How do you coach a visual learner who is blind?
This came up last week in conversation with 2 of the England Blind Football Team. I was unable to physically demonstrate some exercises to Dan James the goalkeeper, (who is sighted) and is a clear example of someone who learns by watching.
Later that day I was working with Robin Williams (blind) who has never been able to see demos, so has to learn by auditory cues and feel.
How would I be able to coach Robin if he was a Visual learner like Dan?
This rapidly turned into some sort of Zen Koan with us racking our brains as to whether this is a learned trait, or an inherited one.
I recall this being a hot topic on our L2 S&C course back in june/july!
When I think about it, I can see an arguement for it being a learned trait; if this person develops blindness during teens/twenties, once they’ve ‘established’ what kind of ‘learner’ they are, how would coaching them compare with someone who has been blind from birth?
If blind from birth, or deaf, or poor kinaesthesis etc, how would that individual know if they are a visual learner if they’ve never been visually demonstrated to? or an audible learner if they’ve never heard an instruction?
Very interesting
Alex T
Hi Alex,
thanks for that. I am still trying to figure it out. I work with Robin who has been blind since 3 and Keryn who has been blind since 17. All very different, and lots of other things affect this. What is the point of saying “leap like a gazelle” to someone who has never seen one?