Impact Statement

Beyond Competition: Personal Pursuit to Collective Change

Sport as a Catalyst for Belonging, Identity, and Purpose

As a blind/visually impaired athlete training for the 2028 Paralympic Games in javelin—and currently the only blind/visually impaired female athlete on Team USA Surf—my mission extends well beyond personal competition. This project exists to demonstrate the transformative power of sport on belonging, confidence, and mental wellbeing, particularly for blind/visually impaired women who rarely see themselves represented in athletics. After a lifetime of feeling isolated in sport, surfing and track have given me something unprecedented: a community where my disability is respected, my adaptations are understood, and my achievements are celebrated. That shift has been deeply therapeutic, reshaping my identity and strengthening my mental resilience.

Awareness and Visibility Shape Access

Research aligns with my lived experience: participation in sport significantly improves confidence, independence, social connection, and overall quality of life for blind/visually impaired people. While physical benefits matter, the psychological gains—community, shared purpose, and self-belief—are often the most powerful. Yet participation in adaptive sport remains critically low, especially among women. Blind/visually impaired women are vastly underrepresented in both recreational and elite athletics, limiting awareness of what’s possible and access to welcoming pathways. My position as the only blind/visually impaired woman on Team USA Surf underscores how visibility directly influences who sees sport as an option and who never gets the chance.

Building Next Generation Pathways Through Representation

At its core, this project is about inspiring and mentoring young, up-and-coming blind/visually impaired athletes through visibility and lived example. By documenting my training and competition in adaptive surfing and javelin—and by sharing stories of first-time participants—I aim to make pathways into sport visible and attainable. This includes introducing other visually impaired athletes to surfing and supporting their journeys toward continued training and competition. Through accessible storytelling, education, and consistent representation across my platforms, I will help young athletes see themselves reflected in sport, build confidence early, and grow up knowing they belong—not as exceptions, but as valued members of the athletic community.