| Visual impairment can affect anyone, at any age, at | | | | downhill skiing, judo, wrestling, track and field, cycling, |
| any time. For some people, a congenital condition can | | | | power lifting, and much more. Every four years, |
| appear at birth, for others a reduction in eyesight can | | | | these talented individuals are offered an opportunity |
| happen gradually over time, due to illness, a disease | | | | to compete in the Paralympics Games. |
| such as macular degeneration or glaucoma, or a | | | | What's Missing? |
| traumatizing accident. | | | | Even with such accomplishments under their belts, |
| Fortunately, vision loss need not be debilitating due to | | | | athletes such as Magana and Miller still miss out on |
| new assistive technology for the vision impaired. In | | | | activities like reading. Thanks to special software and |
| fact, those deemed legally blind can do nearly | | | | electronic magnifiers , it is now possible for anyone |
| anything a sighted person can, including participation in | | | | declared legally blind to enjoy the same books, |
| sports and even reading text. | | | | newspapers, and internet sites anyone else can. |
| Legally Blind Athletes | | | | It was back in 2006 that ABiSee introduced its first |
| Take James Magana, for instance. A wrestler on | | | | low vision reading aid. Zoom-Ex, an OCR scanner that |
| Monrovia High School's varsity team, he has managed | | | | translates written text into the spoken word at |
| to rise to the top of his sport even though he is | | | | lightning speeds, is their premier vision assistive |
| plagued by a congenital disease that affected his | | | | device for computer users. Since that time, the |
| eyesight from birth. Although Magana can see vague | | | | company has been dedicated to continually |
| shapes and colors, he is considered legally blind. But | | | | developing new products for the visually impaired and |
| he hasn't allowed that handicap to dictate what he | | | | upgrading the technology used in their core vision |
| can and cannot do. As his father reminded him, it | | | | aids. Subsequent products, such as the Zoom-Twix |
| does not take perfect vision to wrestle. | | | | aimed at students with its ability to read and save |
| Magana is not alone in his quest to overcome the | | | | textbooks and at the same time view and save |
| obstacles visual impairment erects. Asya Miller also | | | | magnified images of the white board, have greatly |
| deals with low vision due to Stargardt's disease, yet | | | | enhanced the chances to succeed at school and in |
| she doesn't allow that fact to keep her from | | | | life for anyone suffering from vision loss. |
| competing in goalball as a U.S. Paralympics. Although | | | | If you or someone you know is currently struggling |
| her competitors often try to fool her with a soft, | | | | with a complete or gradual loss of vision, it is |
| low noise throw, Miller uses her sense of hearing to | | | | important to stay positive and retain a can-do |
| determine who is throwing the ball and where it is | | | | attitude. Remember athletes like Magana and Miller |
| headed. In fact, she is so good at sports Miller has | | | | who have not allowed a vision handicap to get in |
| managed to amass more than 79 medals in the past | | | | their way. And take heart that there are many very |
| decade. | | | | effective visual aid items that help the blind |
| There are numerous blind and visually impaired | | | | overcome their disability. |
| athletes who excel in nearly any sport, including | | | | |