A few months ago I was contacted by Mike May, who happens to be the subject of the Robert Kurzon’s recent book Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure and the Man who Dared to See. If you’re familiar with the book, you know that Mike was blinded at the age of three, but that didn’t stop him from being a daunting overachiever. CIA employee, world record-setting skier, businessman, inventor–like I say, daunting. It was gratifying to learn that he’s a fan of A Sense of the World, and that he rightly views James Holman as a kindred spirit. Unlike Holman however, his story has a fascinating, modern twist. Thanks to innovations in stem cell research, he was able to undergo an operation that actually restored a measure of sight–a surprisingly mixed blessing, considering how well-adapted he had been to the non-visual world.
Mike is also CEO of Sendero Group, the company that pioneered “talking map” software for the GPS. That innovation that has greatly increased the independence of many modern-day blind travelers, and in the spirit of both Crashing Through and A Sense of the World, Sendero is sponsoring an annual scholarship award “for the most impressive travel adventure for the year” by a non-visual traveler.
We are looking for independent travel. Travel with sighted friends, colleagues or family is fine as long as the blind applicant is demonstrating independent travel, a leader rather than a follower. In other words, a cruise would not be rated highly in terms of independence. We want to hear how the applicant’s orientation and mobility tools and techniques are used. It doesn’t matter if one is using a cane or a dog but more about what one is doing, sailing, hiking, exploring a city and the like. Use of GPS is not required but will weigh in the applicants favor if used.
So if you know a modern-day blind adventurer (or are one yourself) under the age of 29, of any nationalilty, it’s time to get that application in! The deadline is February 15, 2009 for this year’s award, which is expected to be at least $2,500. The full details are here, but here’s what the entry should include:
1. An essay about your adventure. You should address the following questions: Where did you go? Who did you go with? Why was this trip significant for you personally, and for people you met? What did you learn about yourself? How do you think this adventure will affect your future? 50 points will be awarded depending on how your essay addresses these questions as well as the following items.Use of alternative travel tools and techniques• Uniqueness of your adventure• Difficulty of adventure• Degree of independence from sighted assistance, solo to group travel• Composition quality of essay
2. Multimedia files, to include images, audio, and video. (Blogs, podcasts, etc are welcome!)
3. Two letters of reference (at least one from a teacher), which should answer all of the following questions:
• How do you know this person? What is your relationship to them?
• What did this person do during the time that you have known them that makes them stand out from the rest?
• Comment on this person’s O&M skills and spirit of adventure
• Where do you see this person in five years?
• What shared personality traits do you see between this person and the characters in either Crashing Through or A Sense of the World?
Sorry, but I can’t provide references myself. I’m serving on the selection committee for the award, along with Mike, Robert Kurson, Brian Bashin, Jerry Kuns and Jennifer May. It should be a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to announcing the winner.
Full details: Crashing Through Award for Independent Travel.
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