Activity
Visual Impairment: Touch the Top of the World (Book)
Est. Time: 2 Weeks Reading/45 Minutes Class Time
Objective
Gain a better understanding of blindness and society’s expectations for individuals who are blind.
Synopsis
Erik Weihenmayer, who is blind, chronicles his journey toward fulfilling every mountain climber’s dream: summiting the world’s seven highest mountains.
For Your Information
To learn more about visual impairments, visit:
- Visual Impairment, Including Blindness (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Activity
Read the following book and be prepared to discuss the questions below in class.
Title: Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See (2001)
Author: Erik Weihenmayer
Publisher: Penguin Group • New York
- How did Erik lose his sight? How old was he?
- How did he get interested in mountain climbing?
- What was Erik’s vocation before he started climbing full time?
- What lesson did Erik learn from Guru?
- How did Erik incorporate Guru’s lesson into his classroom?
- In his memoir, Erik emphasizes society’s low expectations for those with disabilities. Briefly describe some of the situations in Erik’s life that reflect this.
- Do you think Erik would have continued climbing if he had lost his sight after becoming a mountain climber? Why or why not?
- If you had been the climbing guide, would you have wanted Erik along? Why or why not?
