Sports Organizations
Adapted sports organizations are listed here in alphabetical order. Many offer year-long, four season activities while others concentrate on a single sport. This is only a sampling of what's out there because new adapted sports facilities spring up all the time. Excellent programs also are offered through your local park district, YMCA, YWCA or community center. Also, try the Internet and search for "adapted sports," "handicapped sports" or "sports AND disability." The name of the game is f-u-n!
The Short List:
Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD)
A Canadian organization that promotes, supports and enables people with disabilities to lead active, healthy lives.
Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte
In summer and winter, skiing, snowboarding, white water rafting, fly-fishing and horseback riding at the Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte provides people of all abilities with terrific opportunities for fun and friendship!
Adaptive Sports USA
Resource for sport and recreation opportunities in the US. Promotes athletic development through education, coaching and competition. Recognized by the US Olylmpic Committee as a multi-sport organization and the sole US member of the International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation providing athletes with access to international competitions.
Blaze Sports America
Provides sport, recreation and physical activity opportunities for people with physical disability in sport comparable to those provided non-disabled, nationally and internationally.
Breckenridge Outdoor Recreation Center (BORC)
Following the same philosophy as Wilderness Inquiry, BORC brings together people of all abilities. For 20 years, BORC has offered outstanding wilderness trips, professional training, canoe expeditions, the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new friends and enjoy new challenges.
Canadian National Sledge Hockey Team
In Canada and Europe it's called "sledge" hockey. Sledge hockey is played mainly by people with various lower extremity disabilities, using sleds affixed to 2 hockey skate blades under the seat. (Sleds are about 3 inches off the ice and are 2-4 feet long. Players use 3-foot hockey sticks, and digging pics for pushing off.
Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association - Association canadienne de basketball en fauteuil roulant
CWBA is in the business of promoting excellence and developing opportunities for Canadians in the game of wheelchair basketball.
Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation
Outdoor adventures include ocean sailing, rock climbing, white-water rafting, snow skiing, horse-packing, water skiing, deep sea fishing, back packing, freshwater fishing, winter camping, dog sledding, sea kayaking, and family camping. This program is open to people of all abilities.
Challenge Aspen
Challenge Aspen offers year-round adventures for children and adults that cater to both groups and individuals in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. There are weeklong summer camps for the music, art and dance enthusiast and the outdoor adventurer. There are winter camps for adults and children with any physical or cognitive disability as well as daily adaptive ski and snowboard programs.
Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute (formerly Courage Center)
Physical fitness and leisure activities are a vital part of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Courage Center's Sports and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of recreation and competitive sports programs (from wheelchair tennis to Alpine skiing and everything in-between) to enhance independence, improve self confidence and encourage an active, healthy lifestyle for people with physical disabilities. Programs are designed to help participants develop life-long interests and develop to their highest potential.
Disabled Sports USA
DS/USA offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent physical disability. Activities include winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events.
The Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA)
DAAA was formed in 1985 to develop, promote and provide quality amateur level athletic opportunities for dwarf athletes in the United States. The organization is dedicated to providing athletic opportunities for people of short stature. Clinics, developmental events and formal competitions are offered at local, regional and national levels. For the National Dwarf Games, the premier annual event, athletes compete under age, gender and functional ability classifications. DAAA offers programs for children through elite athletes.
Falcons Hockey Association (GLASA Falcons Sled Hockey Team)
Sled hockey in the Great Lakes area.
Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA)
GLASA provides sports and recreation opportunities for youth and adults with physical and visual disabilities. Based in Lake Forest, IL, GLASA offers a wide range of sports and activities both indoors and out, including wheelchair and ambulatory basketball, hand-cycling, kayaking, floor hockey, ice sled hockey, tennis, aerobics, swimming and more. There is also a week long adaptive sports summer camp.
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages is a huge Web site that lists travel and adventure opportunities all over North America and the rest of the world. Resources include attractions, activities, locations, an extensive list of books, magazines and videotapes, travel gear, etc. When you browse this site, you're given the option of clicking on specific sports and activities to access even more information. You'll find numerous recreation-related links.
International Paralympic Committee Information on Boccia
Here you will find news, paralympic games results, pictures and the history of boccia.
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD)
No matter what your disability, NCPAD has thousands of resources for fitness and exercise. Search the NCPAD database of fact sheets, video clips, articles, programs, facilities, equipment, and fitness specialists. NCPAD has resources for all types of physical activity—on land or in water, indoor or outdoor, team or individual, assisted or unassisted.
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic provides adaptive winter sports instruction for US military veterans and active duty servicemen and women with disabilities. It includes alpine skiing, cross country, rock climbing, scuba diving, kayaking and snowmobiling.
