True Inspiration in Adaptive Sport

This is a personal observation on being an "inspiration".

Sport and recreation is some thing that everyone regardless of ability level should get involved in.  I make this bold statement because its true.  There are multiply benefits such as for your health, for fun, it's social, do it for someone you love, it is a great way to spend an afternoon, etc...  Being involved in adaptive sport and rec for several years I have been the fly on the wall to many conversations between persons with disabilities and the general public.  To sum up several of these conversations:

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "I saw you flying down the trail, is that hard?"

Guy in a mono ski: "It takes a lot of practice, but it is a ton of fun"

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "What do you call one of those?"

Guy in a mono ski: "It's called a mono ski"

Spectator at the bottom of the hill: "I have not skied in about 10 years, I have sore knees. What your doing is incredible.  Your an inspiration."

Guy in a mono ski: "Thanks?"

An inspiration you say?  The dictionary does say that an inspiration is something or someone who inspires.  Does the guy in the mono ski really feel that he is an inspiration?  Will the Spectator who has sore knees be inspired to get back on the slopes?  Maybe yes maybe no in both instances. I do know some people with disabilities who cringe when anybody uses the word inspiration to describe them.  To them they are just out doing what they do.  The fact that a mono ski enables an individual with a disability to literally fly down the ski slope is pretty impressive to an innocent by standard. One would hope that inspiration comes in the form of changed perceptions about individual ability.

Now the real inspiration happens when these same ripping mono skiers have that effect on an individual who is in there similar situation.  Maybe someone who is new to using a wheelchair or a parent who might have thought that their kid was never going to be "normal".  When this happens now that is inspiring.  Getting it to click in someones head that you don't have to walk or see or have both legs to ski, swim or play basketball is an amazing feeling.  Watching people come off the sidelines and get into the game is the goal.  This style of inspiration is what it is all about.  

Now if we could only convince the guy with sore knees that with a few adaptations he too could be getting after it on the ski slope... 

Knowledge is Empowerment.

-RAM

Extreme Adaptive Sport: Video Blog

This blog post is about getting extreme with adaptive sport and recreation. For instance this is what happens when your average person decides to strap a parachute on their back and jump off a perfectly good bridge.  I call this the "Red Bull Effect". Take a great past time like skiing add Red Bull and people might start doing backflips.  Now I am not saying that Red Bull is the answer.  What it does take is a lot of practice, training and guts to do what these individuals are doing.  I thought that it might be fun to shed some light on those individuals in the Adaptive Sport and Recreation community who are raising the bar.

The is a video of a paraplegic base jumping off a bridge

Josh Dueck hucks the first ever backflip in his sit ski

Aaron Fotheringham first ever double backflip in a wheelchair

Blind Skier breaks world speed skiing record

Clay Egan, who is a Quadriplegic,  Rock Crawling

Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer

All of these activities can be done at an introductory level and are very safe and fun.  Extreme adaptive sports are not for most people but they do make for great entertainment and to see where a sport can really go.  

I hope you enjoyed these videos of trained professional athletes with disabilities pushing themselves and their sport.

Knowledge is Empowerment!

-RAM

Adaptive Resource Guides: Part 4, Sports Abilities BONUS: Interview with Founder

BONUS: Scroll down to read an interview with Sports Abilities founder John Vcelka

This is part four in a series about resource guides for United States based Adaptive Sport and Recreation events and programming.  This information should benefit a participant, a parent, a 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 4 is about Sports Abilities.

Sports Abilities:

• Founded in 2010
• Aim is to be the premiere resource calendar for adaptive events in the United States.
• Works directly with adaptive sports programs and organizations
• Searchable calendar by state on website
• Site also includes links to adaptive:
• Sports Associations
• Sports Equipment
• Sports Venues
• Disability Blogs
• A Classified Section

Sports Abilities includes motivational videos like this one 

which is a trailer for the documentary film "Recovering"

Sports Abilities created a very easy to use online community that shares information about adaptive sport and recreation around the United States.  

