Joshua Dixon Elementary

Just before winter break, our third-grade classes had the unique opportunity to experience Goal Ball, thanks to the local organization Adapted Sports Ohio. One of their classmates, who has visual, hearing, fine, and gross motor impairments, participated alongside her peers, making the experience even more meaningful. Students played wearing goggles to simulate limited vision and in complete silence, relying on the jingling sound of the ball to locate it and pass it to teammates or score a goal. Boundaries were marked with small cables, and students used their sense of touch to stay within the playing field. The activity was full of smiles, teamwork, and cheers as the class worked together to score three goals. Beyond the fun, students demonstrated empathy, compassion, and understanding as they navigated the game with limited senses, putting themselves in their classmates’ shoes and gaining a deeper appreciation for the challenges some people face.