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Comments from Parents “If I didn’t know half the people in this room were visually impaired I wouldn’t believe it if someone told me. Our kids are so lucky to have MSDB. You allow our children to be children.” - Parent of Goalball/ Enrichment Weekend participant |
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Special Events
Goalball/Enrichment Weekends
Goalball is a popular sport for blind and visually impaired people. Two teams play against each other. All players are blindfolded to make the game fair, due to varying levels of sight among players. The object is to roll a heavy ball with bells in it past the opposing team, which tries to block the ball with their bodies. The games are very exciting and challenging, and they offer all the valuable lessons of team sportsmanship.
MSDB hosts Goalball/Enrichment Weekends several times each year for visually impaired kids of all ages from around the state. In addition to goalball games, the weekends offer other opportunities for students to learn important skills. Each weekend focuses on one aspect of visually impaired education such as technology, orientation and mobility, independent living, or career education, or on a hands-on activity like art. The Goalball/Enrichment Weekends are great opportunities for social interaction and lots of fun.
This year Focus/Goalball will be held March 21-23, 2013.
To learn more about goalball and other sports for the blind and visually impaired, go to http://www.usaba.org.
For those wishing to attend please use the forms below.
Goalball/Enrichment Weekend Brochure
To order a videotape from the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), please download the following form: USABA Goalball Video Tape Order Form (Word format).
Games for the Visually Impaired
The Games for the Visually Impaired are held each spring at the Montana School for the Deaf & Blind campus in Great Falls. Athletes from around the state compete in track and field, gymnastics, gym activities, swimming and bowling. This is a competitive event for blind and visually impaired students ranging in age from 3-21.
The VI Games is an uplifting and confidence-boosting weekend for participants, and the MSDB staff provides lots of support for the kids. Personnel from Malmstrom Air Force Base assist athletes in their individual events. Volunteers are willing to swim and run with athletes. Any student with a visual impairment is welcome to participate in the event. Learn more by clicking on this link: Games for the Visually Impaired Guidelines (PDF).
Contact Carol Clayton-Bye at 771-6080 or info@msdb.mt.gov with questions.