I chose to pursue the sport of triathlon as a way to engage in a healthy lifestyle, to set an example for my children about persevering in the face of adversity, and to model for others that one can still set ambitious goals in spite of life changing circumstances. I have been well received by fellow athletes at races and have been hugely inspired by those sighted guides who have committed to partnering with me for races and training purposes. Even though I’m not totally blind, I could not even dream of participating without guides. The fact of the matter is that most of us have great difficulty even finding training partners, and must rely on numerous training guides for the 3 prongs of the sport.
I network nationally in the visually impaired endurance community, encouraging and supporting visually impaired and blind athletes in both triathlon and marathon. To date, I only know one totally blind athlete in support of the blackout goggles rule. Aside from basic safety issues, the rule goes against the basic tenants of the American with Disabilities Act. The blackout goggles are not an accommodation (such as a tandem), and it actually creates an unreasonable restriction by further disabling a class of individuals. Almost as important is that we do this for fun, right? How many of you would want to participate in triathlon if you had to wear blackout goggles?
The way the rule is written now, all race directors should be enforcing the blackout goggles rule. The rules don’t even discriminate between domestic versus international competition. I’ve been told that the USAT Paratriathlon Committee is the one who recommended the rules to ITU, a committee with zero representation from the blind community. Now, USAT is taking shelter behind an organization which we can’t even approach.
Another thing that might interest some of you… Presently, there is no way for a visually impaired athlete to qualify for slots for world championships. VI triathletes cannot be folded into the age group mix due to the way we must participate. When you see a visually impaired athlete at a world championship event, it is because they received a lottery slot. So no, we can’t compete as age groupers, and no, we aren’t eligible for awards.
Aaron, along with others have been advocating for over a year to simply have representation on USAT committees governing disabled athletes and to add a 3 tier system for competition which is already being utilized nationally and internationally in other sports for the visually impaired:
Class B1
Possessing no light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.
Class B2
From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.
Class B3
From 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 five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.
Unfortunately, USAT does nothing in spite of public statements made against the blackout goggles rule. Aaron clearly has the most at stake, but I’ve spoken to him and he is a passionate advocate for all of us.
I network nationally in the visually impaired endurance community, encouraging and supporting visually impaired and blind athletes in both triathlon and marathon. To date, I only know one totally blind athlete in support of the blackout goggles rule. Aside from basic safety issues, the rule goes against the basic tenants of the American with Disabilities Act. The blackout goggles are not an accommodation (such as a tandem), and it actually creates an unreasonable restriction by further disabling a class of individuals. Almost as important is that we do this for fun, right? How many of you would want to participate in triathlon if you had to wear blackout goggles?
The way the rule is written now, all race directors should be enforcing the blackout goggles rule. The rules don’t even discriminate between domestic versus international competition. I’ve been told that the USAT Paratriathlon Committee is the one who recommended the rules to ITU, a committee with zero representation from the blind community. Now, USAT is taking shelter behind an organization which we can’t even approach.
Another thing that might interest some of you… Presently, there is no way for a visually impaired athlete to qualify for slots for world championships. VI triathletes cannot be folded into the age group mix due to the way we must participate. When you see a visually impaired athlete at a world championship event, it is because they received a lottery slot. So no, we can’t compete as age groupers, and no, we aren’t eligible for awards.
Aaron, along with others have been advocating for over a year to simply have representation on USAT committees governing disabled athletes and to add a 3 tier system for competition which is already being utilized nationally and internationally in other sports for the visually impaired:
Class B1
Possessing no light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.
Class B2
From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.
Class B3
From 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 five degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction.
Unfortunately, USAT does nothing in spite of public statements made against the blackout goggles rule. Aaron clearly has the most at stake, but I’ve spoken to him and he is a passionate advocate for all of us.