Adaptive Athletics

Sport, movement, and community are not extras — they are essential to well-being.

A vision loss diagnosis does not mean stepping back from an active, engaged life. At Lighthouse Guild, we are committed to expanding access to adaptive athletics experiences for people who are blind or have low vision — building a community where every participant can push their limits, find their footing, and thrive.

A Growing Initiative

Lighthouse Guild is actively developing our adaptive athletics programming — creating pathways for people who are blind or have low vision to pursue sport, movement, and community participation on their own terms. What began as a commitment to showing up for our clients beyond the clinic has grown into a visible, expanding presence in New York City’s adaptive sports community.

From tandem cycling in the Five Boro Bike Tour to goalball, rock climbing, blind baseball, blind tennis, and blind golf, our participants — youth and adults alike — are proving every day that vision loss is not a barrier to competition, adventure, or an active life. We are building the infrastructure to support and grow these experiences — and we invite our community of donors, board members, and partners to help shape what comes next.

• Holistic: Adaptive athletics connects to Lighthouse Guild’s broader continuum of care — participants have access to clinical, rehabilitative, and independent living services alongside their athletic programming.
• Inclusive: Activities welcome people at all experience levels, from first-time participants to competitive athletes.
• Community-driven: Shared experience and peer connection are central. Our teams train together, compete together, and support one another.
• Growing: We are expanding programming in direct response to the interests and energy of the people we serve — and the momentum is real.

Team Unstoppable: Five Boro Bike Tour — May 2026

This May, Team Lighthouse Guild will take to the streets of New York City for the Five Boro Bike Tour — a 40-mile ride through all five boroughs that draws tens of thousands of cyclists each year. Our riders, who are blind or have low vision, ride tandem with sighted guides, navigating the city together in one of its most iconic annual events.

For many of our riders, the Tour is a deeply personal milestone. It is a public, joyful declaration that blindness is not a limitation — and a powerful demonstration of what Lighthouse Guild makes possible when we invest in the whole person, not just their diagnosis.

Last year’s team, See No Limits, laid the foundation. Team Unstoppable carries that momentum forward.

Our Adaptive Sports & Activities

Lighthouse Guild offers a growing range of adaptive sports and athletic activities for people who are blind or have low vision — spanning youth and adult programming, team and individual sports, and beginner to competitive levels. Every activity is designed to build skill, confidence, and community.

Youth Adaptive Athletics

Our youth adaptive athletics programming gives children and teenagers who are blind or have low vision the opportunity to experience the joy, discipline, and camaraderie of sport — often for the first time. These activities are offered in connection with Lighthouse Guild’s Youth & Teen Support programs and are designed to build physical confidence alongside social and emotional development.

GOALBALL

Goalball is one of the premier Paralympic team sports designed specifically for athletes who are blind or have low vision. Players wear eyeshades to equalize competition and rely entirely on sound to track a ball embedded with bells — defending their goal while launching attacks in a fast-paced, intensely physical game. It builds communication, trust, and competitive spirit in a uniquely level playing field.

Lighthouse Guild offers goalball as a clinic activity for youth — with video footage of our players in action capturing the energy and community this sport brings out. Learn more about our goalball clinic, upcoming sessions, and how to get involved.

ROCK CLIMBING CLINIC

Our rock climbing clinics introduce young people with vision loss to one of the most physically and mentally demanding adaptive sports — one that rewards focus, problem-solving, and trust between climber and guide. Participants discover new physical capabilities and leave with a tangible sense of accomplishment.

BLIND TENNIS

Blind tennis adapts the sport using a larger, lower-bouncing ball with an auditory component, allowing players with varying degrees of vision loss to compete and play recreationally. It is fast-growing globally and a natural fit for New York City’s adaptive sports community.

BLIND GOLF

Blind golf pairs a player who is blind or has low vision with a sighted coach or guide who assists with alignment and reading the course, while the athlete executes every swing independently. It is a sport that demands precision, patience, and trust — and one with an active competitive community at every level.

All-Ages Programming

BLIND BASEBALL

Blind baseball — played with an auditory ball and a buzzing base system — has been offered at Lighthouse Guild through clinics for both youth and adults. It is one of the most immediately accessible and exhilarating adaptive sports, translating a beloved American pastime into a fully inclusive experience. Clinics welcome participants of all ages and experience levels.

As Seen on CBS New York

CBS New York journalist John Elliott recently visited Lighthouse Guild for an in-depth feature on our programs and mission. President & CEO Thomas Panek speaks directly to the role of adaptive athletics and wellness in Lighthouse Guild’s vision — and what it means to walk alongside people through every stage of their journey with vision loss.

Get Involved

Our adaptive athletics activities are open to Lighthouse Guild clients and members of the broader community who are blind or have low vision — youth and adults. Whether you want to ride, compete, climb, swing a bat, volunteer as a sighted guide, or simply learn more about what’s coming next — we’d love to hear from you.

Support Adaptive Athletics at Lighthouse Guild

Building and sustaining adaptive athletics programming takes resources — equipment, coaching, event participation fees, and the staff time to coordinate experiences that change lives. Your gift directly supports our ability to grow this initiative and ensure that every person we serve has the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.