Contact: Billy Henry, Founder/Executive Director Northwest Association for Blind Athletes 311 West Evergreen Blvd, Suite 200 Vancouver, Washington 98660 Local Phone: 1-360-448-7254
Toll Free: 1-800-880-9837 https://nwaba.org [email protected]
Vancouver, Washington-May 4th, 2016—The Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) announced today that the organization is officially expanding its life-changing programs for children, youth, adults and military veterans who are blind or visually impaired to Eugene, OR and the surrounding area.
Starting in May, 2016, NWABA will host numerous programs events in Eugene, OR to allow individuals who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to participate in sports and physical activity. Events include a hike on May 21st and a tandem bike ride on June 11th. The organization has plans to add significantly more events in Eugene throughout 2016 with the eventual goal of having weekly, on-going programming in the area.
“Northwest Association for Blind Athletes is extremely excited to scale our life-changing programs across Oregon to ensure all individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the opportunity to participate. This expansion effort in the Eugene area will introduce hundreds of individuals currently not receiving any services to our mission and programs.” said Founder & Executive Director Billy Henry.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate for individuals who are blind is 70-80% and we believe the primary reason for this is a lack of confidence and self-esteem. When you are blind or visually impaired, it creates obstacles that for many can seem impossible to overcome. People with visual impairments have to make adaptations and struggle every day to be successful, independent, and self-sufficient. Because this is so difficult, most people who are blind lead a sedentary lifestyle and never experience what many people take for granted.
For anyone, visually impaired or sighted, sports have a unique ability to change lives. Once introduced into physical activity and sports, individuals with visual impairments are opened up to the possibility that they can follow their dreams. After successful inclusion, blind individuals build self-esteem, confidence, team camaraderie, muscular strength, and physical fitness. They develop the tools to seek a richer, fuller life which includes improved social relationships, a positive self-image, and most of all, the confidence to pursue success in other areas of life, such as school and employment opportunities.
These programs are funded with support from Premier Program Partner, KMR Group Foundation, and other program sponsors including The Standard; Peace Health; Pacific Source Health Plans and Waste Connections. Northwest Association for Blind Athletes would like to invite individuals with visual impairments to participate in any of the events and any community members that are interested volunteering to support the organization’s mission. Please visit www.nwaba.org or call 360-448-7254 to learn more about how you can get involved.
About NWABA: Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides programming to more than 1,200 individuals of all ages and ability levels with visual impairments. The mission of NWABA is to provide life-changing opportunities through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. The Association was formed by a group of visually impaired students in 2007 to ensure that people who are blind were participating in sports and physical activity. Since that time, it has transformed into a national-leader dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, youth, adults and military veterans with visual impairments.
For information: https://nwaba.org or Contact: [email protected] Phone: 1-360-448-7254
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