Sport has played a big part in the life of our client Jordan both before and since he lost most of his sight. And now it has the potential to help unlock a whole new career for him – as a sports massage therapist. Our congratulations go to Jordan for gaining his therapy qualification after a comprehensive training course. His original plan had been to become a post 16 sports tutor when he qualified as a teacher several years ago.

But the deterioration in his sight – his vision became blurry when he was playing football in his student days – meant that ambition had to go on hold.

“It just came out of the blue. I went to the optician and then the eye hospital and after checks I was told I had Leber’s Optic Hereditary Neuropathy (LOHN). Within four months I had almost completely lost the left eye. I still had a bit of vision in the right but not much.”

Jordan was determined though to complete his PGSE teaching qualification and although he did that after studying for another year, he eventually decided that was not the route he wanted to take and changed direction to sports massage therapy.

“I like to help people and the work is mostly done by touch so the sight isn’t as important and it’s something I enjoy. I am not putting as much pressure on myself as I would be standing in front of a classroom,” said Jordan. And as a keen sportsman himself, he has a lot of understanding of the issues involved.

He is now seeing clients at two different venues. He is at SRSB in Mappin Street offering appointments every Friday to clients and members of the public, and also has a room in the Nuffield Gym on Napier Street off Ecclesall Road.

Jordan credits the opportunities he has had to take part in sport for helping to build his confidence to take a new career path. He’s tried VI Tennis, shooting and baseball as well as football.

He is pleased that SRSB/RSS has signposted him to new activities for younger people but wishes he had taken part when he first experienced sight loss eight years ago. “It has helped me now, but back then it would have helped me and helped my confidence, it all seemed unattainable at the time. It’s very difficult to meet people of my age with VI. In fact, I did think at one time of setting up my own group to help people under 40 to get together and meet people.”

He has a lot on his hands building his new work life and balancing that with bringing up his two-year-old daughter. However, in 2022 Jordan managed to find time to join a British Blind Sport Knowledge Exchange programme trip to Italy and says “In October, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Italy to play blind baseball as part of a GB developmental team. 

“The adaptation of the popular game of baseball gives the VI community the opportunity to play a fast and exciting game. Myself and others involved enjoyed the experience. The quality of the coaching was at a really high standard and we learnt a lot from the trip. I would recommend anyone from our VI or blind community to give it a go.” 

He hasn’t given up on his original ambition to work with young people. He’s still planning on doing youth work with visually impaired youngsters in the future.