Summary

Paula Kissinger, a guest on The Blind Chick podcast, shares her story of how sports became her compass through vision loss. She grew up loving sports and found a sense of normalcy and community at a summer camp for kids with visual impairments. She discovered her love for judo at the camp and went on to compete in able-bodied competitions. Paula also talks about her passion for skiing and how she learned to ski at a young age. She now mentors young skiers and encourages them to overcome their fears.

Takeaways

Sports can be a compass for navigating vision loss and provide a sense of normalcy and community.

Judo is an accessible sport for people with visual impairments due to its tactile nature.

Skiing can be enjoyed by blind and low vision individuals with the help of guides and proper training.

Parents should encourage their blind or low vision children to try sports and support their progress.

Overcoming fear is an important part of participating in sports and achieving personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:20 Growing Up in Colorado and Moving to Philadelphia

03:40 Paula's Vision Diagnosis and Journey

06:03 Discovering Sports and Judo at Summer Camp

08:23 The Impact of Sports on Paula's Life

10:38 The Accessibility of Judo for People with Visual Impairments

13:29 Skiing with Guides and Overcoming Fears

16:20 Different Styles of Guiding in Skiing

19:11 Paula's Love for Skiing and Favorite Ski Areas

22:40 Paula's Role as a Mentor for Young Skiers

24:08 Encouraging Blind and Low Vision Children to Try Sports

25:52 Overcoming Fear in Sports and Achieving Personal Growth

26:23 Conclusion and Preview of Part 2