Low Vision Boxing: Participatory Design of Adaptive Kickboxing Experiences with Low Vision Person
Ayaka Tsutsui, Kenta Yamamoto, Yinan Zhao, Ippei Suzuki, Kengo Tanaka, Yoichi Ochiai · 2024
Visually impaired individuals often face challenges related to physical inactivity, stemming from limited accessibility to sports activities. While assistive technologies and adaptive sports have made progress, high-intensity contact sports remain largely inaccessible. This paper presents an approach to improve the accessibility of kickboxing for visually impaired individuals. We prioritize simple, immediate solutions that maximize the use of residual vision, diverging from conventional assistive technologies that rely on auditory or tactile feedback. Employing a participatory design methodology, we involved visually impaired individuals throughout the development process of specialized kickboxing equipment. This approach enabled us to address user-specific needs and challenges directly. Our research contributes to expanding sports participation opportunities for the visually impaired and fostering a more inclusive sports environment. We detail the development process of our adaptive kickboxing equipment and discuss its effectiveness in enhancing the sports experience for visually impaired individuals.