danville student who attended Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SIVIS) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Presenters said the program is designed to provide fully accessible STEM experiences and described brailled materials, assistive technology and specialized staff training. Sarah and staff recounted a multi‑day schedule of missions, planetarium sessions, scuba weightlessness training, a 16‑gravity chair and a four‑hour final mission where Sarah served as pilot and scientist on an ISS‑style simulation.
Staff noted the program's scale this year (141 trainees from 31 states and territories and six countries) and said Danville sent five students from Virginia. Presenters thanked the Danville Host Lions Club and the city for donated pins and other support. Board members asked about selection criteria; staff said attendance depends on a student’s caseload eligibility, independence, behavior and readiness, and that travel is arranged when staff have suitable students.
