April 23, 2021 — To align with Sports Eye Safety month, Lighthouse Guild has shared sports-related resources and tips for people who are blind or visually impaired.
“Physical activity is important for everyone’s health and wellbeing, and having a vision impairment is no reason to give up participating in sports or exercise,” says Ed Plumacher, adaptive technology specialist at Lighthouse Guild.

Plumacher, who is legally blind and a sports enthusiast and who has participated in marathons, snow and water skiing, beep and adaptive baseball, tandem biking, outrigger canoeing, and martial arts, continues, “There are a wide range of activities out there for people who are blind or visually impaired to remain physically active, engage in sports, or just get out, be healthy and socialize.”  

Here, Lighthouse guild shares tips for preventing sports-related eye injuries. Below is a list Lighthouse Guild has shared of sports organizations that have programs for people who are blind or visually impaired:

USABA (United States Association for Blind Athletes)

GoalballUnited States Association of Blind Athletes (Regional & International) 

RunningAchilles International

NYC Chapter – Achilles International

Skiing - Alpine, Cross Country and WaterSki for Light (National & International)

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports

Leaps of Faith Adaptive Skiers (Water & Alpine)

Baseball Official Site of the National Beep Baseball Association (Regional and National)

Outrigger CanoeingBlind Outrigger Paddling for the Blind - Makapo Aquatics Project

BikingInTandem Cycling (New York City)

Martial ArtsThird Eye Insight - Fitness for the Blind

World Seido Karate Organization

BowlingAmerican Blind Bowling Association, Inc.: Home (Regional & National)

Camps
Camp Abilities - Brockport, New York

VCB Camp for Children, Adults, and Families 

For more resources from Lighthouse Guild: lighthouseguild.org.