Brooke welcomes Aaron Fowler, a visually impaired rugby player and physio, for an engaging conversation about his journey in the world of VI rugby. Aaron shares his experiences with retinitis pigmentosa, discussing the challenges of growing up with sight loss and the importance of community support. The episode delves into the unique adaptations of visually impaired rugby, including the use of an audible ball and modified rules, as well as the camaraderie and inclusivity within the sport. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• VI rugby, or visually impaired rugby, is played with adaptations such as a ball that makes noise and a touch-based tackling system. The game is played seven-a-side, with two halves of 10 minutes each, and includes a classification system for players based on their level of visual impairment.

• Aaron was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of five. His journey included learning to use a white cane at 17 and later getting a guide dog, which significantly impacted his independence and mobility.

• The rugby community is described as inclusive and supportive, with Aaron emphasising the importance of camaraderie among players. He also highlighted the need for better education and awareness about disabilities in society.

• Participation in visually impaired sports often requires significant travel and personal funding, as there is limited financial support available. Teams often rely on fundraising efforts to cover travel costs for competitions.

• VI rugby is expanding internationally, with teams in several countries including England, Japan, and Ireland. Upcoming tournaments, such as the one in November, aim to showcase the sport and attract more players and spectators, with hopes of increasing participation, especially among women.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think when you have a disability, you either go one of two ways. Either you get really frustrated and bitter about things, or you just kind of have to accept that this is how the world currently is." 

"I was about 12 when my parents told me the extent to which my sight loss could develop into one day. It was a lot to process." 

"I think there's still a lot to be done to educate society about people with various disabilities." 

"This will be the first time we've had an international tournament in England, and it will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our sport." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878

HOST BIO

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!