The British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association, BCBSRA, was organized in October 1975 in order to send BC athletes to the 1976 National Championships and Selection Trials for the Olympics for the Physically Disabled (now called the Paralympics) in Toronto.
The BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association is a not for profit association of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, or are blind and have additional disabilities; and their families and other supporters. Our services are provided throughout the province of British Columbia and are available to individuals of all ages. We work closely with other organizations in the field of blindness, other vision professionals, and the generic physical activity system in order to improve access and opportunities for participation in physical activity.
Our Vision
British Columbians who are blind, visually impaired, deaf blind, or are blind/visually impaired and have additional disabilities will experience the enjoyment of achieving a healthy active lifestyle through participation in physical activity, physical education, recreation, outdoor pursuits, and sport at their chosen level.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to facilitating participation and encouraging skill achievement in all aspects of physical activity for British Columbians who are blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, or who are blind/visually impaired and have additional disabilities.
Services:
- Activity introduction programs throughout BC for all age and skill levels
- Opportunities through physical activity to meet other children and youth who are blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, or are blind/visually impaired and have additional disabilities
- Equipment loan program
- Professional, individualized, physical activity and physical education consultations
- Train volunteers to act as sighted activity guides
- Provide athletes who are blind, visually impaired, deaf blind, or are blind/visually impaired and have additional disabilities as mentors for children
- Provide education and advocacy advice on the importance of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle
- Conduct, review, and respond to current research on participation in physical activity
- Seek program ideas and input from the individuals and their families who access our programs.
Benefits of A Healthy Active Lifestyle:
- Stimulation of physical growth and development
- Stimulation of social interaction
- Enhances body awareness
- Emotional support, self image improvement
- Physiological (body systems) health
Research Recommends:
(Lieberman and McHugh 2001, on fitness of children who are blind, visually impaired or deaf blind):
- Require involvement in early movement programs
- Teach children at an early age what they can do in the area of physical activity and sport
- Educate parents, vision professionals, PE teachers and the community about the abilities of children with vision difficulties
- Promote athletes with vision impairments as role models
- Promote involvement in sports for the lifetime
- Children who are blind have a fundamental right to be exposed to a variety of physical activities
- Involvement in sufficient physical activity experiences early in life allows children who are blind a variety of activities to choose from in the future to live a healthy active life.