News

Rediscovering Your Stride: A Rio 2016 Paralympian’s Journey with LHON

By: Stephanie Ross, USABA Contributor Charles “Chaz” Davis, 24, was pursuing his collegiate running career at the University of Hartford when he began to unexpectedly lose his eyesight. At the age of 19, the Grafton, Mass.-native was diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disorder. “Every stage of grief was experienced by my whole family,” Chaz’s mother, Audrey Davis, said. “It’s hard to imagine the joys and heartaches of being a parent until you actually are one. My heart broke, but inside me I knew he was strong in spirit and I had faith he would overcome… Read More

2018-2019 Anthem Foundation/USABA National Fitness Challenge Announced

United States Association of Blind Athletes and Anthem Foundation Partner to Empower People with Visual Impairments to Lead More Active Lifestyles More than 450 people participating in USABA Fitness Challenge Colorado Springs, Colo. (October 10, 2018) – The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to announce a $340,000 grant from the Anthem Foundation, the philantrhopic arm of Anthem, Inc to implement the National Fitness Challenge for the sixth consecutive year. For the next eight months, USABA will partner with 17 organizations across the United States to provide more than 450 blind and visually impaired youth and adults… Read More

Couch to Kona: How one mile at a time led to a dream of Kona

By: Ashley Eisenmenger, Elite triathlete and USABA member An Ironman triathlon is no small feat. Athletes must endure a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and finish the race with a 26.2-mile run. The best of the best flood the town of Kona, Hawaii, each October to participate in the Ironman World Championships. One man never thought he would be there. At one point in his life, he did not even think sports were possible for him. Stuck in a rut of preconceived notions and doubts, Erich Manser needed to find freedom. Little did he know, that need for freedom would… Read More

Day in the Life: Ali Lawson – Goalball

Ali Lawson is a resident athlete at the Goalball Center of Excellence at Turnstone in Fort Wayne. Lawson first learned about the sport of goalball when she was a sophomore in high school – at a summer camp with the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia. Since discovering and falling in love with the sport, she’s won 12 gold medals and three national titles (2014, 2017, 2018) at goalball tournaments across the country. We asked her to share what a typical day at the Goalball Center of Excellence is like for resident athletes. Check it out! We have… Read More

2018 USABA Scholarships Awarded

Thanks to the generosity of the I C You Foundation and Arthur & Helen Copeland, each year, USABA offers scholarships to members who exhibit exceptional drive in athletic achievement and educational endeavors. We are proud to present the I C You Foundation Valor Achievement Award and Arthur E. & Helen Copeland scholarships to four USABA athletes who demonstrate a passion for bettering themselves through sport and education. Congratulations to the following students for being awarded USABA scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year! I C You Foundation Valor Achievement Award Winners: Marybai Huking (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Eliana Mason… Read More