Zach Ship spent his high school years as the star of the varsity baseball team, and even played sports in college at NYU. Shortly after graduating, Ship experienced symptoms like hearing loss, vision loss, and tingling sensations. Doctors diagnosed him with encephalitis, and he was left with only 10% of his vision and 5% of his hearing within a few days. Ship’s life turned upside down, and he spent months relearning basic life skills with his new disabilities. A neighbor in his New York City apartment building told him about a blind baseball league, and Ship immediately enrolled. There are many differences between blind baseball and the traditional sport. Batters throw the ball to themselves, and all players wear blindfolds to prevent those with partial vision from having an advantage. Each base makes a unique sound so players can determine where the ball is located, making it more of an auditory experience. Joining the blind baseball league has given Ship a new lease on life. He’s bonded with others with visual impairments, improved his physical abilities, and learned that his disabilities don’t have to hold him back from doing what he loves.
Image via Joker Magazine
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