News

May 14, 2013

New Partnership with Bosma Enterprises

Bosma Enterprises Employs People Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired One Job at a Time

Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 14, 2013) – The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to partner with Bosma Enterprises to promote job opportunities for people who are blind and visually impaired. Bosma Enterprises is a dynamic organization that employs qualified and motivated candidates with career opportunities for people of all experience levels and professional backgrounds.

“Despite continued gains in employment, people who are blind and visually impaired remain one of America’s greatest untapped labor resources and Bosma Enterprises is honored to partner with USABA to implement marketing strategies to promote job opportunities to athletes who are blind and visually impaired including our military Service Men and Women with visual impairments,” said Lou Moneymaker, President & CEO of Bosma.

Each week, USABA will post a Bosma Enterprises job of the week on the United States Association of Blind Athletes Facebook page as well as in the USABA Weekly News and Notes email blast.

Careers at Bosma Enterprises can be found at: http://www.bosma.org/careers.

For more information on Bosma Enterprises contact Joice Wade, Vice-President of Human Resources, at 317-704-8202 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information on USABA contact Mark Lucas, Executive Director, at 719-866-3200 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

About Bosma Enterprises
In the United States, seven out of 10 people who are blind are not employed. Since 1915, Bosma Enterprises has been navigating blindness by providing job training, employment services, rehabilitation and outreach programs for people, from adolescents to seniors. Bosma is the only Indianapolis-area nonprofit provider of programs and services solely focused on people who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, go to: http://www.bosma.org/

About United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)
Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind and visually impaired individuals. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA’s Mission: to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity.  For more information, visit our Web site: http://www.usaba.org


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Mar 05, 2013

Blind and Visually Impaired Skiers Learn to Ski in Breckenridge, CO

Anthem Life Insurance Company Sponsors USABA/BOEC Winter Ski Camp

“The goal of this program is to provide skiers who are blind and visually impaired with a chance to get out on the mountain and experience the thrill of alpine and Nordic skiing. It is our hope that by providing additional resources and skills, our participants will continue to ski at their nearest ski resorts, and that this sparks the desire to compete for some skiers,” said Mark Lucas, USABA’s executive director.

Speaking at this year’s event is Navy Lieutenant and Paralympic Gold Medalist, Brad Snyder. Brad was blinded on September 7, 2011, by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Afghanistan. Less than a year later, he competed at the 2012 London Paralympic games in the S11 (totally blind) category for swimming, where he set a Paralympic record and won two Gold Medals and one Silver Medal.

“When one hears about all of the accomplishments Brad has realized after losing his sight, it’s incredibly motivating,” said Bill Smith, president and general manager of Anthem Life. “If someone is born with a disability or becomes disabled, including visually impaired, a lot of things change in their life. However, this should not stop a person from getting outdoors and enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle that includes sports and physical activities. This is one of the reasons why I’m proud that we are once again sponsoring this ski event. It’s a very unique educational event for brokers, and it’s incredibly inspiring to be around these athletes.”    

Trained guides and instructors are provided by BOEC, a Colorado non-profit organization that is committed to expanding the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.

“This event has so many positive outcomes,” said Smith. “People with visually impairments learn new skills so they can maintain an active lifestyle, and attendees can interact with Brad, who is a great role model for everyone.”

For more information, or for a schedule of events, contact Lacey Markle, public relations and event coordinator at (719) 229-9084.

About Anthem Life
Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.   

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Feb 05, 2013

Biggest Loser to Biggest Winner

On December 25, 2011 I weighed myself and saw the red arrow point towards 240 pounds. I knew that this was an unhealthy weight for a 15 year old and realized I had to do something about it. I could no longer blame my low vision on the fact that I was not physically active (I am considered a B3 - visual acuity above 20/600 and up to visual acuity of 20/200 and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees and more than 5 degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction). I was supposed to be participating in the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge but I had not even done anything with that yet, which said a lot about me at the time. After weighing nearly 240 pounds I was highly motivated to finally do something about my overweight body and make a change in my life for good. I knew if I set my mind to it, I could win and beat the competition by losing the most weight. 

