Adaptive Soccer: Inclusion for All

Empowering Through Sports

The Whole Person attended the ribbon-cutting event at Kansas School for the Blind on Friday the 5th, 2024. Kansas School for the Blind has been working on creating an adaptive soccer field since 2023. The dream was to create an adaptive sports field for individuals who are blind or low vision. This dream became a reality. With the support of the KC Blind All-Stars Foundation and Sporting KC’s Victory Project – the construction of this project was a success! It was quite an experience attending this ceremony. As a low-vision individual, it is a dream come true to witness kids able to play a sport that was adapted to their needs. The world is not always adaptive to those who are blind/low vision. It is an exciting time to see changes being made to support students and help each individual feel as if they matter and are a part of a team.  

 Many attended the Ribbon Cutting, including members of Sporting KC and Park University women’s soccer team. We celebrated the milestone along with players and staff of the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes. The students were energized for a beautiful day outside. They demonstrated the sport on the new adaptive soccer field for everyone. Leah Enright, the Blind Sports Coordinator, helped to create a welcoming environment for all who were in attendance. Leah has the ability to communicate with the blind/low-vision students in a way that makes everyone feel seen and heard.  

Redefining Perspectives

This adaptive field is the first adaptive soccer field for individuals in the Midwest.  The pitch is smaller than the average size of a field. The field is also surrounded by kickboards. Each team will have five players. Four will wear blindfolds. The goalie will have to be low vision. The balls will have sounds to help individuals locate them. Noted during the speeches; according to USABA, blind soccer has been a Paralympic sport since 2004. However, the U.S. has never had a team to participate. Thanks to USABA’s efforts Team USA will make its Paralympic debut as the host nation of the Los Angeles 2028 Games. 

 Another notable event that took place the day before the ribbon cutting, Ricky Castaneda, a 23-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, was informed that he made the men’s national blind soccer team for 2024! Ricky was in attendance to represent the men’s national blind soccer team.  The idea behind this pitch is to help show that soccer is a sport for all. This field is redefining what blindness/low vision “looks like” to the world and is showing that soccer is a universal sport for all. Too many Low vision/ Blind individuals in the past and currently have been told that they can’t do a sport due to their disability. With the world understanding more about adaptive sports, it is empowering and a beacon of light to be a part of a change in perceptive the low vision/blind community.  

As a vision-impaired individual and advocate, it is imperative that the world starts to understand more about visual disabilities. The perception that individuals with this disability are not capable of working, enjoying sports, and being independent are all viewpoints that need to be continually taught as completely incorrect. I have personally worked with the blind/low-vision community for over 6 years. I have found that individuals who want to work towards independence will be some of the hardest-working individuals. Through different organizations, KC is showing the abilities of individuals with visual disabilities.  

A Beacon of Inclusion

Through The Whole Person, Kate Hwang, Adaptive Sports Manager, is paving the way for disability inclusion. Ms. Kate and her newly hired coaches are helping to provide access and inclusion through many classes. Currently, we offer many different sports which you can learn more at twpmo.org/services/adaptive-sports/our adaptive sports page. 

Another resource is Oregon Adaptive Sports. This program helps to empower individuals with disabilities. They offer skiing, mountain biking, snowboarding, cycling, golfing, and hiking. This organization has many resources to help explain more about adaptive equipment. Oregon Adaptive Sports also offers scholarships to help athletes. https://oregonadaptivesports.org/