Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 3, Special Olympics

This is part three in a four part series about resource guides for United States based Adaptive Sport and Recreation events and programming.  This information should benefit a participant, a parent, volunteer or anyone looking for information about what is going on in adaptive sport and recreation around the US and internationally.  Showcasing four resource guides over the next four blog posts part 3 is about Special Olympics. 

Special Olympics is:

• Founded in 1968
• Motto "Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
• Open to individuals with intellectual disabilities 
• Providing year round training and competition world wide
• Offering opportunities
• to develop physical fitness
• demonstrate courage
• experience joy
• create community

Special Olympics operates in over 170 countries world wide.  There are regional opportunities to get involved and also international games and competitions held annually.

• Special Olympics offices are located in many countries.  Click here to find out if your state or country participates and go out and get active.

Special Olympics has been a leader in adaptive sport and recreation for individual with intellectual disabilities for over 40 years.  Stay tuned for part 4 of this series about Sports Abilities.

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM 

Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 2, US Paralympic Sport Club Locator

This is part two in a four part series about resource guides for United States based Adaptive Sport and Recreation events and programming.  This information should benefit a participant, a parent, volunteer or anyone looking for information about what is going on in adaptive sport and recreation around the US.  Showcasing four resource guides over the next four blog posts part 2 is about the US Paralmypic Sport Club Locator.

United States Paralympics is:

• Formed in 2001
• Is a division of the United States Olympic Committee
• Dedicated to becoming a world leader in the Paralympic sport movement
• Dedicated to promoting excellence in the lives of individuals with physical disabilities. 
• Areas of focus are
• Community Programs
• USOC Paralympic Military Program
• Elite Athlete and Team Support
• Community Education

Paralympic Sport Clubs are community based programs located around the United States and some in Europe.  

• US Paralympics "Find a Club" Website is a resource guide to programs and information about Paralympic Sport.  Click here to view this website.   

US Paralmypics is doing a fantastic job with connecting athletes with their Sport Club network and getting them involved in sport and competition.  Stay tuned for part three of this series about the Special Olympics Network.  

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM

Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 1, Disabled Sports USA

This is part 1 in a 4 part series about resource guides for United States based adaptive sport and recreation events and programming. This information should benefit a participant, parent, volunteer or anyone looking to find information about what is going in adaptive sports and recreation on around the US.  Showcasing four resource guides over the next four blogs part 1 is about Disabled Sports USA.

Disabled Sports USA is: 

• a national nonprofits, 501c3, organization 
• established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured. 
• now offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs through their chapter network to anyone with a permanent disability. 
• Warfighter Sports is DSUSA's programming specifically for active duty and veterans with disabilities
• Over 100 chapters in 37 states
• National office is in Rockville, MD

Disabled Sports USA sponsored the 2011 Copper Mountain Nor Am Race

Disabled Sports USA website offers these resource guides:  

• A database of their chapter network.  DSUSA has over 100 chapters in 37 states offering adaptive sports and recreational opportunities in over 40 different year round sports. Click here to be taken to their search able chapter listing page
• A online events calendar of events through their chapter network.  Events are added to the calendar on an ongoing basis and each DSUSA Chapter can post events which support adaptive athletes.  Click here to be taken to the DSUSA event calendar.  Click here to be taken to the Warfighter Sports Winter Event listing. 

Disabled Sports USA is doing great work providing adaptive sports and recreational opportunities through their chapter network.   Stay tuned for part 2 about the US Paralympic Sports Club Locator site.  

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM

An Ideal Program Mono Sit Ski

There are a couple schools of thought when it comes to what is an ideal sit ski (mono ski) used to teach an individual with a disability how to ski.  What follows are photos explaining things to look for to make the experience safe, fun and educational for all involved.  This includes a video at the end explaining this point.

Basically one should look for a mono ski that is easy to adjust for each individual, easy to maintain, easy to learn how to ski, affordable, safe and fun to ski.

We have chosen to use as an example the Yetti mono ski from Radventures Inc.  http://www.radventures-yetti.com  They have been producing their sit ski without many changes for years and it is being used by several adaptive sport and recreation programs.  This is only one example as there are several great program mono skis out there.

Mono skiing is a great way to get active during the winter months.  Feel free to comment on what you know makes are great program mono ski.

"Knowledge is Empowerment"

-RAM