BCBSRA has several programs that are designed to encourage all British Columbians who are blind/visually impaired to enjoy taking part in fitness and health programs in their communities or compete and strive to reach the international and Paralympic level in their chosen sport.
We will assist parents, teachers, coaches, and activity leaders in making sure that their programs have the tools necessary to include someone with a visual impairment into their program.
Skill Development Program
The Skill Development Program has three components which individuals may move through or may enter at any stage. The focus is to support British Columbians who are blind or partially sighted to acquire and develop physical activity and sport skills as they move along a long term (life long) athlete/participant pathway.
The components are:
Early Intervention Project
Early Intervention is targeted at families of pre-school children who are blind or partially sighted.
Insight Project
This project supports the introduction of adapted physical education and fitness activities for youth who are blind or partially sighted within their schools or local communities.
Competition Development
Programming and support are provided for participation in a variety of sports including Hockey, Dragon Boating, Tennis, as well as sports with a High-Performance Pathway.
Sport Guide Training:
This provides training for guides who assist athletes – both on the field of play and off.
The BC Blind Sports publication “Being a Sport Guide” (.pdf, 28MB) outlines information on the role of the sport guide, how to provide clear verbal guiding and communication instructions, options to instruction when you can’t use physical contact, safety, and information about vision. This resource is available from BC Blind Sports or by downloading it from the link above. (please note this may take a while to download)
Other Participation Programs
Adult/Seniors Fitness Program
The Adult/Seniors Fitness Program focuses on balance, core strength and endurance. The program objectives are to assist seniors (adults who the program is appropriate for are also welcome) who are blind or have lost or are losing vision to become active and/or remain active. Virtual fitness and an introduction to yoga, are being offered.
2023 Virtual Programs
Chair Yoga – Virtual –
Sunday 6:00pm to 7:00pm;
More…
Dragon Boat Dryland Training –
Monday 7:00 pm
The Dragon Boat Training Class is a fitness class designed to target technique, cardio, strength and stretches to improve your Dragon Boating skills. More…
Fitness – Virtual –
Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm
All session will include seated exercises, balance, and some bodyweight exercises. More…
Nanaimo In Person Fitness Class – November 2023
Every Monday
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Location Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club, 500 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC
More details…
In Person Fitness Class – Kelowna
Every Thursday
Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Location: French cultural Centre, 702 Bernard Avenue in Room 2, Kelowna, BC
More details…
Active Living Network for Adults –
A program to bring people together to celebrate the value of all daily physical activities. Virtual gatherings will help plan activity goals together. Participants log their activities and a group summary helps us move forward. Presentations will promote health and wellness through the pandemic and beyond. More…
Opportunities for All – Skills and Games for Physical Literacy
In April 2020 we started the Opportunities for All program to help individuals, families, teachers and others. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a unique opportunity to build some foundations of physical literacy and movement skills and to maintain fitness and to have fun! Many of our students and members need an opportunity to help build motor skills and appropriate fitness levels to participate successfully in physical activity at all levels. Ten different skills and activities were developed to use individually or in appropriate small groups (where allowed during Covid-19) and in 2021 new lessons are being added. Read more about the 2021 Round 2…