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Deafblind Climber Aims for Everest Summit
27 May
Summary
- Karolina Pakėnaitė, who is deafblind, is training to climb Mount Everest.
- A specially designed haptic vest will help her navigate the mountain.
- She hopes her journey will inspire others and reduce feelings of isolation.
Karolina Pakėnaitė, who is deafblind due to Usher syndrome, is embarking on an ambitious journey to become the first deafblind person to summit Mount Everest. This goal was inspired by a meeting with climbers three years ago, sparking a personal quest to achieve this unprecedented feat.
To aid her ascent, researchers are developing a specialized haptic vest. This vest will enable guides to send remote vibration signals, facilitating communication for movement coordination, especially when verbal cues are challenging due to masks or environmental noise.
Pakėnaitė has already demonstrated her mountaineering prowess by summiting other peaks, including Mera Peak in the Himalayas. She describes climbing as a source of freedom and hopes her endeavor will offer a sense of solidarity to others with similar disabilities.
