It was an exciting morning on Sunday for close to a dozen kids and teens from across western New York.
Each got the opportunity to drive a go-kart for the first time inside RPM Raceway in the Walden Galleria.
All are visually impaired, or blind.
Bob Mead-Colegrove's son, Andrew is one of the drivers getting behind the wheel for the first time. Andrew is 14, and he's blind. The teen from Brocton was legally blind by about six-months-old.
“Sometimes it takes a group to push the boundaries to let him do more than he can do. Even though we think he can do anything, it helps us to have places like this,” said Bob.
Each of the drivers went one at a time. Seeing guides shouted directions like “right,” or “hard right” so each of the drivers stayed on track. “It helped me, so I wouldn’t crash,” Andrew said.
Olmsted Center for Sight made it possible through a state grant. “This gives them the opportunity to do something in a controlled environment and have that experience they wouldn't have out in the real world,” said Olmsted Marketing Coordinator, Brooke Kibrick.
Andrew Mead-Colegrove included. “I believe in myself that I can do things that I haven't done before.”
