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Maintaining Independence and Finding Confidence through Sports

By: Stephanie Ross, USABA Contributor Caroline and Cole Carper were born with Leber’s congenial amaurosis (LCA) RPE 65, a disease that eventually leads to total blindness. “It was hard because we really didn’t know what their abilities were going to be,” Caroline and Cole’s mother, Ashley Carper, said. “We had never been around other individuals who are visually impaired or blind, and it felt very scary as we worked our way out of that grief and mindset.” With limited exposure to the blind and visually impaired community in Little Rock, the Carpers had to figure out ways to empower their… Read More

Hundreds Celebrate Inaugural Blind Sports Day Across U.S.

Hundreds of people across the U.S. celebrated the inaugural National Blind Sports Day October 1-7. Though the actual day was Saturday, October 6, celebrations happened in cities across the country throughout the week. Nearly 900 people across the U.S. participated in a locally hosted event or engaged in a sport or fitness activity on their own. More than 45 agencies, organizations, teams or schools hosted events in numerous sports including golf, rowing, tandem cycling, goalball, basketball, archery and soccer- just to name (more than) a few! In Columbus, Ohio, participants played soccer with the Ohio Blind Soccer program. Katie Atkinson, who… Read More

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