Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How to help my visually impaired parent enjoy a live sports event? (self.Blind)
submitted by olehiskeyleg
Was hoping to get some suggestions or ideas on how to help my dad enjoy a baseball game as a (somewhat newly) visually impaired person. My dad has macular degeneration and absolutely loves baseball. I want to take him to a game because I know he’d love it and he hasn’t been to one in years. His vision loss has progressed to a point where he can’t drive, and some day to day tasks have become quite difficult, but he’s still fairly independent.
For those of you who have or do enjoy sporting events, is there something that either you or your family/friends have done that has been helpful to enjoy the game?
I feel like even if his sight becomes an issue, just being there and enjoying the game with us will make him really happy.
EDIT: thank you so much for the suggestions and help everyone! I know he’d love to hear the announcers anyways so that’s fantastic advice. Thank you so much!
For those of you who have or do enjoy sporting events, is there something that either you or your family/friends have done that has been helpful to enjoy the game?
I feel like even if his sight becomes an issue, just being there and enjoying the game with us will make him really happy.
EDIT: thank you so much for the suggestions and help everyone! I know he’d love to hear the announcers anyways so that’s fantastic advice. Thank you so much!
Gavin_Runeblade 6 points 1y ago
Listen on the radio at the same time. Baseball has the best announcers of any sport.
I haven't been in a while, but it was always common for people on the stadium to have radios so they could watch and listen at the same time. Therefore no one should think it's weird or out of place if he's listening on a phone app tuned to a local sport station.
And, like I said, baseball announcers are great.
I haven't been in a while, but it was always common for people on the stadium to have radios so they could watch and listen at the same time. Therefore no one should think it's weird or out of place if he's listening on a phone app tuned to a local sport station.
And, like I said, baseball announcers are great.
olehiskeyleg [OP] 2 points 1y ago
This is perfect! You’re right that the announcers are great and I know he’d love to listen and hear the commentary.
niamhweking 2 points 1y ago
I find radio apps are like 20 seconds behind the live radio, which with sport and a crowds reaction could be very annoying. If you can get a old fashioned radio/ Walkman etc i think it might be better.
DannyMTZ956 2 points 1y ago
FM AM radio is better than obtaining the audio feed from an app. You won’t have as much of a delay.
razzretina 2 points 1y ago
If radio isn’t available, describe the game to him. A friend did that for me at several different events and it was great
ravenwaffles 1 points 1y ago
Radio broadcasts of events ftw.
For baseball, grab your dad's team radio partners and go from there. Radio adds so, so much to the experience vs watching it. I'd argue the guys and gals who cover sports are more passionate than their TV colleagues. Looking t you, 28 MLB teams and about 30 hockey teams.
Yes. Even the Rays have good radio folks. I find in most sports radio adds to the feeling that you're there. John Hindhaugh, chief voice of Radio Le Mans, explains it as on TV, you talk over what's on the screen. On radio you have more freedom to discuss whatever it is you're talking about. You don't have to put up with bad camerawork too. I got a lot of respect for Mr. Hindhaugh, he's a very knowledgeable and down to earth guy who knows his stuff about radio and whagt works/what doesn't when it comes to calling what's going on.
So in short, yeha, radioftw
For baseball, grab your dad's team radio partners and go from there. Radio adds so, so much to the experience vs watching it. I'd argue the guys and gals who cover sports are more passionate than their TV colleagues. Looking t you, 28 MLB teams and about 30 hockey teams.
Yes. Even the Rays have good radio folks. I find in most sports radio adds to the feeling that you're there. John Hindhaugh, chief voice of Radio Le Mans, explains it as on TV, you talk over what's on the screen. On radio you have more freedom to discuss whatever it is you're talking about. You don't have to put up with bad camerawork too. I got a lot of respect for Mr. Hindhaugh, he's a very knowledgeable and down to earth guy who knows his stuff about radio and whagt works/what doesn't when it comes to calling what's going on.
So in short, yeha, radioftw
B_Bussen 1 points 1y ago
I always take a portable radio so I can isten to the game while I'm there. Many people do that.
3minutekarma 1 points 1y ago
MLB app is 20 a year for every radio stream. There’s an Alexa skill and you can pull up the games via voice command on the Alexa or using voice over on an iPhone.
CosmicBunny97 1 points 1y ago
If there's any way he can get an audio stream of the game, that's a good way to experience it. I went to a football game with my parents recently and my dad has a sports streaming service on his phone, and he put the stream on his phone so I could listen in. It was slightly delayed, but still a fun experience.
thatawkwardcosplayer 1 points 1y ago
Radio! Cheap IPOD MP3s have local stations for free! (Around 30-50 bucks). Cars have them for free but idk if your dad has a car or not. Plus he can wear headphones if it’s Monday night and someone is studying or sleeping!
JessConstantino 1 points 1y ago
I think being there with his family will be fun if he can listen to it or get someone to give him a play by play that would be even better! Have fun!
gunfart 1 points 1y ago
have him listen to the game on a handheld radio while in the crowd. the announcers will have far more insight on what's going on during the game so he can enjoy hearing what's happening, on top of being present in the stadium so the atmosphere is there too.
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