NWABA is growing and so is our team. Eric Tuttle joined NWABA as our Program Specialist in the Portland/Vancouver area in mid-September. Originally from Rochester, New York, Eric has settled into the Pacific Northwest lifestyle quite nicely.
Eric received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Adaptive Physical Education from SUNY Brockport. While earning his master’s degree, Eric worked for the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, where he had his hands full creating resources for those who are blind and visually impaired (BVI), planning programs, organizing conferences, writing grants, and running seminars for parents and teachers of BVI students.
Eric worked for the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, where he had his hands full creating resources for those who are blind and visually impaired (BVI), planning programs, and writing grants for parents and teachers of BVI students.
His passion for studying adaptive education came about as an undergrad in college when he volunteered for an event through the Rochester Rookies, training paraplegic athletes for the Paralympic qualifiers.
As NWABA’s Program Specialist, focusing on the Portland/Vancouver area, Eric enjoys any and all activities that keeps him moving. He plays and coaches volleyball, disc golf, pickleball, basketball, swimming, skiing and the list goes on! He’s also an NCAA national champion in D3 men’s volleyball.
While his favorite part of working for NWABA is connecting with new athletes and getting them to come to their first NWABA event, he’s really excited to try skiing on the west coast, having grown up skiing East coast slopes his whole life.
Eric believes, “NWABA’s programs are critical for athletes who are BVI because finding that lifetime activity that they can participate in for the rest of their life can provide them with a sense of belonging, inspiration, health and accomplishment.”
While Eric’s only been with the organization just over a month, he already knows that goalball is his favorite NWABA sport so far. In college, Eric helped to run a 25-hour goalball marathon and even helped his team beat a world record.
The next time you see Eric at an NWABA event, say hello and welcome him to the Pacific Northwest.