34
ingness to participate in this research project. IRB
approval was granted by the first author's university and permission was granted by each participant and parent. There were no consequences if
a family declined to participate.
The participants who were visually impaired
and their parents were interviewed separately before their ski outing. The instrument used was
constructed with closed and open responses and
focused on the participant's perceptions and
knowledge of the upcoming ski experience. The
students and parents, as well as their teachers,
were also interviewed after the ski experience to
measure their immediate reaction to program participation. Each interview was audio-taped for
qualitative analysis. Daily ski reports by guides
were also examined. Descriptive data were collected on all participants. Following the data collection period, the data were analyzed and broken into themes regarding impact and outcomes.
Themes were studied and results interpreted.
Results and Discussion
The mission of the Foresight Ski Guide Program is to promote fitness, athletic skills, personal
achievement, and self-esteem for individuals who
are blind and visually impaired. Participants in the
program are assisted in skiing by well-trained and
experienced guides who work with individuals
who are visually impaired of all ages and skiing
ability levels.
Results of the interviews showed that the Foresight Ski Guide experience promoted five of the
nine skill areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum
(ECC). Themes that emerged from the data
analysis regarding the relationship of skills included: recreation and leisure, social interaction,
self-determination, orientation and mobility, and
sensory efficiency. Each of these areas is described below.
Recreation and Leisure
Participation in sports and physical activity