National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), Winter Park Resort, CO
NSCD offers sports and recreation for the whole family, young or old, novice or advanced. It's a good place for a vacation and year-round sports instruction and activities ranging from skiing and snowboarding to bicycling, hiking, sailing, rock-climbing and camping - all geared to people with varying abilities. NSCD is a recognized leader in therapeutic recreation, with skilled ski instructors, outdoor recreation specialists and a large group of volunteers. They offer one-on-one group instruction and adaptive lessons to meet the needs of all participants from beginners to advanced. Alpine (downhill) skiing, cross-country, snowboarding and snowshoeing are available November through April. Their extensive summer program begins in April and runs through early fall. Contact them for an information packet.
National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA)
The NWBA is composed of over 200 basketball teams within 22 conferences and seven divisions. The NWBA was founded in 1948, and today consists of men's, women's, intercollegiate and youth teams throughout the US and Canada.
New England Handicapped Sports Association (NEHSA)
NEHSA offers a variety of winter sport activities for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. They offer individual alpine and snowboarding lessons age 3 and up. Cross country skiing is also offered. In the summer, kayaking and rowing are promoted.
Northeast Passage, a DS/USA local chapter
Northeast Passage holds events and trips, provides sports instruction, equipment and equipment rental, lists sports organizations, and much more.
The Putting Edge
The Putting Edge offers fun entertainment for everyone-indoor miniature golf with glow-in-the-dark golf balls. All locations in the U.S. (and many in Canada) are fully accessible and have shortened clubs, useful for children and wheelers. The Putting Edge also hosts parties and supply the pizza, soft drinks, and more.
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Has sports and recreation programs including archery, boccia, cycling, golf, junior competitive sports, military sports program, power lifting, power soccer, sailing, sled hockey (RIC Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team), softball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair road racing and wheelchair rugby.
The Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. (SABAH)
The Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. (SABAH) teaches people with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities to ice-skate. SABAH has taught Western New Yorkers in Erie and Niagara counties as well as Canadians. SABAH provides weekly ice skating lessons for those who rely on adaptive skating equipment and volunteer support. In the spring, SABAH organizes, choreographs and costumes the Annual Ice Skating spectacular featuring the accomplishments of SABAH students.
Special Olympics
Provides programs for training and competition in 32 Olympic style sports for people with intellectual disabilities.
Splore Accessible Outdoor Adventures
Based in Southern Utah—rafting, skiing, rock climbing, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Awesome!
Tim Ashwood's Adventure Therapy
Tim Ashwood has cerebral palsy and a passion for mountain climbing. Read his climbing stories and view his photos and slides show. (Note: You may find his layout a bit challenging to read.)
United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)
A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, USABA provides athletic opportunities in various sports for the blind and visually impaired including, but not limited to track and field, nordic and alpine skiing, biathlon, judo, wrestling, swimming, tandem cycling, powerlifting and goalball (a team sport for the blind and visually impaired).
U.S.A Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF)
Provides year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of sports at the state, regional, national, and international level, for developing and elite athletes who are deaf and hard of hearing. USDSF assists athletes in developing physical fitness, sportsmanship, and self-esteem.
United States Handcycling Federation (USHF)
Works with the US Olympic Committee's Paralympic Division and USA Cycling to organize and conduct para-cycling competitions at major cycling events nationwide. Competitors utilize bikes that are adapted to their ability: traditional or adapted bicycle, tandem, tricycle or handcycle.
United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA)
This sport was developed as a quadriplegic equivalent to wheelchair basketball. The USQRA was formed to help regulate and promote the sport on a national and international level. Players must have a combination of upper and lower extremity impairment to be eligible for play.
USA Hockey
Sponsors US National Sled Team Try-outs, Sled Grant program to assist new start-up sled programs and Sled Lending Program for clinics.
Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports, USA
Contributes as a resource and voice to the US Paralympic movement, supports adult-age athletes at the regional and national level and offers local competitions for youths ages 5-22.
Wilderness Inquiry
Everyone owes themselves a visit to mother nature through Wilderness Inquiry (WI) sometime, if not once a year. WI creates outdoor adventures, including dogsled, skiing, canoe, sea kayak and raft trips throughout North America, Australia, and Europe. Wilderness Inquiry is a nonprofit organization that focuses on involving people from all walks of life—older, younger, people with disabilities, veterans, accountants, city people, country folks—anyone who would like to personally experience the natural world with a group. Based in Minnesota, WI serves both novice and experienced back country travelers. It's the unique mix of people and places that make each WI trip a special experience. Trained facilitators help safely guide each group. A regular WI trip consists of a team of people, in which the combined strengths of the group make up for any individual limitations. WI believes "nothing matters as much as attitude—not experience, not physical ability, nor all the latest in outdoor gear." Visit WI's Web site for trips all over North America. WI also offers lodge-based adventures in beautiful surroundings.
Wintergreen Adaptive Sports
Wintergreen Adaptive Sports, located in Lovingston, VA is a chapter of Disabled Sports USA. They offer adaptive instruction in alpine skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and canoeing.
