Visually Impaired / Cognitively Impaired
The Visually Impaired/Cognitively Impaired category includes fully or partially visually impaired persons as well as those with physical or mental disabilities. These disabilities may affect the processing of information for coordination and control. Some of our intellectually delayed students include those with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Down Syndrome, or Mental Retardation.
Visually Impaired/Cognitively Impaired skiers and snowboarders often use the same equipment as their able-bodied counterparts. However they also require adaptive teaching techniques and equipment. We combine visual impairment and intellectual disabilities into one category because they share similar teaching equipment, such as a bamboo pole.
Visually Impaired Skiing
In addition to using various training aids to teach visually impaired students to ski, we also guide them down the mountain safely. An instructor must keep the visually impaired skier informed of necessary turns and potential hazards. To make other skiers aware of the unique situation, the visually impaired skier and instructor wear bright orange vests to identify themselves. With this configuration, other skiers know not to ski in between them or limit their communication.
Cognitively Impaired Skiing
Although many cognitively impaired skiers are physically able to ski, the instructional challenge is in the student’s cognitive abilities.
Tether
This student can keep balance and ski while wearing standard skis and boots. However, due to the student’s cognitive disability, it will take some practice before she can respond appropriately to the instructor’s verbal instructions. Until then, the instructor uses tether lines attached to the front of the student’s skis to initiate the requested actions. The student learns by doing and feeling in a safe and active learning environment. With time and practice, the student is able to self-initiate the appropriate skiing maneuvers.
Balance
This next learning technique works especially well with children, whose attention span is already short. The photo shows two of our instructors with one of our younger students. In this case, the student needs physical support from both sides to get accustomed to balance. With the student’s light weight, one instructor can control speed while initiating movements of the student’s skis.
Face to Face
Using two instructors is also helpful when making sure a student fully completes his turns to maintain a safe speed. Occasionally, our students respond better to face-to-face interaction. In this example, the lead instructor skis backwards in front of the student, reassuring him, instructing him and acting as a backstop. A second instructor (not shown) follows the pair and watches out for the safety of the group.
Less Equipment
Some of our adaptive students learn better with less equipment. Notice that the skier in the photo does not have ski poles—nor does his instructor behind him. Some students make better progress with fewer items to coordinate. We then introduce new movements one-at-a-time to maximize their concentration. A situation like this might call for two instructors: one behind to give verbal directions, and one in front to provide a “target” for the student to follow down the mountain.
Visually Impaired/Cognitively Impaired skiers and snowboarders often use the same equipment as their able-bodied counterparts. However they also require adaptive teaching techniques and equipment. We combine visual impairment and intellectual disabilities into one category because they share similar teaching equipment, such as a bamboo pole.
Visually Impaired Skiing
In addition to using various training aids to teach visually impaired students to ski, we also guide them down the mountain safely. An instructor must keep the visually impaired skier informed of necessary turns and potential hazards. To make other skiers aware of the unique situation, the visually impaired skier and instructor wear bright orange vests to identify themselves. With this configuration, other skiers know not to ski in between them or limit their communication.
Cognitively Impaired Skiing
Although many cognitively impaired skiers are physically able to ski, the instructional challenge is in the student’s cognitive abilities.
Tether
This student can keep balance and ski while wearing standard skis and boots. However, due to the student’s cognitive disability, it will take some practice before she can respond appropriately to the instructor’s verbal instructions. Until then, the instructor uses tether lines attached to the front of the student’s skis to initiate the requested actions. The student learns by doing and feeling in a safe and active learning environment. With time and practice, the student is able to self-initiate the appropriate skiing maneuvers.
Balance
This next learning technique works especially well with children, whose attention span is already short. The photo shows two of our instructors with one of our younger students. In this case, the student needs physical support from both sides to get accustomed to balance. With the student’s light weight, one instructor can control speed while initiating movements of the student’s skis.
Face to Face
Using two instructors is also helpful when making sure a student fully completes his turns to maintain a safe speed. Occasionally, our students respond better to face-to-face interaction. In this example, the lead instructor skis backwards in front of the student, reassuring him, instructing him and acting as a backstop. A second instructor (not shown) follows the pair and watches out for the safety of the group.
Less Equipment
Some of our adaptive students learn better with less equipment. Notice that the skier in the photo does not have ski poles—nor does his instructor behind him. Some students make better progress with fewer items to coordinate. We then introduce new movements one-at-a-time to maximize their concentration. A situation like this might call for two instructors: one behind to give verbal directions, and one in front to provide a “target” for the student to follow down the mountain.
