- Press Release:

OBSA and Achilles Canada are kicking off the “Shared Vision” project

In 2010 and 2011 Ontario Blind Sports Association (OBSA), in partnership with Achilles Canada, will promote the “Shared Vision” program. Our goal is to expand inclusion in the world of athletics, the education system, and community vision health agencies. “We want to get involved with as many people as possible, providing physical opportunities throughout the province of Ontario using a sport model for the blind or visually impaired youth”, explains Matthew Kennedy, OBSA’s Executive Director.

The project intends to get the visually disabled active, to keep them healthy through sport and dietary education and to help empower them through social interaction and personal accomplishment. To reach their target, OBSA and Achilles Canada will try to connect to schools, universities, community centres, clubs, parks and recreation, and other organizations.

“Shared Vision” will use the sport of athletics to develop physical literacy as the foundation upon which all future athletic success is built. “This is critical for children with a disability, both for the eventual contribution it makes to sport performance, but even more so for the contribution it makes to the individual's future ability to live independently, physically and mentally healthy and integrated into society”, stress Matthew Kennedy.

OBSA coaches, and members of Athletics Canada, will initially provide a training workshop for uniformity of session delivery. The coaches will then run athletics clinics for the vision teachers of Ontario and the visually impaired. Each school session will take place in a fully integrated phys-ed class setting. Not only will the able-bodied students be learning how to guide, but they will also learn to move under eye shade and better understand their disabled contemporary. The program will deliver a hundred sessions over two years. Any organization, club or school interested in receiving a session should contact OBSA.

Another aspect of the program will be to train new guides and support persons. One of the key reasons for non participation, limited participation or non-continued participation is access to sighted guide assistance. To combat this issue the two partners will associate with Athletics Ontario's provincial clubs, universities and colleges to offer hands-on guide programs. Any interested blind person in the community will then have access to a sport club that will be "Achilles certified".

Both project components will increase awareness of persons with a disability; increase awareness of the importance of physical activity through sport; the importance of healthy eating; help communities develop an understanding of and expertise in barrier-free participation; integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream sport and recreation; recruit and develop new athletes, coaches, guides, and leave legacies to support persons with a disability in the community.

For more information please contact:
Sidronio Henrique (sidronio@blindsports.on.ca) – Project Coordinator