This page provides information specific for visually impaired rowers and scullers. For general information on all Adaptive Rowing and Sculling programs, click here.

Adaptive Rowing / Sculling Program

BIAC currently has a few options for individuals looking to begin adaptive or para rowing or sculling. We  offer individual coaching for adaptive athletes by Coach Chuck Bonnici as well as Everybody Rows (Erows) classes on Wednesday and Friday mornings. These are technical sculling classes with a bit of cardio. Members row at their own pace and are given individual coaching attention. A participant describes the sessions as "...specific to each person's needs," appreciating Alice's ability to "find a solution to that specific problem."

To learn more about Adaptive Rowing at BIAC, please contact Coach Chuck.

Comprehensive information about this sport is available through the USRowing website. Adaptive rowing on the USRowing site is here.

Rabbits

Fellow rowers volunteer as rabbits to guide visually impaired rowers during the Everybody Rows classes. Once you have had a few private lessons you will be invited to join the Erows class. Contact Alice to let her know when you’ll be attending class so she can find a rabbit for you.

Freedom Rows

Rowing for Disabled Veterans

BIAC is part of Freedom Rows, a program that provides grant funding to organizations to increase and expand the quantity and quality of adaptive sport activities disabled veterans and members of the armed forces have to participate in physical activity within their home communities, as well as more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels.

Weekly erg sessions will be available for local participants, and water classes will be scheduled in warmer months. To learn more about the program, please contact Coach Kerry.

Local outreach includes working with the Palo Alto VA, The Riekes Center, and going to events such as the Valor Games.

Classification Information for Competition

LTA-VI (Legs, Trunk, Arms - Visually Impaired)

Ophthalmologist or Optometrist certification of:

B1 – No light perception in either eye to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.

B2 - From ability to recognize the shape of a hand to a visual acuity of 2/60 and/or monocular visual field of more than five degrees and less than 20 degrees.

B3 – From visual acuity about 2/60 to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or monocular visual field of more than five degrees and less than 20 degrees.

N/E – Visual acuity over 6/60 and/or monocular visual field of more than 20 degrees.

All testing is done with best eye correction or with lenses, if used. Prior to international FISA competition, the VI athlete must be classified by an International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) Classifier, which can take place just prior to the event.

Athletes with a Visual Impairment (VI) should submit their paperwork (Click Here for VI Impairment Medical Document) directly to Wendy Wilbur at USRowing at (wendy.wilbur@usrowing.org) and are not required to attend an Athlete Classification session. The paperwork will be submitted to a VI Classifier from the U.S. (by USRowing), and the athlete or athlete representative will be contacted by USRowing once the paperwork and any required medical documents have been approved to inform the athlete of their U.S. Sport Class Status.