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Blind Sports WA raises funds for a mini-bus, enabling vision-impaired athletes to access sports and recreation programs.

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Blind Sports WA facilitates connections between blind and vision impaired people and sport. We work to build capacity, provide support for participation in accessible sports, increase people’s inclusion in the community to promote health and wellbeing for people with blind and vision impairments. We value relationships and believe that every vision impaired person in WA should have the opportunity to choose a sport that is right for them. ﻿Blind Sports WA are fundraising for a new or near new mini-bus to be driven by volunteers to transport blind and vision impaired people to blind sport and recreation activities. Blind Sports WA help to create pathways and opportunities for blind sports participation from a grassroots community level, right up to elite competitions at national and international levels. Blind Sports WA facilitate and support various sports in Western Australia that have either been specifically designed for blind and vision impaired people, or have been modified so that the sports are accessible. Living with sight loss can be a challenge, especially in children, and we understand how important it is to remain independent. We help build confidence, skills and freedom in order for blind and vision impaired people to achieve the future they strive for through practical and friendly support, enabling them to live their lives to the full. Transport remains one of the biggest barriers to independence and social interaction for vision impaired people, and none more so than our children and young people.  Throughout the year we have a comprehensive timetable of sport and recreational activities available for our members (and their parents and siblings) These are fundamental for developing confidence and self-esteem, enabling the children to acquire the pivotal social skills that are essential for later life. We currently support Blind AFL, Blind Cricket, Goalball, Blind Golf, Blind Lawn Bowls, Blind Soccer, Tandem Cycling, Blind Tennis, Blind Ten Pin Bowling and Blind Sailing. For our members, having a minibus to provide a safe and comfortable journey to and from these sports and recreation activities is paramount. Currently our members rely on public transport, help from their families or have to pay for taxis, ride-share or paying a support worker to take them to their chosen sport. Often people do not have the funds to use to pay for their transport. This means that they do not participate in sport and recreation activities and are often isolated in their homes. Our objective is to purchase a new or near new min-bus that volunteers can drive with a standard driving licence. WE NEED TO RAISE $50,000 The key benefits for our members by having a minibus to travel in are:<ul><li>The sporting activities they will be able to participate in will positively impact health and well-being</li><li>Help to develop social skills and interaction, increasing a sense of belonging, creating closer bonds with family and making friends</li><li>Providing respite support for families</li><li>Offering a sense of independence by travelling without parents where appropriate</li><li>Vision impairment conditions can be hereditary which means some parents are unable to drive their children to these important activities</li><li>Siblings often feel disempowered too; our activities help support them on their journey with their blind or partially sighted brother or sister</li><li>Our younger members and their siblings have the opportunity to do what their fully sighted brothers and sisters can do.</li></ul> How can you help?Your generous donations can help transform the lives of people who are blind and vision impaired in Western Australia by giving them an opportunity to increase their confidence and build the skills that are pivotal to their development and life experience.

Bus for Blind Sports WA