In partnership with MindsEye, WashU Medicine Ophthalmology promotes inclusion and awareness through accessible sports
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences partnered with MindsEye to host its annual Beep Ball game on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in Forest Park, bringing together faculty, trainees, staff and patients for a day of friendly competition, laughter and learning.
What is Beep Ball?
Beep Ball is an adaptive version of baseball designed to include people with visual impairments. The game uses a beeping ball and buzzing bases, allowing players to locate them by sound. All players — regardless of visual ability — wear blindfolds, except for the pitcher and spotters, who are sighted and help guide play.
The goal is teamwork, trust and fun. Players rely on sound cues and communication instead of sight, creating a level playing field that promotes understanding and empathy. The experience offers participants a unique perspective on accessibility, while celebrating inclusion and the strength of the WashU Medicine Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences vision care community.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.