Don't Be Left Out
By Jeanne McClellan
As football season resumes and kids return to school, I thought I’d write a bit about recreational opportunities available for kids and adults with vision impairments. As we saw in the summer Paralympics, there are many adapted sports nowadays.
There are many sports available and below we’ve highlighted a handful great for anyone living with visual impairments:
Goalball: This is a sport specifically designed for visually impaired athletes. It is a popular Paralympic sport. The game involves two teams of three players each, and the objective is to throw a ball into the opposing team’s goal. The ball contains bells so that players can locate it through sound. This is a popular Paraolympic sport.
Beep baseball: This is a modified version of baseball that uses a ball that beeps to help players locate it. Bases also emit a beeping sound, and fielders use verbal cues to help guide their teammates.
Blind soccer (football): This is a modified version of soccer (football) that uses a ball with bells inside. There are only 4 field players and a goalie (5-a-side football). The goals are smaller, and the field is enclosed to keep the ball in play. This is also a Paralympic sport.
Judo: This is a martial art that emphasizes throws and grappling techniques, and it can be adapted for visually impaired athletes. The sport uses tactile cues and verbal commands to help competitors.
Rowing: This sport can be adapted for visually impaired athletes by using a coxswain to give verbal commands and guide the boat.
Swimming: This is a popular sport for visually impaired athletes and can be adapted by using tactile markers at the end of each lane, and having a guide swimmer alongside the athlete.
When children participate in physical activities, they not only benefit from better health, but it also provides an opportunity to socialize, develop motor skills, build confidence and improve their overall quality of life. If you or your family are seeking groups to get involved with, many of the sports above have national and international associations. We’ve highlighted some great resources below to get you started.
United States Association of Blind Athletes
International Blind Sports Federation
National Beep Baseball Association
We also encourage you to do a Google search with “adaptive sports near me.” You’ll find many resources through area City Recreation departments, state organizations (ex: Michigan Adaptive Sports), and even some educational institutions (ex: University of Michigan Adaptive Sports & Fitness).
Source: https://insightintolowvision.com/sports-for-the-visually-impaired-adaptive-sports/
About the Author:
Jeanne McClellan was born and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, earned a master's degree in psychology, and worked for approximately 30 years as a counselor and social worker until she retired in 2009.