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 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

Adaptive Road Cycling

Many people learn to ride a bike at a very young age and participate either recreationally or competitively.  Bicycles can be found in every country of the world and in many countries bicycles are a primary means of transportation.  For individuals with disabilities adaptive road cycling is a popular activity and is a great way to be social, get the blood pumping and feel the wind through your helmet.

Click here to see a video about the history and types of Para-Cycling

Youth Handcycle

Everyone should experience the thrill of riding a bike fast on the road.  Road cycling is a great activity to stay in shape as it is a great cardio vascular work out.  It can also be just the pace for a leisurely ride through the country side.  With the number of bicycle enthusiasts growing annually it is a great social activity that individuals, couples or the whole family can enjoy.  For individuals with disabilities adaptive road cycling is a very sought after pastime with many benefits.  Specialized road cycles have been designed and adaptations have been made to bicycles to accommodate every ability level. 

For information about adaptive cycling click on the links below:

·         Union Cycliste Internationale:  International Federation over seeing Para-Cycling for individuals with physical disabilities.  Great intro VIDEO about adaptive cycling on this link.

·         USA Cycling:  US governing body for adaptive road and mountain bike racing. 

·         US Paralympics: Cycling info for individuals with physical disabilities.  Includes information about the US Paralympic Team.

·         Special Olympics Cycling:  Cycling info guide for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

There are adaptive cycling programs around the United States  which will be happy to offer anyone an introductory lesson.   Click here to visit the Disabled Sports USA cycling resource page including equipment and programs.

Adaptive bicycles come in many shapes and sizes. Styles include:

Handcycles for individuals with lower extremity impairments

Tandems Bicycles for individuals with visual impairments, assistance with balance, or cognitive disabilities

Recumbent (laying down) Bicycles: for individuals with balance issues, amputations or strokes.

Tricycles: for individuals with balance issues or cognitive disabilities.

These are just a few examples of adaptive bicycles.  Several other bike styles can be seen by clicking here to be taken to Bike-On an adaptive bicycle retailer. 

Adaptive Road Cycling is a great opportunity to be active and attain a level of fitness or competition with in one’s ability level.   It is a great tool for rehabilitation and there are numerous city bike lanes and bike paths in the United States to safely ride on.  Grab your helmet and smile and get on an adaptive road bicycle today. 

Click here to see a video of mother and daughter on an adaptive bicycle

Click here to see a video of a handcycle competition

-RAM

The Driving force behind "Adaptive Sport and Recreation" the blog

My name is Robert A. Mueller (RAM) and my story begins in the fall of 1995, my senior year of high school.  Just returning from a study abroad year in New Zealand, I had wanderlust on the brain.  I quit the varsity soccer team and the same day crashed my step mothers BMW.  Needless to say I needed some direction.

My second home that year was the Lane residence as I was great friends with the three Lane girls.  Their mother, Mary Lane, was the program coordinator at the White Mountain Adaptive Ski School (WMASS) at Loon Mountain.  Having spent numerous hours at their house Mary was well of aware of the path that I could have been heading down.  She said that I could come crash with her family at Loon if I volunteered to teach adaptive skiing with the program.  It was a no brainer as I LOVED to ski and I could figure out the adaptive instruction part.  Needless to say I blame Mary Lane for my current life's path. 

I remember the day in December 1995 that I put on my all yellow North Face one piece suit and hit the slopes for program tryouts.  I was a young hotshot and felt I could ski anything on the mountain on my 210 Salomons. I passed the test but what I was told was that I need to relearn the Wedge turn and that I had to get rid of the god awful yellow one piece (which I still have and wore the other day).  For volunteering I got a seasons pass at Loon Mountain.  This was my first season pass and this was exactly what I came for "free skiing".  I couldn't have  realized at the time the effect that that day would have on my life. 

15 years later I am currently employed as the Managing Director of New England Disabled Sports (formally the White Mountain Adaptive Snowsports School).  I have had the pleasure to be involved with adaptive sports all over the world from the United States and Europe to South America.  I became a career adaptive sport and recreation educator and everywhere that I went I volunteered to teach individuals with disabilities how to play and have fun.  It is not only my career but my passion. 

This passion is the driving force behind the creation of this blog "Adaptive Sport and Recreation".  The goal is to provide education regarding all aspects of adaptive sport and recreation.  Through education I hope to level the field of play for all abilities.

Enjoy!

-RAM