VISION There are so many different types of barriers to movement . Let us first look at sight . I have worked with many paddlers who have mild vision problems like short-sightedness , to people who are partially sighted and to those who are completely blind . Vision helps us with our head righting reactions and is a major contributor to our balance and perception of space . Without it , we can be very disorientated and unsteady . When starting a blind paddler , it is essential to help them familiarise themselves with the size and texture of the equipment . Let them feel the paddle to understand the orientation of the drive face in relation to the t-grip . Paddles with different shape t-grips help this but also anti-slip grip can also help orientation .
Before going out onto the water , establish reference points due to sound , swell and wind direction in terms of north , south , east or west or naming landmarks so that the paddler can understand their environment and location . This will allow them to be more independent but also give them confidence . Plus , for you as a coach , it will help you when directing the paddler . Establishing different forms of communication before going out on the water is also helpful as the wind can change the sound on the water . Tethering can be helpful in the early stages of paddling but is tricky and requires good communication as the jolts from taking up the slack are very off-putting to someone who can ’ t see .
BLIND PADDLER A blind paddler once they gain confidence can perform all the skills we can do from footwork , pivot turns , catching bumps or racing . Still , they will require a guide paddler using sound or kinaesthetic techniques facilitating movement to help them do this .
PARTIALLY SIGHTED PADDLER For the partially sighted paddler , it affects their depth perception , so changing onto moving water can be more challenging initially . It also creates asymmetry and over-dependence of one side of their paddling . They often will have less confidence moving onto the visually restricted side with crossbow techniques or changing their foot position . They can also find it more challenging in group dynamics , and it ’ s easier for them to paddle on the outer side of the group on their stronger visual side .
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