We are proud to share that the international journal Children (MDPI) has recently published the article “Assessment of Gross Motor Skills Performance in Italian Children With and Without Visual Impairment”, authored by Giulia Chiara Castiglioni, Giulia Hirn, Marco Lippolis and Matteo Porro.
This pioneering study, the first of its kind in Italy, examined fundamental motor skills in 38 children with and without visual impairment, using the TGMD-2 (Test of Gross Motor Development). Part of the sample was recruited during one of Real Eyes Sport’s summer camps in Tirrenia, once again underlining the close connection between hands-on activities in the field and scientific research.
The findings are striking: children with visual impairment score significantly lower than their sighted peers, with an estimated developmental delay of 4–5 years in fundamental motor skills. This evidence provides important insights for teachers, coaches and educators about the urgent need to provide early, adapted and inclusive movement opportunities.
What makes us particularly proud is that the authors also highlight the Erasmus+ project “Move as you are” coordinated by Real Eyes Sport, as a useful resource for teachers, coaches, and educators. The project has developed two free, open-access tools:
– the Booklet on Best Practices, filled with examples and tips to make sport and movement accessible to children with visual impairment;
– and the MOOC Course (Massive Open Online Course), offering video lessons and practical strategies for inclusive physical education.
By combining scientific research, educational innovation, and practical tools, these resources are designed precisely to give professionals and families concrete tools to create inclusive environments for children with visual impairments where they can play, learn, and grow through movement.
We warmly encourage teachers, instructors, educators, and families to discover the “Move as you are” resources and bring them into schools, gyms, and sports facilities.
Together, we can help close the developmental gap highlighted by the study and ensure that sport truly becomes a right for all.