Easterseals Presents Empathy-Building Exercises At BlueClaws Game

LAKEWOOD, NJ — People attending Tuesday's Lakewood BlueClaws game will have the opportunity to step briefly into some of the challenges faced by those with disabilities, through a program presented by Easterseals New Jersey.

Easterseals, which is marking its 100th anniversary of assisting individuals and families with disabilities or special needs, will be at First Energy Park Tuesday, July 9, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is part of the BlueClaws' community partnerships events.

"Easterseals New Jersey is creating a space for conversation and engagement surrounding the topic of disability and encouraging locals to step outside of their typical daily experience and see life, literally, through a new lens," a news release from the organization said.

Attendees will be walked through short experience-based activities to learn more about disability, such as:

• Making art at a limited-mobility station
• Conversing through lip-reading exercises
• Undergoing what it’s like to have vision loss

Easterseals NJ also has an exercise that is designed to give participants a window into what life can be like for a person with schizophrenia. The participant puts on a headset and listens to a prerecorded 3-minute message while trying to do other activities. It aims to replicate the sense of voices and distractions and multiple personalities that someone with schizophrenia experiences.

"These engagements can be a powerful tool in removing the stigma surrounding disability," the news release said. The goal is to encourage understanding and awareness to increase compassion and empathy for those who live with disabilities and special needs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 4 Americans live with a disability.

For more information about Easterseals, visit www.eastersealsnj.org.