PROJECTS

The METAS Projects page showcases initiatives that empower the blind community through conferences, school visits, and the Cambiando Vidas program, providing essential skills training for Spanish-speaking blind adults.

Conference in Guadalajara, 2019

METAS hosted a national conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. With funding from the Holman Prize, we were able to bring together 300 families, educators, blind people, and supporters for a 3-day free conference. We provided all attendees with breakfast, lunch, childcare, and resources.

A kid with dark, neatly combed hair is working with a roll of colorful tape. The kid is wearing a gray hoodie and is focused on the task.

A person with wavy blonde hair, wearing a black lace top and sunglasses on their head, is seated at a table working with small items in their hands.

A person wearing sunglasses and a light blue shirt is holding a bundle of red cord and keys, while another person beside them, wearing a shiny patterned top, is writing on a piece of paper at a table.

Four individuals engaged in a meeting around a conference table with coffee cups, bottled water, and notepads.

Two people handle an object at a table, while a third person observes in the background.

Cambiando Vidas, 2018

One of our flagship programs is Cambiando Vidas. This program works with blind adults in the United States that are Spanish speakers. We work on orientation and mobility skills, daily living skills, technology skills, and self advocacy. This allows participants to get training in Spanish over the span of 3 days. We also serve all people regardless of immigration status. We partnered with the NFB of Texas for this Cambiando Vidas session. We have since run various Cambiando Vidas sessions across the country.

A diverse group of individuals engaged in a meeting around a white circular table, featuring various personal items and technology.

A person wearing a purple polo shirt and sunglasses plays an acoustic guitar for an engaged audience. In the background there are several people seated around a round table.

Two people in a kitchen making quesadillas, also known as “sincronizadas”.

A person wearing a black cardigan and covering her eyes with a blindfold sits typing on a blue Braille writing machine as a workshop activity.

A group of individuals seated around a blue-covered round table, engaged in a workshop typing on a Braille writing machine.

Visiting a School for the Blind in Guadalajara, 2017

In this trip we focused on our train the trainers model, in which we held sessions with educators as well as sessions with parents. We were able to speak honestly with parents about expectations and their fears for their children. We worked with students on many blindness skills.

A person wearing a red sweater and a kid with a gray sweater smile at each other.

Two children and an adult sit on swings. An adult stands behind one of the children pushing her. The adult sits on the swing and has a sign that reads, “I heart METAS”.

Three individuals sit on a bench with two people behind them, all smiling at the camera. The person sitting in the middle has a sign that reads, “I heart METAS”.

A group of low-vision and blind students use white canes to navigate through the school patio. In the background, three adults with canes also guide the students.

A group of six individuals guide and teach children who are attentively participating in an activity.

Visiting a School for the Blind in Guadalajara, 2017

METAS went back to the same school from the 2016 visit, and this time focused on sports and recreation and orientation and mobility. We worked on general exercises with the students, showed them adapted equipment and played adapted sports. For many of the children, it was their first time experiencing beeping balls and adapted sports. Richie Flores led this session.

Four adults and four children stand in a circle and hold hands inside a spacious room.

Four adults and four children are paired up and sitting across from each other, forming a square, with a yellow ball between them.

A group of children and an adult engaged in an activity at a table. One of the children is wearing a beige sweater and using a Braille embosser on a blank piece of construction paper.

A person and a child walking side by side on a sidewalk, each one holding a cane.

Visiting a School for the Blind in Guadalajara, 2016

METAS visited a school for the blind in Guadalajara, Mexico, where we worked with students in the areas of orientation and mobility, Braille, daily living skills, and self-advocacy. We did this while focusing on the educators using a train the trainers model. Likewise, we partnered with You Cane Give Initiative to get free canes into the hands of all the students in the School.

Four individuals wearing blue polo shirts and holding canes. One of them is holding a sign that reads, “I heart METAS”.

Two adults are helping a student who is blindfolded and using a white cane to learn how to navigate their surroundings.

A group of students and adults reunited around a circle made with desks inside a classroom.

A group of five individuals stand side by side at a formal event. They are dressed in suits and dresses, with one person holding a sign that reads “I heart METAS”.

A group of students in uniform, standing in line with white canes.