Visually Impaired Friendly Judo A Guide for Supporting Visually Impaired Adults and Children in a Judo Environment A Visible Difference Through Sport Visually Impaired Friendly Judo Contents Section One: Understanding Visual Impairments Page 6 1.1. What is Visual Impairment? Page 6 1.2. Understanding Common Visual Impairment Conditions Page 7 Case study: Chris Skelley Page 8 Section Two: Making Judo Accessible for Visually Impaired People Page 9 2.1. Coaching Visually Impaired Judoka Page 9 2.2. Event Literature Page 13 2.3. Guiding Visually Impaired People Page 13 2.4. Health and Safety Page 14 Case study: Ben Quilter Page 15 Section Three: Competitive Judo for Visually Impaired Judoka Page 17 3.1. Classification Page 17 3.2. IBSA Amendments for Visually Impaired Judo Competition Page 18 3.3. Pathways for Blind and Partially Sighted Judoka Page 20 Case study: Jean-Paul Bell Page 21 Section Four: Further Information Page 22 4.1. Resources and Guidance Page 22 4.2. Useful Contacts Page 22 Summary and Best Practice Page 23 Page 1 Introduction Welcome to the Visually Impaired Friendly Judo “British Blind Sport is resource. This resource has been produced by committed to providing British Blind Sport in partnership with the British sport and recreational Judo Association. opportunities for all blind and partially At British Blind Sport, we believe every person sighted adults and with sight loss has the right to participate in the children across sport of their choice. However, we understand Great Britain from there are many barriers to overcome to ensure grassroots to elite every visually impaired (VI) person has the level. Sport is often the same opportunities as their sighted peers. springboard to developing new opportunities, This resource has been created to assist those health benefits, new friendships and renewed delivering judo activities by providing support, confidence. The positive effects of participation ideas and guidance on how to include people in sport for a visually impaired person cannot be with a visual impairment. underestimated and we are aware that skilled coaches and teachers make all the difference to This resource aims to help mainstream judo helping others achieve their goals. This resource providers become VI friendly through their is a fantastic tool for those who are committed provision of training, resources and support. to making a visible difference through sport.” These include: Alaina MacGregor • Judo clubs Chief Executive Officer, British Blind Sport • Participation programmes and initiatives • Judo facilities “Judo is an incredible sport for improving This resource will enable coaches, teachers and the physical and parents to: psychological aspects • Have a better understanding of the needs of of a blind or partially people with a visual impairment. sighted athlete. The • Apply their knowledge to meet the needs of great thing about people with a visual impairment. judo is that it can • Use basic communication skills to support the be participated in needs of people with a visual impairment. across all levels from • Identify where you can obtain further support grassroots to the Paralympic Games no matter to ensure your group is accessible and how severe the impairment. inclusive. “Being the only combat sport within the Paralympic games, judo offers a unique chance You will be able to include people with a for athletes who are blind or partially sighted visual impairment by making small and simple to gain maximum independence. With our changes to your coaching methods. Much of uniquely integrated Olympic and Paralympic the advice in this resource will help all of your programme we offer the same opportunities to participants, not just visually impaired people. learn, develop and compete in judo. It is hoped by supporting the development of this resource, and better educating the judo workforce, that more people who are blind or partially sighted can enjoy the sport of judo and reach their maximum potential.” Nigel Donohue Performance Director, British Judo Association Page 2 Visually Impaired Friendly Judo “This guide will enable “Whether you join in coaches, teachers and sport recreationally or parents to have a better compete to represent understanding of the your country, the skills needed to provide positive experience coaching for people of participating in with a visual impairment sport starts with a at grassroots level. knowledgeable coach “It provides simple and or teacher. British Blind useful guidance on Sport have recognised how to prepare and deliver training sessions the need for coaches and teachers across and highlights the importance of good the UK to understand how to adapt sport and communication skills. It also points you in the activities to be fully inclusive for visually impaired right direction to obtain further information and children and adults. These fantastic resources support. I thoroughly recommend this guide.” help to break down barriers to participation as