Adapting Games for VI Children - Texas School for the Blind and

Recreation and Leisure
for Visually Impaired Students
TETN #31688
January 9, 2009
Presented by
Mark Gronquist, Recreation Director
Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
[email protected]
Name your favorite recreation/leisure activities when you were growing up and now.
Which ones of these activities might not be appropriate for someone who is visually
impaired?
Did you play a team sport? What sport?
Who introduced you to the activities in which you participated (e.g., parent, teacher,
coach, friend)?
Have you developed friendships or employment connections from engaging in these
activities?
TSBVI TETN 31688 – Recreation and Leisure
Mark Gronquist
1
Successful Recreational and Physical Activities
for Children who are Visually Impaired
Mark Gronquist, Recreation Director
[email protected]
Mark has 20 years of experience working with visually impaired students at
the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Welcome & Introductions
TSBVI offers a wide range of recreation and leisure activities.
Visually impaired students enjoy the same activities as non-visually
impaired students, however, some recreational and leisure
activities are more successful than others.
What are the best physical, social and recreational activities for
children who are visually impaired? What activities are currently
available at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired?
What makes them work?
Physical:
Goal Ball, Beep Ball, tandem biking, running and walking, bicycle spin
classes, Yoga, swimming and water games, water aerobics, basketball,
rowing, kayaking/ canoeing, rock climbing, horseback riding, dance classes,
cardio/weights, nature walks and more…
Team sports:
Goal Ball, Beep Ball, Tandem biking, Rowing, Cheerleading, Pep Squad,
Step Club
Social:
Ham radio, campus radio, drumming, field trips, Mad Science Class,
computer classes, shopping, dances, parties, movies, restaurants, book
clubs, craft classes, school newspaper, gardening/making planters, poker
Nights, Bingo, Debate Club, beauty classes, American Idol, House Party
101, Photographs, plays, board games, community activities, Music Mania,
Friday Night Jam, water games, Austin Zoo, volunteering
TSBVI TETN 31688 – Recreation and Leisure
Mark Gronquist
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Easy to reproduce at home:
Tandem biking, running and walking, bicycle spin classes, Yoga, swimming
& water games, water aerobics, basketball, rowing, kayaking/ canoeing,
rock climbing, horseback riding, dance classes, music classes,
cardio/weights, gardening
How can we make it happen?
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Get staff, community and volunteers involved in activities that they are
experts in and enjoy
Individualize the activity to the student's interest
Offer choices
Give positive reinforcement
Keep their interest
Find ways to reward, motivate and encourage participation
Motivate students to build good habits for life and form habits early
Talk about the benefits
Maximize students' independence and self-esteem
Create excitement in students
For the past two years, participation in after school classes has
been required or “mandatory”. Classes begin when school adjourns
each day and end at curfew:
Students participate in class for nine weeks. They are offered choices in
which they have an interest, and they are exposed to new activities and
encouraged to explore new interests.
TSBVI TETN 31688 – Recreation and Leisure
Mark Gronquist
3
Some Resources:
USABA
The United States Association of Blind Athletes serves as the
national representative of all US blind athlete members to US Paralympic
and to the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) for those sports
that are part of the Paralympics.
Running Eyes for the Blind - Austin, Texas-based recreational organization
that has established a network of sighted volunteers who partner with blind
and visually impaired members to participate in a variety of athletic events.
National Beep Baseball Association - Rules of the game, history and
contacts for this form of baseball developed for blind and visually impaired
individuals; organization is based in the United States.
American Blind Skiing Association - Volunteer organization that provides
blind children and adults opportunities to build confidence and
independence through skiing. Includes photographs and newsletter.
International Blind Sports Federation - Association history, competition
results, articles and sports-specific rules and contacts.
Recreation for the Blind:
http://www.99main.com/~charlief/vi/recreation.html
Blind Reader’s Page: Sports, Games and Recreation:
http://blindreaders.info/sports.html
TSBVI TETN 31688 – Recreation and Leisure
Mark Gronquist
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