Sports and Leisure Association for the Visually Impaired (Látássérültek Szabadidős Sportegyesülete (LÁSS)

Our organisation was founded in October 2006. The reason why we felt such an organization was needed was that before LÁSS was created there had been no association, foundation, organization or formal group in Hungary which had provided a wide range of regular and barrier-free sports for visually-impaired people. Our goals include: To further the enjoyment that can be experienced by participation in physical activities amongst a wide variety of visually-impaired people. This participation is open to all irrespective of their age, gender and physical condition. To promote leisure-time sports amongst visually-impaired people and provide them with opportunities for trying a wide range of sports. To facilitate participation in sports in which hitherto visually-impaired people had limited or no access at all. These include running, hiking, rowing, extreme sports etc. To organise different categories of spare-time activities (regular sport lessons, sports days, national and international camps) through which the efficient use of spare-time can be achieved. To provide our members with a barrier-free environment. To introduce "parasports" to the Hungarian Society and involve a large number of supporters and volunteers in our activities. To provide a relaxed and open atmosphere which promotes communication and networking. To find all possible means for promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion within leisure and spare-time sports. LÁSS is a non-governmental organisation run solely with the financial support provided by benevolent funding and sponsors. We have no paid employees; all our partners as well as the trainers are volunteers. Our achievements include: a) Providing our members on a weekly basis with: - yoga, - belly dancing, - wall climbing, - running, - Pilates, - Blind football, - Aerobic, - ice-skating (in winter), - Fitness lessons for women b) other activities: - biking, - excursions, - Visiting caves, - Sailing C) Our extreme activities: - skiing and - Windsurfing in Belgium (in cooperation with Recreas)