Sports, Recreational and Leisure Resources

These organizations and companies provide products or services useful for blind and visually impaired people seeking recreational opportunities. This list not necessarily a complete listing of all organizations, manufacturers or distributors, nor does listing imply ACB endorsement

Bicycling--see also under Sports Associations

International Bicycle Tours

PO Box 754
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-7005
Fax: (860) 767-3090
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.internationalbicycletours.com

Has tandem and mixed tours in U.S. and Europe and custom tours. You choose from easy or moderate terrain based on the tour description. They provide the bikes, tour guides, transportation to and from the airport, and do bike repairs on tour. European tours include bike only and bike-and-barge tours. Can create tours specifically for a group of visually impaired individuals, too.

Skiing, Snow--also under Outdoor Recreation

Adaptive Sports Association

PO Box 1884
Durango, CO 81302
(970) 259-0374
Fax: (970) 259-2175
Winter program office:
(970) 385-2163
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.asadurango.com/

Facilitates outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, skiing, cycling, canoeing, rafting, rock climbing, and kayaking for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. In winter, offers skiing and snowboarding. Also offers overnight camps.

The American Blind Skiing Foundation

609 Crandell Ln.
Schaumburg, IL 60193
(312) 409-1605 (leave a message)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.absf.org/index.htm

ABSF is committed to serving visually impaired children and adults, giving them the opportunities and experiences that build confidence and independence that can last a lifetime. Has alpine skiing, day and weekend trips, as well as a ski-a-thon and a week-long western trip.

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation

8 Sundance Ln.
Newry, ME 04261
(207) 824-2440
Toll-free: 1-800-639-7770
Fax: (207) 824-0453
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.maineadaptive.org/

Offers year-round adaptive recreational programs that teach adaptive sports activities to people with physical disabilities, ages four and up. Winter programs include alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Summer programs include paddling, cycling, climbing, tennis and golf. Also hosts the New England Visually Impaired Ski Fest.

National Sports Center for the Disabled

Empower Field at Mile High:
1801 Mile High Stadium Circle, #1500
Denver, CO 80204

Winter Park Resort:
33 Parsenn Road
P.O. Box 1290
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-1518
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nscd.org/

Summer activities: rafting/kayaking, sailing, cycling, camping, fishing, rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding, soccer, lacrosse, golf, archery. Fall activities: canoeing, kayaking, river rafting, cycling, horse riding, camping, hiking, fishing; rock climbing, indoor pool practice sessions. Winter activities: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing; ski biking; snowboarding; race teams; winter trips/camps, rock climbing, indoor kayaking, soccer, lacrosse.

Ski for Light

1455 W. Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 827-3232
Website: https://www.sfl.org/

Cross-country skiing for blind, visually impaired, and mobility-impaired individuals and their guides.

Outdoor Recreation--General

The American Camp Association

5000 State Road 67 N.
Martinsville, IN 46151
(765) 342-8456
Toll-free: 1-800-428-2267
Website: https://www.ACAcamps.org

ACA publishes Camping Magazine. Their camp database can also be searched online.

Blind Outdoor Leisure Development (BOLD)

1757 Kettering Ridge
Richfield, WI 53076
(262) 224-5517
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wisconsinbold.com/

Offers skiing (both downhill and cross-country), rowing (both recreational and competitive), canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, roller skating, hiking, snow shoeing, zip lining, bowling, ice skating, and other activities.

Bradford Woods Outdoor Center

5040 State Rd. 67 North
Martinsville, IN 46151
(765) 342-2915
Fax: (765) 349-1086
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://bradfordwoods.iu.edu/

Bradford Woods is Indiana University’s outdoor center. It offers summer camps (day and overnight) for youth and adults, including adventure education (high and low rope courses), environmental education, and recreation therapy programs. Partners with Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources to offer equine education and horseback riding programs.

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

PO Box 697
Breckenridge, CO 80424
(970) 453-6422
Toll-free: 1-800-383-2632
Fax: (970) 453-4676
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://boec.org/

BOEC offers outdoor education experiences throughout the year, both single and multi-day courses, for individuals and groups, featuring many adventure activities in many locales in the Rocky Mountains and southeast Utah region. Summer activities include hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing, whitewater rafting, adaptive cycling, sea kayaking, camping, high ropes course, orienteering (with a map and compass), and natural history. Winter activities include alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, camping, group leadership development and team-building programs and customized programs.

Colorado Mountain School

633 S. Broadway St., Unit A
Boulder, CO 80305
and
341 Moraine Ave.
Estes Park, CO 80517
To send email, go to https://coloradomountainschool.com/about-colorado-mountain-school/contact-cms/.
Web site: https://coloradomountainschool.com/

Offers avalanche awareness and training, ice climbing, mountaineering, back country skiing and splitboarding, ice climbing, rock climbing, and mountaineering.

