Andy Fass has always been a curious child. From Cub Scouts to solving math problems, the 10-year-old Hamilton child has never let his visual impairment hinder his drive to experience everything life has to offer.
Andy has albinism, a condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and eyes. Andy has low vision as a result of the albinism, which cannot be corrected through eyeglasses.
Despite his albinism, Andy has always been eager to participate in new activities, and last month he had an opportunity to explore the skies thanks to the generosity of the Mercerville Lions Club.
Andy attended SCIVIS, Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students, in Huntsville, Alabama during the last week in September. The camp is designed specifically for visually impaired students to confront mission scenarios together as a team.
He earned a scholarship to attend the camp through SCIVIS, and the Mercerville Lions Club paid for his travel expenses and bought him a special space suit for the trip.
Andy’s father, Marc Fass, said he was grateful and relieved when he found out the Mercerville Lions Club would be sponsoring his son’s trip. Without their sponsorship, he and his wife Jill didn’t know if they’d be able to afford to send him to camp.
“The Lions Club was a tremendous help,” Fass said. “Andy had an amazing time at space camp.”
The low vision impacts Andy’s ability to play certain sports, and the Yardville Elementary student requires magnified text in order to read. Fass said that while most people wouldn’t be able to tell his son has a condition at first glance, the visual impairment has had the biggest impact on Andy’s education. The SCIVIS camp combined many of Andy’s interests and gave him the tools he needed to participate in all the space-themed activities while learning through problem solving with other campers.
“Andy is interested in pretty much anything that gets put in front of him,” Fass said. “He’s a very curious child. He definitely is a charmer, and he has great personality.”
The camp was held on the NASA U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and campers were able to go on amusement park rides that simulate rocket launches and zero gravity conditions.
The Fass family first heard about SCIVIS through their involvement with the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. The nonprofit provides families with information about all aspects of living with albinism, and aims to provide a place where people with albinism can find acceptance and support, according to NOAH’s website.
“NOAH has been a fantastic resource of information for us,” Fass said.
Jill never had the opportunity to attend space camp when she was a child, and she thought it was something her son might like when he was older. When the Fass family attended a NOAH conference a few years ago, they saw a presentation about the space camp and knew it’d be a perfect fit for Andy.
At the camp, Andy was able to combine his love of science and math in an interactive environment outside of a traditional classroom setting.
The Fass family won’t know the full impact Andy’s albinism will have on his life until he’s older — some living with the condition are unable to drive — but they are he will carry his positive attitude throughout his life.
“His mother and I have tried to instill some sense of value into his life, for him to understand that not everybody gets a chance to do these experiences,” Fass said. “He knows he’s leading somewhat of a charmed life, despite life’s hardships. But he’s happy just being Andy.”
