Photo caption: Pittsburgh’s BLV tennis players Chuck Gottus, Maggi Ostrowski, Dana Aravich, Carol Lubecki, Zach Shonts, Amelie Colletti, and coach Jen Roth, pose after last year’s tournament in Vancouver, WA
The UPMC Vision Institute is a sponsor for the national Blind and Low Vision (BLV) Tennis tournament, which is being held in Pittsburgh on August 7-9 at Brady’s Run Tennis Facility in Beaver Falls.
That is right, people who are blind or have low vision can play tennis. The sport was created in 1984 by Mioshi Takei, a Japanese athlete who was blind. He designed a ball that made a sound, raised lines so players could feel, and lowered the net – among other adaptations. In 2014, the International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) was formed to regulate and oversee the sport.
Locally, there are around 15 regular BLV athletes that play and are a part of the Highland Park Tennis Club.
Dana Aravich, MS, OTR/L, CLVT, a Clinical Trials Research Occupational Therapist at the Vision Institute, is also a board member of the US Blind Tennis Association (USBTA). “As an occupational therapist, low vision therapist, and low vision athlete, I can speak to the many benefits of playing adaptive tennis,” she said. “Not only does it improve physical health and longevity, but it also creates a space to build confidence, find community, and create connection.”
The tournament is actively looking for athletes and volunteers.