When I was growing up, there were very few
opportunities for visually-impaired children to become involved in sports and
be active like sighted children. While
my parents were determined to raise me as an active, healthy girl, their
efforts were thwarted each time they wanted to register me in various sports or
recreation programs, “It’s too dangerous.”
“She might get hurt.” “Our
insurance doesn’t cover blind children.”
All this backward thinking resulted in some difficulty, but they
persisted and I participated in swimming, skiing and horseback riding—albeit with
in ‘special’ programs for kids with disabilities.
Thankfully, we have come a long way since then. Slowly, the sighted world realized that many
activities could be adapted to meet the needs of blind participants. In the last 20 years, I have taken part in
group fitness programs, Spinning classes, strength training programs and yoga
sessions for all. A brief discussion and
a collaborative approach with fitness instructors has taken me off the
sidelines, and put me at the front of the class, near the instructor, working
out alongside my peers. True, there were
always risks involved, but with the right accommodations, those risks could be mitigated.
A sisterly dare lead to a lifestyle change
in 1994 when I took my first tentative steps up the CN Tower’s 1,776 step
staircase as part of annual Stair Climbing
events in aid of different charities. In April 2012 I completed my 17th
trek, finishing the climb in under 25 minutes.
With some help from family and friends on and off the crowded staircase,
I climb right along with those who are able to see.
In 2008, with some encouragement and help
from family members, I began running.
With the assistance of a sighted guide—usually a friend or relative—I
started to train for and participate in road races throughout Ottawa. The experience was life-changing—the thundering
sound of hundreds of running shoes hitting pavement, the cheers and music from
the spectators, hearing our names being announced and pulsating music guiding
us to the finish line—all of them woven together to make my race experience
just as rich as for those who can see.
I was so inspired at having been part of
the action. In 2010, I decided to take
on a new challenge—triathlon. I survived
my first season, conquering not only the three sports, but also learning all
about teamwork and the importance of the crucial partnership between guide and
athlete. Racing with the assistance of
sighted guides involves one brain, two bodies.
Guides and athletes must work together. They must practice before race
day as each blind athlete has different needs. Each works very hard to
establish the verbal cues and signals well in advance of stepping on to a busy
race course. Physical and mental
preparation is a must for all athletes, and is especially important for blind and visually-impaired athletes and
guides. It is something that we take seriously.
Trust must be established. As a blind athlete
it takes some guts and a lot of faith to do a sport with your eyes closed. Conversely, guides must work in sync with
their athletes so that the partnership works well, and that everyone is
prepared for any eventuality.
Despite all the physical and mental
preparation, anything can happen.
Whether it is during competition itself or during a practice run, no-one
is spared from accident or injury. This can occur anywhere and at any time. We have all had to sign waivers before we
participate in an athletic event. We
have all seen those programs on the sports networks, showcasing athletes’
spills, falls and mishaps. Nowadays
there is more of an emphasis on safety equipment and modifying the rules to
increase safety in sports.
We should not allow fear to keep blind
athletes relegated to the bleachers or to send us back to a place where the
best we could hope for is to be part of the cheering section. We have come a long way to make sure that
those with limited vision or no sight at all can take their rightful place in
the water and on land. It would be a
shame to go backward, not when so much progress has been made.
