AVI- Activities for the Visually Impaired

Physical activity in an average child’s development and daily routine is important for their physical and mental growth. It is no less so for children with impaired vision. This demographic isn’t getting enough active play due to the lack of resources and tools to encourage them to stay active. Currently, there are little to no easy, affordable, and group integrated solutions for active play which cater towards children ages 8-12 with impaired vision. Often sitting these activities out, visually impaired children eventually lose their confidence and develop anxiety participating in active games. With new emerging technologies, how could current concepts be improved and catered towards physical activity and physical education to encourage children with impaired vision to be active with their sighted and non-sighted peers? This thesis proposes in-depth studies of current problems and solutions visually impaired children face when participating in active play by using methods such as interviews, surveys, and observational studies. Scaled modeling and exploring ergonomics will solidify proper human factors and full-bodied interaction designs as this thesis is directed to children. The solution to be developed for visually impaired children will encourage more active play and physical activity to enhance their physical, emotional, and social development and well-being. Keywords: Physical activity, visual impairment, children, confidence