Last week, Kent launched its very first tennis session for visually impaired students and staff! This event was a fantastic step toward making sports and activities at Kent more accessible, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as we mark Disability History Month.
This initiative is a joint effort between Fran Crump from Student Support and Wellbeing and Nick Skelton from Kent Sport. Their goal? To provide a fun, inclusive sporting experience that supports the health and wellbeing of students and staff with visual impairments.
How does it work?
The session, led by Nick Skelton, the University’s Tennis Development Lead, featured clever adaptations to make the game accessible:
- Sound balls that make noise so players can track them by hearing.
- Raised court markers that players can feel for orientation.
- Smaller courts and nets for easier play.
Activities were tailored to each participant, ensuring the right level of challenge and plenty of enjoyment. Players also learned skills like recognising and reacting to the sound and speed of the ball.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and there are plans to expand these sessions to more students and staff. There may even be opportunities for sighted players to join in the fun using blindfolds!
Want to get involved?
If you’d like more details or want to give a session a try, contact:
- Fran Crump: f.crump@kent.ac.uk
- Nick Skelton: n.skelton@kent.ac.uk