Blind Sports WA facilitates meaningful connections between vision-impaired people and sport. Living with sight loss can be a challenge, especially for children, and Blind Sports WA understands how important it is to remain independent. Telethon funding has enabled Blind Sports WA to launch its after-school program: Let’s Get Visible.
Let’s Get Visible is a sports and recreation program that aims to create a safe and inclusive space for blind and vision-impaired children to learn how to move their bodies and gain essential physical skills and exercise.
Caitlin in the Australian Goalball uniform
Caitlin started losing her vision at eight years old. She attended a school holiday program that supports blind and vision-impaired people. It was here that she fell in love with goalball. Goalball is a competitive team sport that is the only sport specifically designed for people with vision impairment.
Years later, Caitlin now plays goalball at a club, state and national level and is part of the Australian National Youth Team which travels globally to compete. Caitlin aspires to represent Australia at the Paralympics. Her sporting abilities don’t end there; Caitlin also plays blind cricket and is part of the WA State team.
Caitlin in the Australian Women’s Squad
Without the support of organisations such as Blind Sports WA and the Let’s Get Visible program, Caitlin would have never been exposed to the world of sport.
The Let’s Get Visible program introduces children to various blind sports and recreational activities, from blind soccer and cricket to tennis, goalball and AFL. Not only do children get to experience inclusive sports created just for them, but they also increase their overall health and wellbeing, build self-confidence, improve their social skills, make new friends and feel a sense of belonging.
Blind Sports WA helps to create pathways and opportunities for blind sports participation from a grassroots community level to elite national and international competitions.
Supported by Telethon, Blind Sports WA help build confidence, skills and freedom for blind and vision-impaired children to live their lives to the full.