Christian Record Services, Inc.

PO Box 6097
Lincoln, NE 68506-0097
(402) 488-0981
Fax: (402) 488-7582

Email: [email protected]
Main site: https://christianrecord.org/

Camping site: www.BlindCamps.org

The organization’s camping program, National Camps for Blind Children, is operated in partnership with camp facilities around the United States, offering confidence-boosting adventures in nature

U.S. Blind Horseshoe Pitchers Association

395 Baytree Dr.
Melbourne, FL 32940
321-757-6824
[email protected]
The U.S. Blind Horseshoe Pitchers Association provides resource material and assists blind and visually impaired individuals in finding a place to pitch horse shoes in their area.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports

PO Box 139
Killington, VT 05751
(802) 786-4991
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/

Programs include but are not limited to: alpine skiing, sailing, goalball, cross-country skiing, canoeing and kayaking, adventure weekends, snowboarding, cycling, snowshoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, guided Burlington bike path trips, indoor rock climbing, hiking, camping, beep baseball, horseback riding, and tennis.

Wilderness Inquiry

808 14th Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 676-9400
Fax: (612) 676-9401
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/

Offers wide variety of wilderness trips for people of all abilities and ages. Schedule is available.

Sports and Recreational Associations and Publications

American Blind Bowling Association

Joyce Spencer Mintz, President
3501 Beacon Hill Drive Apt. B
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(919) 796-5090
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.abba1951.com/

For bowling rails, contact:
Rozella Campbell
2826 Tall Oaks Ct. Apt. 11
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
(248) 410-2411
Email: [email protected]

Membership group of blind bowlers, over 2,000 in the U.S. and Canada. Publishes and distributes “The Blind Bowler” magazine three times a year. Also sells 12-foot-long bowling rails and 3-foot extensions.

ACB Radio Amateurs

Harvey Heagy, President
6525 Park Manor Dr. Apt. 43
Metairie, LA 70003
(504) 888-1339
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.acbhams.org

ACBRA is an organization of blind and sighted licensed radio amateurs who work together to make the hobby more accessible to people who are blind.

Blind Judo Foundation

To send an email, go to https://together.uw.edu/Campaign/peckwp/contact/
Website: www.blindjudofoundation.org/wp

Promotes the sport of judo to the blind and visually impaired community by identifying head instructors and their dojos interested in working with the blind & visually impaired.

Scouts BSA

National Council
PO Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
(972) 580-2000
To send email, go to membercare.myscouting.org.
Website: www.scouting.org/

Has troops for youth of all ages, from kindergarten through age 20. Holds camps throughout the United States in various locations.

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute: Adaptive Sports:

(612) 775-2277
Website: [email protected]

Has many programs for people with disabilities, including the Activity-Based Locomotor Exercise (ABLE) program, aquatics, an accessible fitness center, skiing, snowboarding, archery, bowling, curling, golf, horseback riding, martial arts, power soccer, rock climbing, waterskiing, track and field, and more. Also has summer camp programs at five sites in Minnesota for kids, teens and adults.

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute: SHARE program (Sports, Health, Activity, Recreation and Exercise)

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.allinahealth.org/SHARE

The SHARE program helps all people find resources in sports, health, activity, recreation and exercise.

Courage Kenny HANDI-HAM System

Phone: (612) 775-2291
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://handiham.org/

An organization for visually impaired and/or physically disabled ham radio buffs. Provide study material on tape and adaptive ham radio technology for sale and loan to program participants. Holds ham radio camp annually.

Girl Scouts of the USA

420 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10018-2798
(212) 852-5055
To send an email, go to https://www.girlscouts.org/en/footer/contact-us/customer-support.html
To locate your nearest troop, go to https://www.girlscouts.org/en/council-finder.html
Website: https://www.girlscouts.org/

Has troops for girls of all ages, from kindergarten through high school. Holds camps throughout the United States in various locations.

International Braille Chess Association

Christine Beutelhoff, General Secretary
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://ibca-info.org/

International Braille Chess Association (IBCA) is the main body of chess for the blind. Member countries include: Argentina, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey, among many others. The main purpose of IBCA is to promote chess for the visually impaired across the globe.

National Beep Baseball Association

1400 Patriot Blvd. #290
Glenview, IL 60026
Phone: (866) 400-4551 (Option 2)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nbba.org/

The NBBA is a representative national organization which assists, promotes, encourages and develops amateur beep baseball programs throughout the United States of America and internationally.