• Sports Abilities searchable calendar by state can be found by clicking here

Sports Abilities is doing a fantastic job connecting participants and volunteers with programs.  I had a chance to speak with the founder of this company John Vcelka over the phone and what follows is what he had to say.

John Vcelka Interview: Sports Abilities Founder and Director

RAM- What is your background?  

John Vcelka (JV)- I am originally from Illinois and moved to Colorado several years ago.  I have been involved in adaptive sports for seven year since my injury.  I really enjoy being active, networking and making connections between friends and organizations.

RAM- When did you start Sports Abilities?

JV- Sports Abilities as it is today was launched in June 2011 and the idea for this current version got its start in about 2 years ago on a trip to Chicago.  Although it can be traced back for several years as I was running a calendar and newsletter for friends in the Denver Colorado area since that time.

RAM- Where did you get the idea for Sports Abilities?  

JV- It got an organic start from a need I saw in the Denver CO area for a comprehensive calendar of Adaptive Sport and Recreation area events.  Then I went on a trip a couple of years ago to Chicago.  I ran into several road blocks when I asked a couple adaptive programs in that area if they could help me find a tennis partner.  These programs were unable to assist with my request. I then started a calendar in Chicago but said to myself why stop there.  Why not create a national wide calendar which would benefit adaptive athletes and adaptive programs alike.  The real motivation came when I told people about my idea and they said, "That's impossible"  "Good luck" "You will never be able to do that".  I love a good challenge.

RAM- What has been the feedback so far?


JV- If numbers of site visitors are any indication it has been a great response.  Since the launch of the site in June of 2011 we went from several visitors a month to thousands.  We now get hits monthly from all 50 states and some international.  Some of the best feedback is when I hear that the site benefited someone who needs it most.  Stories of individuals with disabilities getting off the couch and getting active are fuel for me to keep going.

RAM- What have been your successes with the calendar?


JV- As I stated the motivational stories are the number one success.  But I would also say that adaptive sport programs are really starting to get on board and post events through their google calendar.  Programs are now using the calendar to plan their events.  When making a sports schedule or planning a major event they can get on Sports Abilities and see what else is going on in their area on a particular day.  They can then plan accordingly.  This has been one byproduct but success of the site.

RAM- On the other side what have been the challenges?


JV- In the same sense that adaptive sports programs are starting to get on board they have been reluctant to share their event calendars.  For whatever reason when there are several programs in a geographic area programs are hesitant to share this info.  I see it as a benefit to them to get the word out in every way possible.  They are starting to come around but it is still a struggle.

RAM-  What is your process for finding organizations to list?


JV- I spend a lot of time on the Internet searching and reading online newsletters.  Although there are lots of organizations with incomplete websites and event calendars. In the beginning it was a goal to get to 100 organizations.  Then once I hit that I wanted to get all 50 states covered.  We now have over 500 organizations listed.  And programs are starting to contact me to get listed.

RAM- What would you like others to know about Sports Abilities?


JV- That healthier = happier.  I know personally getting involved in sport and recreation after my injury was a turning point for me and I began to become much more productive in my life.  That is my goal for Sports Abilities not to get rich but to give back to organizations which are all in it for the same goal.  To get everyone regardless of ability active.

RAM- What does the future of Sports Abilities look like?


JV- I have a number of ideas which I am working on.  We are going to add a social networking piece to the site which will allow individuals to create profiles and network.  This should be launched soon.  I would one day like to see others get involved in maintaining their states profile page.  Updating state events, organizations and possibly reporting on events.  We are also going to be adding a nonprofit side to the company to accept donations.  These donation would go directly back to the organizations which are listed on the site.  Right now Sports Abilities is really starting to move along and I am pleased with the results.  Hopefully we can  get more individuals with disabilities active.

RAM- John thank you so much for your time with this interview.  I hope that it is helpful information for everyone interested in learning more about Sports Abilities.  All the best with your efforts.

JV-  Thanks for helping to spread the word.  


To learning more about Sports Abilities and get your event or organization listed on the site please click here.

Knowledge is Empowerment.


-RAM