Northwest Association for Blind Athletes to relocate to brighter, larger, more accessible office

To get involved with the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes and learn more about its programs, visit nwaba.org/contact.

The Northwest Association for Blind Athletes will expand to a new, brighter space this fall.

The Clark County nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals who are blind and visually impaired through sports and physical activity plans to relocate in November to 805 Broadway in downtown Vancouver, said Billy Henry, the association’s founder and president.

Since 2019, the association has been housed just next door at 703 Broadway. But after years of growth, it will occupy a larger, brighter and more accessible office to better serve its employees and members, Henry said.

“Coming to the 805 building, we saw not only the opportunity to be in this space but the opportunity to expand,” Henry said. “Our mission is focused on so much more than just sports at this point. It’s really about helping people who are blind see their potential in all areas of life. We’ve barely reached the surface of what is possible.”

Henry has been legally blind since birth. He founded the organization in 2007 at just 15 years old when he and his friends wanted to find an accessible way to participate in competitive weightlifting. Henry also wanted to support others in the community who didn’t have access to physical, fun activities due to their blindness. About 70 percent of people who are visually impaired are unemployed, and about 30 percent live in poverty, he said.

Almost 18 years later, the nonprofit offers 15 different sports, a lending library of equipment and educational videos to make activities accessible, and it also serves communities across Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

“While I didn’t have those statistics or that knowledge back 18 years ago when I was 15, what I did have is that I wanted every person who was blind or visually impaired to have the same opportunity as their peers,” Henry said.

Additionally, the office will feature a virtual programs studio, which will allow the nonprofit to host nationwide virtual programs for children and adults who are blind.

Event Manager Mckenzie Barton joined the association in 2020 and now oversees fundraisers and development that supports athletes. One of those athletes is TJ Breitenfeldt.

Breitenfeldt said he attended Washington State School for the Blind at the same time as Henry, and he was first introduced to the organization’s work at that time.

However, he got more involved with the nonprofit during his time at Clark College in 2013, where he joined a goalball team, a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment.

“That was sort of my first introduction, but it wasn’t until I went to Washington State School for the Blind that I really began to see a lot of the options I had,” Breitenfeldt said. “They’ve been really supportive with lending out equipment and other scholarships. All the activities they provide opened up lots of opportunities that I probably never would have experienced otherwise.”

Henry said the organization plans to host a grand opening of the new space sometime before the end of the year.

“I am super-excited about this new space for (Northwest Association for Blind Athletes). I know this move is going to be a new place for a lot of growth for our team,” Barton said. “It’s going to provide us with a lot more new opportunities but also invite the community in to learn more about our programs, host community events and hear athlete stories.”