Headquartered in Vancouver, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) is committed to improving the quality of life for blind and visually impaired individuals through sports and physical activity throughout the Pacific Northwest. NWABA was founded in 2007, when a 15-year-old Billy Henry was interested in the sport of powerlifting, for which there were no accessible programs. It was then that he and his friends formed their own powerlifting team, competing in two world competitions, and Billy founded NWABA.

NWABA offers opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities to participate 25+ in sports and physical activity year-round, from hiking, paddle sports, tandem cycling, goalball, skiing/snowboarding, swimming, indoor rock climbing and more. All their programs are structured to follow the nonprofit’s values, of providing equitable access to physical activity, empowering people to strive for excellence and to grow boldly.

All NWABA programs and services are available at no cost to the athletes or their families, and transportation can be arranged to allow access for all. This past year NWABA has provided over 3,500 program and service interactions and is supported by 300 volunteers across the regions they serve, through their four core programs.

• Their Sports Outreach Program offers in-person sports and physical activities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, including kayaking, hiking, tandem cycling, swimming, indoor rock climbing and more. In addition, this program also includes special events such as skateboarding, curling and ice-skating clinics.
• Their Sports Adaptation Program offers education and instruction for educators, athletes, and their families to provide inclusive physical education at school and at home. This program includes a video resource library with instructional videos for different sports and activities; an adapted equipment lending library where equipment can be borrowed for two months at no-cost; and consultations to teachers, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams, administrators, and school districts on how to provide inclusive physical education and after school sports for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
• Camp Spark is a comprehensive, residential sports camp offered to children, youth, and young adults (ages 8-21) who are blind and visually impaired.  This unique model uses sports, physical activity, and orientation and mobility as a catalyst to encourage leadership, independence, advocacy, and daily living skills that contribute to overall greater quality of life. Camp Spark hosts seven sessions throughout the year with one week dedicated to campers with multiple disabilities, while another session targets elite athletes with a special focus on high performance goalball and soccer skills.
• NWABA’s Virtual Program provides access to less populated, rural areas and around the world through a variety of 60-minute live and pre-recorded audio-described virtual workouts seven times per week, along with a series of “How To” videos to ensure proper form and safety. Courses include Core Stability, Stretch, Circuit, Dance Aerobics, Cardio, and Balance & Control workouts.

Along with these incredible programs, NWABA also works hard to increase visibility throughout the community to help further their impact, and also offers scholarships and grants to allow athletes and sports teams to participate in local, regional and international competitions.

The work that NWABA does is made possible through donations and the support of their volunteers. They offer many volunteer opportunities, from assisting with sports and activities as a guide, to special events, to office and development work. If you would like to learn more or contribute to their cause, you can visit their website at www.nwaba.org. A great way to support this nonprofit in May is by referring someone you know to Davidson for a quote – we’ll donate $25 to NWABA on your behalf!

Refer a friend, family member, colleague, or local business for their free, no-obligation quote to support this worthy nonprofit!

Not a current Davidson & Associates client? Call (360) 514-9550 for your free, no-obligation quote and mention our Referral Rewards Program to support Northwest Association for Blind Athletes.