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carry over into other areas of their lives. It also
demonstrates the impact and benefit of repeated
visits during one ski season for the individual.
Direct benefits to the development of social skills
were also reported. The participants all discussed
their lack of comfort in initiating conversations
with others. This ski opportunity reportedly
"forced" them to establish a relationship with their
guide. They had to develop trust before skiing, so
it was to their benefit to get to know the individual
guide. The group atmosphere of the ski experience was also beneficial in developing social
skills by encouraging peer interaction. The shy
participants were drawn out by the more assertive
ones. Friendships were established between participants in a non-stressful situation as the participants met others with the same disability. The hot
chocolate breaks in-between ski lessons was reported as a highlight for some of the younger skiers and they got to check in with the other kids in
their group. This is significant as many times individuals with visual impairments may be the only
person in their entire school or even city with this
diagnosis. Meeting someone with the same challenges in life can be very supportive and improve
one's self-perception. Parents reported that this
was, perhaps, one of the most important aspects
of this experience for their child.
Orientation and Mobility
All of the participants and their parents reported that they were competent travelers in unfamiliar environments prior to the Foresight Ski
Guide experience. They all quickly learned the
set-up of the hotel and the location of the amenities including the bathroom and pool. On the
mountain, participants relied on their guide and
followed directions in order to be successful. One
participant who did not follow her guide's directions quickly learned that it was to her benefit to
follow her guide's directions as she fell and was
not happy about it. It was reported by the partici-
