Recreation & Leisure for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

RECREATION & LEISURE

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated March 11, 2016

Recreation and leisure skills may include traditional as well as adapted physical education activities. However, as with social interaction skills visually impaired students need help identifying the array of choices available to them in this area and must be taught how to perform leisure skills that most students learn through observation.

Student Interest Survey

Each person will have their own interests and preferences, but it is important to help a student discover a lifelong leisure activity. Examples of activities include arts/crafts, reading, culture, fitness, outdoor & community activities. Each student should be encouraged to participate in recreational activities with their peers. The student should be encouraged to: choose an object to play with or an activity when presented with options; play simple card, board and table games; identify various community activities and facilities; participate in clubs/activities; identify and choose appropriate leisure activities and hobbies; play age-appropriate games enjoyed by peers; and cooperate in team activities.

Play

Play is the foundation for learning about the world. Through play, children learn to make comparisons between materials and develop preferences. Children learn many skills through play and also begin to develop social skills. Play is an important part of the Early Childhood curriculum, but children may need to continue to develop their play skills even as they elementary school. Additionally, students may need to learn how to play.

Playground

The playground should be adapted for the student with visual impairments. It is important for a student to be oriented to a playground when it is quiet and when other students are not on the playground. In addition to learning where the equipment is located, students should have the opportunity to tactually explore the equipment to learn how it moves. Student should also be instructed to visually scan the playground and/or use auditory cues prior to moving from one area to another.

Leisure

All children will naturally gravitate toward a preferred activity. O course, students should be permitted to develop in their area of interest, but it is important to expose children to a wide variety of leisure activities to ensure the students are aware of a variety of leisure activities available. Students who are blind or visually impaired do not have the same opportunity to visually observe a variety of activities available. Factors such as cost and material adaptations will play a factor in what activities are accessible. Also, students may need to learn specific skills needed to participate in the activity.

Bowling

Students can learn basic bowling skills by playing with home-made or purchased bowling sets that can be used at home and school. A sound source can be placed behind the pins in order to provide an auditory target for the students. Many bowling alleys will provide bumpers, or portable bowling rails, upon request.

Cultural Activities

Take advantage of programs at local museums and galleries. Prior to planning a field trip or visit, call the museum to discuss the possibility of making the experience accessible or if they can arrange for hands-on experience. They may offer audio recordings or have a special tour. Some museums provide programs in braille. Some theaters offer headsets that provide audio descriptions.

Word, Card & Board Games

Playing games is a lifelong leisure time activity that fosters social interactions. In order to be accessible to a student with a visual impairment, they may need to be adapted. Although someone knowledgeable in braille, can adapt card and board games, there are commercially available games that have been adapted with braille as well as large print. Large print cards can be purchased or made for students with low vision. Some games are available in an accessible format.

Bicycling

The foundation for bicycling can begin when a child is young. Providing opportunities for students to play on riding toys is a good introduction. Older students can build endurance and experience physical activity by using a stationary bike. Students with low vision may be able to learn to ride a bike, but depending on their level of available vision, may need to ride along side a sighted adult or peer who can warn the student of any dangers. Students who are blind may be able to experience biking using a tandem bicycle.

Physical Games & Sports

Simple games can be adapted easily, but it may be more challenging to adapt team sports. Although games can be adapted, students will need to acquire the motor skills necessary to fully participate in the games. Skills needed to play in games may need to be taught in isolation. It is important to be aware of the student's are more at risk for retinal detachment. Also, some eye conditions can be aggravated by vigorous physical activity. The student should either refrain from the activity or it should be modified.

Embedded Learning Opportunities

There are many opportunities throughout the day to embed skills. Gross motor play (such as at recess and gym time) is a great opportunity to incorporate concepts, language, listening and obviously motor skills. Concepts such as over/under, on top of/underneath, wide/narrow, fast/slow are easily incorporated. Provide experiences that focus on the auditory discrimination of people’s voices and sounds related to activities. Encourage listening and the use of auditory clues to locate people or places. Play listening games such as Simon Says. Listen to and follow directions when participating in a game (begin with simple one-step directions and progress to more difficult two step directions).

Practice different ways to cross the gym/playground: walking, tiptoe walking, galloping, skipping, hopping, running with a partner, jumping. Make it a game of walking up and down stairs in a “Teacher May I” game. Practice jumping up and down with jump rope or Chinese jump rope games. Practice keeping balance while walking along curbs or balance beam. Play games that incorporate throwing and catching balls. Encourage student to slide, climb on play structures, crawl through tunnels, and play on swings. Encourage students to create their own obstacle courses and challenge their friends

Students are able to use recess and gym time to gain an understanding of their bodies in space; improve their physical skills; develop language and concept development; and practice group cooperation. Many of the team games and athletics are excellent and appropriate for students with visual impairments. In addition, however, these students need to develop activities in recreation that they can enjoy throughout their adult lives. Most often sighted persons select their recreation activity repertoire by visually observing activities and choosing those in which they wish to participate.

Websites for gamers who are blind...

AudioGames is a site dedicated to audio games and games accessible to persons who are blind.
Audio Game Hub is a set of 11 experimental arcade videogames that use audio as their primary interface, making them accessible for both sighted and non-sighted users.
Audyssey offers a forum for accessible game developers and players with the primary purpose to provide_ a place where anyone can learn about games which are specifically designed for or are used by people who are blind.
GamesForTheBlind offers games that are accessible and designed specifically for visually impaired and blind computer users.
PCSGames provides a list of audio games and blind accessible computer games and game sites with descriptions and links.
Zone BBS is considered by some to be the most populated forum for gamers, and others, who are blind.

TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC

NEW!
TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired. 32 Thematic Units and over 450 age neutral ECC activities in one book! Available as a pdf digital download.

FREE VI Program Templates

Become a member for FREE to access the Printable VI Program Templates to support your district's vision program. Includes VI Program resources, FVE/LMA templates and NEW Sample FVE Reports ebook. Simply click on Log In|Register in the navigation bar at the top of the page and follow the directions to register and create your password.

Post a Job

Due to the nationwide shortage of vision professionals, it can be challenging to locate personnel. Announce a job vacancy on the Job Exchange of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, an online listing of jobs specific to the visual impairment field.

Scattered Crowns: Tactile Attribute Game
This tactual matching game, available from APH, encourages students to search for crowns with specific attributes: band texture, number of jewels, and number of points as they practice texture/shape/size discrimination, tactile memory, systematic searching skills, and spatial concepts.

Game Kit
The Game Kit, available from APH, is a collection of common game parts designed for use by low vision or blind players. The handbook provides suggestions on adapting commercial games or creating new ones.

SQUID Tactile Activities Magazine
These activity books (magazines), available from APH, provide fun ways for tactile readers to discriminate textures, practice systematic search, identify shapes, track lines, and more through fun tactual graphic activities!

Recreation & Leisure Resources

There are a number of great books, web resources and organizations that provide information and resources specific to persons who are blind or visually impaired. If you are aware of additional resources that you feel should be listed here, please let me know so I can add them.