On December 27, 2011 I took action. I went outside in 20 degree weather for a run, a simple 3.2 mile loop, which became my daily activity. I got to the point that without my daily run I felt lost and anxious. I ran every day for two months before ending the streak due to poor weather, but the next day I was back in my routine. I began to feel good about running and started to pick up my mileage to five miles; a long run for me. By this point I was about 200 pounds and I added dieting to my daily exercise. People were starting to notice my weight loss and for the first time in my life I started to feel like an athlete. I continued to run for a few more weeks and eventually made one of the best decisions of my life by signing up for a local club rowing team. The week before crew started, I ran 11.6 miles and the feeling of being able to run that far was new to me, it felt remarkable. Once rowing started I took some time off from running and began training and conditioning for the rowing team. The conditioning started off very hard because I had been burning fat and muscle throughout my running career, and I did not have much muscle to begin with. Circuit training and rowing machine workouts eventually become easier and by the time we got to the boat I was eager to start learning how to row. Rowing changed my body even more than running, I started to see muscles accumulating and I actually got my weight down to 180 pounds - my lowest yet and it is an awesome feeling!

I had a fire inside me that motivated me to become the best rower I could and although I was a novice, we had a pretty decent crew team. I rowed through the spring and into the summer with the Blood Street Sculls, learning skills from specialized trainers and coaches. As I got more into rowing I bought an Erg Rowing Machine and used it at home for many of my workouts. By September 2012, I was ready to go back to the Blood Street Sculls and be a better athlete. After running and rowing I finally saw myself as a real athlete because I was fit enough to row 5,000 meters and I was moving up in the boat lineups. This was one of the best feelings ever; I was actually accomplishing what I set out to do. As the rowing season came to an end, I made a promise to myself that winter was no longer an “off” season for me. Although, I shifted my interests to the school musical, I continued to be in training mode by lifting weights and doing cardio. I set a goal of returning back to the Blood Street Sculls in the spring and to make my school's varsity rowing team.

I learned that setting goals was the best way for me to live my life. After watching myself accomplish what I set out to do, I am more open to trying new things.If people tell me to try something, I immediately go for it. I know that even if I do not get it right away with practice I will one day succeed. Even though I was participant in the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge and I wanted to win, I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Losing weight was mainly for me, but because I lost weight I received the benefits of an awesome trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado in June 2012 to attend the National Sports Education Camp, which was a reward for the top boy and girl who lost the most weight and decreased their body mass index. It was really neat to show myself off as an athlete and meet other people who had been applying themselves in various ways throughout the National Fitness Challenge program. I know that without the start of the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge I would not have found the motivation to get active and lose weight. 

Being a part of this program was the best thing that has ever happened to me and truly changed my life for the better. Now, I see a lot of potential in myself and I am truly proud of how far I have come with changing my life.

- written by: Cooper Kendall

About the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge

The objective of the National Fitness Challenge is to provide teenagers who are blind and visually impaired opportunites to achieve a higher level of fitness and to maintain or reduce their body mass index. Last year 16 agencies participated in the National Fitness Challenge and this year’s program has grown extensivly with more than 20 participating agencies from across the United States who will provide more than 700 teenagers who are blind and visually impaired with an opportunity to increase their physical fitness levels and live a healthier and more active lifestyle.

In order to keep track of each participants success, every agency submits baseline data and monthly updates that are used to create achievable fitness and weight loss goals for each teen. Mark Lucas, executive director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes, said, “Last year the number of students participating in the program was 603, and of these 603 students 393, or 65%, maintained or reduced their body mass index. With number like that we predict a great success rate for a second year of the National Fitness Challenge.” With the renewal of this grant from the WellPoint Foundation, through the partnering agencies, USABA will provide each agency with sports equipment as well as fitness and nutrition coaches for teens particpating in the program.

“The WellPoint Foundation helps us continue meeting the company’s commitment to helping children and adults live active lives and avoid the health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and obesity,” said Bill Smith, president and general manager of WellPoint’s Disability and Life business. “We believe no one should be denied the right to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise; therefore, we are very proud to once again partner with the USABA to ensure that vision impairments do not limit the recreational opportunities afforded to teenagers across the country."

Research has consistently shown that individuals who participate in regular physical activity to improve their health have higher energy levels, a lower risk of health-related diseases, improved psychological health, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, because of the many barriers and misconceptions about their abilities, approximately 70 percent of the nearly 56,000 children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in the United States do not participate in even a limited physical education curriculum. The implimentation of the National Fitness Challenge is one program USABA and the WellPoint Foundation are using to break down these barriers.

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