Recreation and Leisure Programs for Blind or Visually Impaired Individuals in TN

This screen-reader accessible resource provides information on recreation and leisure programs for blind or visually impaired individuals in Tennessee.

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Recreation and Leisure Programs for Blind or Visually Impaired Individuals in Tennessee

Individuals who are blind or visually impaired may often feel their options are limited when it comes to recreation and leisure opportunities. This is to serve as a resource for options within TN, as well as other nationally recognized agencies that offer services to TN residents.

Recreationand leisure looks different to everyone. For some this might mean joining a local sports team, for others it might mean accessing a library with accessible formats.

Sports and Recreation Options

Tennessee School for the Blind – Athletic teams are open to all TN residents in 7-12 grades. You do not need to be a student at the school to join a team. Sports include goalball, wrestling, track, and swimming.

Nashville Association ofAdaptive Sports – Accessible goalball program and goalball teams in the Nashville area and Middle Tennessee.

MiracleLeague in Chattanooga – Providing those with disabilities the ability to enjoy the game of baseball.

Achilles Running– Nashville – Achilles athletes are paired with a guide for weekly runs. Runs are held Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. Guides assist the athlete in meeting their individualized training plans, tailored specifically to each athlete’s unique physical capabilities and personal goals.

Tristate Adaptive Sports Association – A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing world-class adaptive sports and recreational opportunities to people with disabilities in west Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas.

Leisure Activities

TN Library for Accessible Books and Media – A free library program of over 150,000 recorded, large print, and braille materials available to residents of Tennessee.

Movie Theatres – Audio description, sometimes called description narration, is a service many movie theaters offer for blind and visually impaired individuals. This service provides guests with verbal description of visual aspects of the movie through headsets. There is no extra cost to access this service, although many theaters do have a limited supply of headsets.

Tennessee School for the Blind Outreach Services - Offers a variety of services to children with visual impairments in Tennessee who are enrolled in their local public school district. These services are free to students, their families, and their school districts

Nationally Recognized Organizations That Offer Leisure Opportunities

U.S. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) – Central organization for various sports dedicated to blind athletes. Sports include goalball, soccer, running, and many more. Each sport has various teams across the US that report back to the USABA.

National Beep Baseball Association – Organization committed to fostering competition and camaraderie through the game of beep baseball for the blind and visually impaired. Teams are located throughout the US, with many events happening year-round.

Hadley Helps – Offers practical help, connection, and support free to anyone with a visual impairment, their families, and professionals supporting them. Their recreation page offers workshops and series in container gardening, games (e.g. adapting games, card games, golfing, chess), bird and bird songs, sports and exercise, crafting and sewing.

American Council for the Blind - An audio description movie master list. You can search by title of the movie and review which streaming service it can be viewed on. Over 10,000 titles are currently listed

Summer Camps for adults with blindness and visual impairment

Camp	State	Description
Easterseals TN	TN	This is not VI specific, but it is in TN. A traditional summer camp for adults ages 17 and up and weekend respite camps throughout the rest of the year.
NFB BELL in Tennessee	TN	Day and overnight options offered where students will engage in Braille, O&M lessons, and Expanded Core Curriculum activities. Participants will also enjoy other events such as swimming, self-defense classes and yoga!
Lions Camp Tatiyee	AZ	A 6 day/overnight session for adults with physical challenges including the blind and visually impaired.
Camp Bloomfield	CA	Adult campers who are blind or visually impaired can increase their independence skills as they participate in many activities including horseback riding, swimming, climbing wall, high ropes course, arts & crafts, and sports.
Lighthouse – Youth Employment Services Academy	CA	YES Summer Academy is an opportunity for blind transition-age youth to gain vocational skills and learn through interactive activities.
Georgia Lions Camp	GA	Provide a unique recreational experience to the visually impaired of this state and surrounding states.
Camp Abilities	MA	One-week, educational sports camp for children 9-19 who are visually impaired, blind, or deafblind. Camps are hosted all around the US. Check out this video of Boston Camp Abilities to see what the camp could look like.
Bravo – Blue Ridge Adventures	NC	Bravo provides educational and enrichment opportunities for youth with blindness and low vision, with an emphasis on a life lived outdoors. The base camp is accompanied by many rivers, mountains, and outdoor spaces.
Cleveland Sight Center – Highbrook Lodge	OH	Highbrook Lodge works to stay true to our original mission: serving individuals with vision loss and blindness. Also, can serve those who are deaf and blind.