Different variables play a role in what leads an individual to becoming a coach and for Amber-Joy Boyd, it was something she wanted to do because of the lack of fulfillment she experienced in her youth. 

“I think that like me, a lot of people who have any kind of disability, not just blind or partially sighted, think that they can’t access sport because they had a bad experience with it as a kid,” shared Boyd. “From a coaching perspective, I really want people to have fun because I didn’t have fun with sport when I was young.”

That belief, in addition to her pursuit of a future where all forms of athletic abilities are visible within sport have become the building blocks of her coaching career, which came into fruition by happenstance.

In 2011, Boyd started her journey back into sport with the encouragement of a friend and leading her to serve six years on the Saskatchewan Blind Sports Association board. That opportunity led to more and she began attending coaching programs as they were offered.

From there, Boyd began coaching various sports, from dragon boat racing to goalball and above all, she became a voice for those within sport who are differently abled.

“If we start to see differently abled people as athletes…that’s important because then they start to think that if I’m blind, if I have a disability…they can think that maybe sport is for me. And that is great, because it gets more people on the playing field and that is why I think that representation is so important.”

While ensuring her athletes have a positive experience within sport, she is also working to raise awareness that everybody deserves a place in the community. Having visible diversity is part of making sport accessible, in addition to the tools that help adapt programs.

Boyd asserts that the world is becoming more accessible because of technology and the internet, two elements that allow information to be shared and retrieved instantly. Thanks to modern connection, coaches and athletes now have access to others who may have already developed solutions to roadblocks currently being faced by local groups.

According to Boyd, solutions are being thought of at a rapid pace as the world continues to become more inclusive.

“If you are a minority in any way, if you have something different about you, the world is more accepting of that difference and you could be welcomed to a team no matter what that difference is, including if you have a disability.”

Although she notes that there remains room for growth since able-bodied athletes often remain on separate teams, which Boyd believes is just where we are in human history.

But is it individuals like Boyd who are pushing the timeline to progress further.

“[As coaches] we want people to know that just because you have ‘xyz’ going on, doesn’t mean you can’t participate in sport if you want to.”