Empowering the B&VI Within the Sport of Fencing: An Exploration of Research, Grant Proposals, and Instructor Perspectives

Visual impairment can affect various aspects of individuals lives, including social interactions, daily activities, mobility, and emotional well-being. Individuals with visual impairment often exhibit lower levels of physical fitness and coordination, leading to increased sedentary behavior and potential long-term health consequences. Existing studies have not detailed occupational therapy involvement in blind and visually impaired (B&VI) fencing to enhance mobility, sensory capabilities, and daily activities. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on competitive sports within the B&VI community. This project addressed the limited research in B&VI fencing, analyzed the activity of fencing through an occupational therapy lens, discovered grants for program funding, and uncovered instructor perspectives through in-depth interviews. The outcome measures used in this capstone project were a short-form version and long-form version activity analyses, a code book, and a grant reference sheet. The activity analyses documented the progression from arriving at class through fencing movements. The code book revealed from coaching interviews the developments in interpersonal skills, and the ability to combine verbal, physical, and tactile cues. Coach’s reported that participants who are blind or visually impaired showed improvements in independence, confidence, spatial awareness, and mobility. The interviews discovered sensory development in the coach’s and participant’s, including hearing, tactile awareness, proprioception, vestibular, and environmental awareness. Instruction of the participants challenged the coach's unconscious biases about fencing among individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The grant reference sheet provided information about grant opportunities for transportation, fencing equipment, and program outreach. The grant reference sheet also included grant website resources for occupational therapists, students, and researchers.