Tennis adapted for the visually impaired was introduced to Canadians in 2011 by Alan Ma, a founding member of Change Through Sport, through the Blind Tennis Program in Toronto. Alan launched the program after being inspired by blind tennis programs in the United Kingdom and in Japan, where the sport originated from. He wanted to change the reality that less than 3% of Canadians with a disability and only 1% of those living with blindness or vision loss participate in sport (Active Living Alliance for Canadians with A Disability).

​

The primary goal of our program is to reduce barriers to this sport for the visually impaired community in Toronto. Since our inception, we have:

• Offered a Blind Tennis program in Toronto for 11 years and counting to 50+ participants

• Trained 60+ volunteers to support visually impaired participants in learning and playing the adapted sport of blind tennis

• Supported the development of other blind tennis programs in Montreal, Coquitlam, and New Glasgow

​

To learn more about the origins of the adapted sport of blind tennis for the visually impaired and blind, visit the History of Blind Tennis.

​

​

​

​

2023

• Youth designs and launches a special event through the Serving Up project - employment development initiative - funded by the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the Jane/Finch Community Tennis Association and Philpott Children's Tennis. 

• Indoor space from the Toronto District School Board is approved for the indoor season.

• Outdoor partnership with the Iroquois Tennis Club continues for the outdoor season.

​

2022

• Ontario Sport Network awards CTS with relief funds, which sustains the Toronto Blind Tennis program.

• Indoor space is acquired through the Toronto District School Board for the indoor season of 2022.

• Partnership with Iroquois Tennis Club continues for 2022 outdoor season.

​

2021

• Piloting NEW partnership with Iroquois Tennis Club in Scarborough, Ontario!  Commencing June 27, 2021. Contact jerome@changethroughsportcanada.com for registration and volunteering information.

• The outdoor season has been completed!  Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and Iroquois Tennis Club for hosting us this season!

​

2020

• Toronto Blind Tennis suspends programming due to COVID19 in 2020. Stay in touch with our coaches for further updates.

• Toronto Blind Tennis to test a new collaboration for 2021 season with a local tennis club in Scarborough, ON. Stay tune for more news!

• Maritimes on the verge of starting a new blind tennis program!

​

2019

• BCBSA promotes blind tennis in an event in Victoria, BC.

 

2018

• British Columbia Blind Sports Association (BCBSA) adopts blind tennis program in BC. Click here for media coverage by AMI Accessible Media.

• BCBSA promotes blind tennis in an event in Surrey

​

2017

• A British Columbia volunteer initializes a blind tennis program in Coquitlam

• Toronto Blind Tennis coach trains and shares best practices with British Columbia blind tennis coach and volunteers

​

2015

• Toronto Blind Tennis hosts the first Blind Tennis Tournament for Canadian players!

• Quebec Blind Sports Association (ASAQ) visits Toronto Blind Tennis and launches Sound Tennis in Montreal, Quebec. Click here for coverage and registration by ASAQ.

​

2012

• Toronto Blind Tennis becomes an annual program in Toronto. Click here for coverage by AMI Accessible Media.

​

2011

• The first blind tennis session is held in Canada. Local coaches and volunteers pilot a program in Toronto.  Click here for our promotional video.​

​​