NORTHWEST ASSOCIATION FOR BLIND ATHLETES

SPORTS OUTREACH AND CAMP SPARKOUR SPORTS OUTREACH PROGRAM CREATES INCLUSIVE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, AND MILITARY VETERANS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INTRODUCING THEM TO ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTS, INCLUDING GOALBALL, JUDO, BEEP BASEBALL, TANDEM CYCLING, AND KAYAKING. FOR MANY OF THE 56,000+ SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS RARE, MAKING THIS PROGRAM VITAL IN DEVELOPING PHYSICAL STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND CONFIDENCE.NWABA'S RESIDENTIAL CAMP SPARK PROVIDES IMMERSIVE CAMP EXPERIENCES ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES OR CAMPGROUNDS FOR YOUTH AGES 8-15. IN FY24-25, THE PROGRAM SERVED 89 CAMPERS THROUGH SEVEN SESSIONS AND THOUSANDS OF DIRECT SERVICE HOURS, WITH PARTICIPATION INCREASING DESPITE A SESSION CANCELLATION DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER. BY FOSTERING FRIENDSHIPS, RESILIENCE, AND EMPOWERMENT, NWABA'S SPORTS OUTREACH AND CAMP SPARK PROGRAMS CREATE PATHWAYS FOR LIFELONG HEALTH, INDEPENDENCE, AND SOCIAL SUCCESS.

INCREASING VISIBILITY (PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM)OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ABILITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES. BY CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND, WE FOSTER EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND RESPECT. IN FY24-25, WE REACHED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, AND MONTANA, INSPIRING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND RESHAPING PERCEPTIONS OF BLINDNESS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, NWABA BUILDS A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY THAT RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.