“When you’re different, sometimes you don’t see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn’t.” — Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart

Bullying happens every seven minutes on the playground and every 25 minutes in the classroom, so just imagine how often a visually-impaired student is bullied.

The Vision Resource Center is presenting Orphans of God: The Musical on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Theatre.

“I originally wrote the play for a Mother’s Day program with the message that everyone is the same in God’s eyes and the play dealt with bullying in the school system because it was something that I noticed with the girls,” said Cory Worrell, writer and director of Orphans of God: The Musical. “We thought this would be an amazing way for our visually impaired youth to share their many talents and bring awareness during Blindness Awareness Month in October.”

The play features the many talents of 14 visually impaired youth including Michael Macias (keyboard), Hannah Pritchard (Heart of Christmas Show), Lauren Adams (guitar soloist), Brooke Johnson (The Orphan) and the remainder of the Vision Resource Center’s youth cast.

“They have worked very hard since August to make this play possible,” said Worrell. “I have students from different schools participating as extras in the play.”

Worrell added that the finale is going to be spectacular. “When we went to camp I realized the students had so many talents,” said Worrell. “They can sing, dance, draw and act and I wanted to create an avenue where they could showcase their talents.”

The Vision Resource Center’s youth program consists of 41 visually-impaired students and a new program will begin in 2014 for youth between the ages of 3 to 7 and a group for young adults between the ages of 19 to 25.

“We really want to start early because they are getting younger,” said Worrell. “These are the two major programs we are working on now.”

Worrell added that they will launch their self-defense and theater programs in the spring.

Blindness Awareness Month is designed to heighten awareness and support for the National Federation of the Blind.

“Blindness can happen to you or anyone in your family,” said Terri Thomas, executive director of the Vision Resource Center. “Visually impaired students are bullied more than other students.”

Thomas added that she wants people to come and be inspired by the play.

“I am blessed to be part of such an amazing group of kids,” said Worrell. “They continue to inspire me everyday.”

Admission is free. For more information or group reservations call 483-2719 or visit www.visionresourcecentercc.org.