Perkins School for the Blind

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Why is this important to me?

The 2010 Head of the Charles Regatta is breaking barriers with the inclusion of a new event the Adaptive LTA Four for the very first time in its history. The Legs/Trunk/Arms (LTA) Four is a mixed disability, mixed gender boat for people who can row with the sliding seat.

The Head of the Charles committee worked with Community Rowing to introduce the same format used in the Paralympics for rowers with physical and sensory disabilities. Including adaptive rowing in the Head of the Charles Regatta is a big milestone for adaptive rowing throughout the country, which will encourage boathouses to develop more adaptive programs.

Rowing for the blind and visually impaired is one of the only sports where we can compete on an equal playing field with sighted athletes. It is a great opportunity to participate both on able bodied teams and adaptive programs.

It is very exciting for me to help introduce people who are blind or visually impaired to this incredible sport which has had a great influence on my adjustment to vision loss. Throughout college, I developed a passion for rowing. After losing my sight at the age of 34, rowing and getting a Guide Dog helped me adapt to a new way of life.

I participated on the US National Rowing Adaptive team for six years as adaptive rowing was getting qualified to be included in the Paralympics, which it did in 2008. The US LTA Four won silver.

In 2007, I visited Perkins and spoke to their students and introduced many of them to the rowing machines. The following year Perkins and Community Rowing (CRI) began a program for their students to row on the water, which has continued. I was impressed by Perkins efforts to encourage sports to their students and it inspired me to raise funds for their sports programs.

At Perkins, adaptive physical education is key and teachers focus on what students can do rather than what they cannot do. Students are encouraged to find physical activities they enjoy and pursue well-rounded, active lifestyles.

I will compete in the 2010 Head of the Charles Regatta for the seventh year in a row on October 24, in the inaugural adaptive event, to raise funds for Perkins at the Head of the Charles.

To read Aerial’s full bio please visit Guide Dogs for the Blind. (http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_people_staffvol_bios_agilbert)

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Thank you so much.