The Eyes Free Sports Podcast - Ep. 25: Exploring Trail Orienteering for the Blind

<p>In Episode 25 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, we discuss trail orienteering for the blind. Our two guests, Russ Myer and Megan Hale, discussed: </p> <ul><li>How Myer got into helping people with disabilities -</li> <li>His involvement with World Para Nordic Skiing and International Orienteering Federation</li> <li>The Capital Region Nordic Alliance in Albany, NY and its adaptive sports programs for local residents with disabilities</li> <li>Hale’s visual impairment and current degree program she is working on at Hudson Valley Community College</li> <li>How Hale got into blind sports by attending Camp Abilities events in New York and then joining the track and field teams at her middle school, high school, and college</li> <li>Her guide dog, Hero, from Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Running Guides program</li> <li>Myer’s work with Microsoft on the development and beta testing of a more robust version of the Microsoft Soundscape mobile app to be used for trail orienteering</li> <li>The various sounds that are used to indicate a trail orienteering competitor’s whereabouts in relation to the virtual beacons within a course</li> <li>Hale’s experience with trail orienteering and the differences between using her white cane or being guided by her dog on the course</li> <li>Hale’s enjoyment of participating in adaptive sports and how rewarding it is to independently compete in sports as someone with a disability</li> <li>What Myer has seen in terms of how positively sports and recreation have impacted the lives of people with disabilities</li> </ul> <p>  Learn more about the Capital Region Nordic Alliance in New York at <a href='https://www.capitalregionnordicalliance.org'>www.capitalregionnordicalliance.org</a>. Contact Russ Myer directly to learn more about trail orienteering or to get involved by emailing him at <a href='mailto:russmyer08@gmail.com'>russmyer08@gmail.com</a>. Learn more about the Microsoft Soundscape project at <a href='https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/soundscape/'>http