Our Mission
The Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 474118946) of blind athletes and their sighted peers who believe that recreational and competitive sports opportunities should be open to everyone, regardless of their ability to see. We hold programs for blind and visually impaired youth and adults from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia to discover new sports or practice familiar ones in an open and welcoming environment. Our mission also includes teaching blind athletes the physical techniques and body movements that they may not have had a chance to learn through physical education classes. We also share the best way to teach athletic and kinesthetic skills to the blind and visually impaired population with educators in our area.
MWABA events are all about trying new things, meeting new friends, staying or becoming fit, and having fun! We support one another in achieving a fit and active lifestyle.
Please consider making a donation to support our community! Donate here!
Looking for other ways to support us? Sign up to volunteer, or if you’re part of another organization and want to propose a partnership, email us at mwaba.inc@gmail.com!
Read our full code of conduct here.
Members of the Board
Lori Pierce, President
Lori joined MWABA’s board in 2017. She has been president of MWABA for the last few years and co-leads MWABA’s goalball program. Lori enjoys running and other activities. She lives in Arlington with her fiancé and two dogs.
Amanda Aswell, Vice President
Amanda moved to the area and joined MWABA in 2022. She enjoys hiking, cycling and kayaking, but her real passion lies with goalball. She has helped with youth outreach events and loves to expose kids to the sport. Amanda lives in Vienna, Virginia, with her husband and daughter.
Kurt Sloop, Treasurer
Kurt is MWABA’s treasurer and co-leads our goalball program.
Kevin Andrews, Secretary
Kevin joined MWABA’s board in September 2023. He is committed to expanding MWABA’s reach and participates in tabling events to raise awareness about our organization and encourage more athletes to join. Kevin is an avid hiker and tandem cyclist who finds solace in the great outdoors. Kevin calls Cathedral Heights his home.
Shira Gordon
Shira became a tandem captain with MWABA in 2017 and became a board member in 2020. Shira helped organize MWABA’s first bike-camping trip in 2023. She enjoys leading bike rides and hikes, and training new captains and stokers. Shira lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband.
Claire Posteraro
Claire joined the MWABA board in 2022. She works as an Orientation & Mobility Specialist for DC Public Schools and is passionate about increasing opportunities and exposure for blind and visually impaired youth to adapted sports. Claire runs MWABA’s beep kickball events and enjoys helping at goalball practices and tournaments. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and very spoiled dog.
Chris George
Chris joined MWABA as a tandem bike captain in 2019 and joined the board in early 2023. Chris organizes tandem rides, maintains our website, helps maintain our tandem bike fleet and helps lead or participates in other cycling-related and outreach activities with MWABA. He lives in Northwest D.C. with his wife.
Kristin Long
Kristin Long joined MWABA on the tandem trails in 2019. Kristin is involved with MWABA’s tandem cycling program and is currently coordinating the yoga offerings. Kristin enjoys biking, ballet and flute playing.
Azka Shoaib
Azka joined MWABA’s board in early 2025.