Episode 4: Let’s play Goalball

This episode dives into the world of adaptive sports, and specifically looks at Goalball, a sport designed for blind and visually impaired people.

Qudsiya is an athlete herself, and in this episode interviews Karla Gilbride and Justin Chan, the co-founders of the Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA). Their conversation explores the importance of design in making athletics accessible, the power of sports to transform lives, and beating stereotypes on and off the court.

Scroll down for a video about Goalball from the Paralympic Games, information about this episode’s guests, and photos of the MWABA Goalball players.

Transcript available here.

Guests:

Karla Gilbride is a life-long thrill seeker who enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking, tandem biking, rock climbing and skydiving. She first discovered goalball through the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program(BORP) when working for Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley, CA between 2008 and 2011. She has attended several training camps sponsored by the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, including for skiing, cycling and triathlon. When not playing sports, she practices public interest law at Public Justice.

Justin Chan started his life in sports at the age of 12, when he first joined the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind’s goalball team. Since then, he has competed in various regional and national goalball and Judo tournaments. He also enjoys running--having completed many races, including a half marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. He truly enjoys all the experiences that sports have offered him, and wanted to share them with others by helping to establish MWABA.