Photography Gives Sight, Opportunities to Student

Aspen Frederick was 12 when she received a life-changing gift — a camera. This is when she saw butterflies, leaves and eyelashes for the first time. Frederick was born with a rare eye condition called ocular albinism and nystagmus. Her initial prognosis was grim. “When I was born, I was legally blind,” Frederick said. “I was […]

Another Guide Dog Trainee Joining Red Raider Family

By Kaitlin Bain Vivian Helms loves being a parent. A pet parent, that is. Unlike other students, she has two dogs, a rat and a guinea pig. She is also taking care of a friend’s puppy, Chet, and working with him on potty training, chewing habits and other puppy issues. “I’ve already had to buy […]

Guide to a Guide Dog

Tanner Warmoth contributed to this article.  A media and communication graduate student has started a Lubbock chapter of Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers, an organization that allows volunteers to train guide dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind . The club is the only program of its kind in West Texas. Kaitlyn Beckert got involved when […]

Journalism Student Speaks at Disability Awareness Event

October is worldwide Disability Awareness Month, and Tech’s Student Disability Services office hosted events throughout week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. George Stern, a senior journalism student who is blind, gave a speech called “Context of Disabilities” before the annual deaf bingo event Tuesday night. He started by asking the audience to name disabilities. […]

The Navigation Equation — How Blind Students Take On Texas Tech

George Stern, a junior journalism major from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, said he’s been blind since he was two years old. Stern said he’s found ways to navigate around Texas Tech University — the nation’s second largest contiguous campus — by using his other senses and working with his guide dog, Vail. Blind students overcome a unique set of challenges […]