Ben Quilter well as assist and provide tips on how to make Patron, British Blind Sport each sporting experience enjoyable for every World and European Judo Champion and visually impaired person regardless of their London 2012 Paralympic Bronze Medalist ability. We know sport can be the springboard for so many things for a visually impaired person such as increasing confidence, developing spatial awareness, growing a social network and providing a sense of accomplishment. With this in mind, I wholeheartedly support this educational programme as I recognise British Blind Sport’s ambition to make a visible difference through sport.” Rt Hon David Blunkett MP Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough Page 3 Page 4 Visually Impaired Friendly Judo Page 5 Section One Understanding Visual Impairment There are two terms regularly used to refer • People in this category will often use braille to to people with a sight loss condition. These access text. are severely sight impaired (blind) and sight impaired (partially sighted). British Blind Sport • They will not be able to see a demonstration. uses the term ‘visual impairment’ to refer to all levels of sight loss. • They will need to orientate themselves correctly (to ensure they are facing the correct Throughout this resource a person with a visual direction) before taking part in an activity. impairment (either adult or child) is referred as a ‘VI judoka’. • They may not know when they are standing too close to a fellow participant. 1.1. What Is Visual Impairment? • They may become disorientated part way through an activity and need your voice to find Visual impairments can be broadly defined as ‘a the correct direction. limitation in one or more functions of the eye or visual system’ (Source: RIDBC). Sight impaired (partially sighted) It can be congenital (someone born with the • People in this category may or may not be impairment) or acquired later in life. Visual able to see print. impairments are a broad spectrum, ranging from: • They may not be able to recognise you from a distance when you greet them at the start of PARTIALLY BLIND the session. SIGHTED • They may not be able to see a demonstration due to light conditions or their position in relation to you. Sight level is classified on more than one measure. The main measures are visual acuity Visual impairments are on a broad spectrum and visual field. and sight will vary greatly depending on the cause of the impairment and where it occurs in Visual acuity the eyes or brain. Visual impairments can range A person’s ability to see fine detail. For example, from the total loss of sight to a disturbance reading text is often tested by reading down an within the field of vision. The age or stage of eye chart. onset that the visual impairment occurs will have an effect on the individual’s physical, Visual field psychological and emotional development. The boundaries of what a person can see in one instant; the entire area which can be seen without moving the eyes. Visual impairment categories Severely sight impaired (blind) People in this category may or may not be able to see print. Page 6 Visually Impaired Friendly Judo 1.2. Understanding Common Visual Impairment Conditions The common conditions below are all types Retinoblastoma of ocular visual impairments. This means the Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye. The condition has affected a part of the eye. There resulting visual impairment will vary depending are also cortical visual impairments, which on the size and location of the tumour and occur when the processing of information whether it affects one or both eyes. received from the eye is at fault, and not the eye itself. Colour confusion (also known as colour blindness) Albinism Colour confusion is not generally identified as This condition occurs due to a lack of a visual impairment, but can have a significant pigmentation in the skin or eyes causing a impact on sporting participation. Those with reduced visual acuity. Bright light will cause this condition see colour differently as they are discomfort to people with this condition. This is unable to identify colour variance. important to consider when holding a session in a brightly lit venue or in direct sunlight. If You may become aware of a participant with sunlight or strong lights are shining into an colour confusion when you describe tasks with environment, it may alter a person’s vision. colour terms such as “run to the red cone”. To resolve this situation, ask the participant Nystagmus to name the colour of the cone, and use that Nystagmus is the involuntary movement of the colour when describing the activity to them. eye, with the person’s eyes appearing to shake or oscillate. This condition is often a factor in other visual impairments such as albinism. Conclusion People with nystagmus may find it difficult to There are some sight loss conditions that occur follow a moving object, due to the movement as part of a syndrome.