British Blind Sport Celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On 3rd December 2022, British Blind Sport (BBS) will join its partners in celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Introduced in 1992, the day recognises the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities and aims to gain support for important issues relating to inclusion. This year’s theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world“.
BBS take pride in making a visible difference through sport and is working alongside National Governing Bodies including The FA, England Athletics, Swim England, Goalball UK, The LTA, UK The UK Blind Baseball Association, Worcester Warriors and The Change Foundation to challenge negative perceptions around blind and partially sighted people taking part in sport.
In November, BBS and RNIB announced the release of two new See Sport Differently toolkits to support sight loss organisations and sports clubs in helping blind and partially sighted people to be active. Sports clubs often struggle to reach blind and partially sighted people, and sometimes lack awareness of the barriers faced by people with sight loss trying to access sports and activities. The new toolkits provide sight loss organisations and sports clubs with the resources they need to encourage and support blind and partially sighted people to increase their levels of physical activity and experience the benefits of being active.
Charlotte Lloyd, National Governing Body Liaison Officer at BBS"See Sport Differently looks to challenge the misconceptions surrounding blind and partially sighted people taking part in physical activity and provide the sight loss and sport sectors with the resources they need to encourage and support blind and partially sighted people to achieve their goals and experience the physical, mental and social benefits of an active lifestyle.”
Alice Holloway, Strategic Programme Lead, at RNIB“The See Sport Differently campaign aims to tackle lower levels of wellbeing amongst people with sight loss by highlighting the benefits of physical activity. The lack of awareness about sight loss is one of the biggest barriers that blind and partially sighted people face, and the story is no different within the sports sector. These new toolkits will give local organisations the know-how to support people with sight loss to get active and are just one way RNIB and British Blind Sport are working together to enable more blind and partially sighted people to get involved and feel the benefits of sport and activity.”
The toolkits are available for all interested parties for free and can be downloaded from the BBS website.
For more information about See Sport Differently or how to get involved, please visit BBS website – See Sport Differently or contact RNIB at SeeSportDifferently@rnib.org.uk
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