USABA to Host National Adaptive Sports Event

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to play host to a National Adaptive Sports Conference, 15-18 September 2014, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All VA staff and community level adaptive sports professionals, who work with Veterans and service members who are blind and visually impaired, are welcome and encouraged to apply to this event taking place at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center and the DoubleTree by Hilton. Travel, lodging and food are provided at no cost to attendees.

Attendees will gain hands-on experience in six Paralympic sports for the blind and visually impaired to include track and field, judo, rowing, biathlon, tandem cycling and goalball—a sport originally created as a rehabilitation program for blinded veterans returning from World War II. Gaining the necessary tools in an active environment allows VA staff and community level adaptive sports professionals to effectively implement programs at their home office.

Click here to apply to attend the National Adaptive Sports Conference, 15-18 September 2014, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Because of limited space, the deadline to apply is 18 July. Accepted personnel will be notified by 24 July with all expenses paid for their attendance.

“By providing this National Adaptive Sports Conference for VA staff and community level adaptive sports professionals, we will continue to be the leading organization to build the infrastructure to positively impact Veterans and members of the Armed Forces who are blind and visually impaired, said the United States Association of Blind Athletes Executive Director, Mark Lucas.

 U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), selected USABA to receive grant funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. More than $8M in funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been awarded to 70 community organizations and National Governing Bodies around the country.

USABA’s mission is to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. For more information, go to www.usaba.org.  

The grant funding for this program is awarded by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, through funding provided by Veterans Affairs. The grants are provided to facilitate the growth of Paralympic sport programming for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.