At first, it was simply an idea. “We should have Goalball in Buffalo.”
A few minutes after that idea was voiced, we sat there and thought, “Wait, why don’t we bring Goalball to Buffalo? Why don’t we bring together all the sports of our youth?”
Sports undeniably shaped us into the people we are today. The impact of being able to participate in sports despite our visual impairment cannot be overstated. Adaptive sports in high school—whether it was wrestling, cheerleading, or Goalball—allowed us to compete at a very high athletic level against our peers. For many of us, it was our first time competing on an even playing field away from home.
We believe it’s important for people with visual impairments to continue challenging themselves to reach the best version of themselves. We founded this organization to ensure that the strive for excellence does not end at school or at the city limit. We hope WNYABA will continue to inspire blind athletes to new heights of success and personal accomplishment.