[AERNet] Floor Hockey

[Jody W Ianuzzi]

Hello Byron,

I grew  up attending school gym classes where you spent the whole year 
chasing field hockey balls, volleyballs, tennis, ping pong, softballs etc. 
etc. with endless BALLS.  I was frustrated, the kids didn't want me on their 
team and I went home crying most of the time.  In those days there were no 
accommodations for disabled kids so I was finally given a waiver from gym.

Later I discovered judo and other martial arts as well as canoeing, cross 
country skiing, swimming, horseback riding hiking, and many many sports that 
I COULD do without trying to adapt sighted methods.  I finally felt I was 
getting something out of sports.

I know this girl wants to play hockey with the other kids, but she really 
can't do it.  In the fifth grade the kids aren't being too nasty about it 
but by the time she is in middle and high school, kids become much more 
competitive and they won't want her on their team.

Perhaps this is a good time to discuss the things that she CAN participate 
in rather then frustrating her.  She won't be able to do many things because 
of blindness but she WILL be able to do other things instead.  This applies 
to sports, careers and many other aspects of life.  Perhaps this is one of 
those broader lessons.



JODY

"WE MUST BE THE CHANGE WE WISH
TO SEE IN THE WORLD"  ~ Gandhi