The Beep Kickball Association

4845 Franklin Pond
Atlanta, GA 30342
(770) 317-2035
Fax: 1-866-496-7089
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.beepkickball.com/

The association’s mission is to enrich the lives of all people who are visually impaired through participation in sports. Players gain confidence, enjoy the camaraderie, exercise, and learn good sportsmanship. They also develop increased mobility and independence, as well as a willingness to try something new. Teams currently exist in Atlanta and Dallas; the game is also played at more than 80 summer camps and schools for the blind nationwide.

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542-4962
(202) 707-5100
Toll-free: 1-800-424-8567
TDD: (202) 707-0744
FAX: (202) 707-0712
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.loc.gov/nls

“Boys’ Life,” “Braille Chess,” “Outdoor Life,” “Sports Illustrated,” “Sports Illustrated for Kids,” and “Outdoor Life” magazines are available through NLS. They also produce “Sports Schedules” — braille schedules of the major baseball, basketball, football and hockey leagues. Contact your regional library for more information.

United States Association of Blind Athletes

1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
(719) 866-3224
Fax: (719) 866-3400
Website: https://www.usaba.org/

USABA is a Colorado-based non-profit organization that provides life-enriching sports opportunities for every individual with a visual impairment. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, USABA provides athletic opportunities in various sports including, but not limited to: beep baseball, bowling, track and field, Nordic and alpine skiing, biathlon, hockey, judo, rowing, wrestling, 5-a-side soccer, swimming, tandem cycling, powerlifting and goalball.

United States Blind Golf Association

Greg Hooper, President
(770) 855-4057
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.usblindgolf.com/

The USBGA is organized and operated for the purpose of supporting and providing opportunity to blind and visually impaired men and women to play the great game of golf. It promotes public awareness of blind golf by hosting tournaments and teaching clinics to young and old alike throughout the United States. For information about membership, visit https://www.usblindgolf.com/membership/.

United States Braille Chess Association

Secretary: Bill Kociaba, [email protected]
Assistant Tournament Director:Jim Thoune
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (971) 242-9991
Website: www.americanblindchess.org/

The USBCA’s aim is to encourage over-the-board and correspondence chess among the blind. It provides opportunities for tournaments and friendly games.

Water Sports

Handicapped Scuba Association

HSA International
1104 El Prado
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-4540
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hsascuba.com/

HSA International has worldwide educational programs. HSA operates as an independent diver training and certifying agency and each year plans, coordinates and conducts several dive vacations to exotic locations.

Sporting Equipment, Recreational Items and Games

AccessTR

8 Sandra Ct.
Newbury Park, CA 91320
Toll-free: 1-800-634-4351
(805) 498-7535
Fax: (805) 498-8186
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://accesstr.com/

Has recreational aids for people with mobility impairments. May be useful to blind or visually impaired individuals who are also mobility impaired.

Independent Living Aids

137 Rano St.
Buffalo, NY 14207
Toll-free: 1-800-537-2118
Toll-free fax: 1-855-937-3906
To send an email, go to https://independentliving.com/contact-us/
Website: www.independentliving.com/

Has playing cards, board games, card games, sewing aids, large print crossword puzzles and other recreational items.

LS&S Group

145 River Rock Dr.
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716) 348-3500
Toll-free: 1-800-468-4789
Toll-free fax: 1-877-498-1482
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://lssproducts.com/

Has talking tape measure, braille and large print playing cards, board games, braille dice and more.

Maxi-Aids, Inc.

42 Executive Blvd.
Farmingdale, NY 11735
To order, call 1-800-522-6294.
For information, call (631) 752-0521.
Fax: (631) 752-0689
TTY: (631) 752-0738
To send an e-mail, go to https://www.maxiaids.com/contactus
Website: https://www.maxiaids.com/

Has ball games, board games, card games, educational toys, and other recreational items.

School Specialty

W6316 Design Drive
Greenville, WI 54942
Toll-free: 1-888-388-3224
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.schoolspecialty.com/sportime

Sells a product line called Abilitations, materials that assist students with special needs in strengthening their mobility, motor skills, sensory and communication.

Visus Technologies, Inc.

Stephen J. McCormack, PhD
241 A St., Suite 300
Boston, MA 02210
Toll-free: 1-844-484-7874
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://visustech.com/

Distributes the VelaSense™ suite of software applications, which are designed to facilitates color identification, image magnification and enhancement, and money reading. The software is designed to work on the Android platform; it integrates video, motion and audio data that are gathered in the user’s environment, and then delivers the information through multi-sensory input to non-sight sensory systems, such as hearing and touch.

Updated 4/6/2020