Athletics
There are a growing number of opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to participate in sports and other indoor and outdoor physical activity. We've listed some of the organizations that either sponsor programs and events or provide information on how you can get involved.
The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball allows kids with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of baseball team participation. There are Challenger Divisions in some of the 57 leagues in Rhode Island. The value of the Little League Challenger Division, say its sponsors, exceeds the skills of baseball learned through the experience. It is found in the "therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of participants' self-esteem, the opportunities to be promoted into other divisions of play, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play which are hallmarks of the Little League program."
Special Olympics Rhode Island. Special Olympics Rhode Island provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 2,250 children and adults with mental retardation and/or closely related developmental disabilities.
SUPERKids Triathlon. An age-appropriate (Ages 4 - 17) kids triathlon for all abilities. June 7, 9 am. Event format will be a pool swim, a closed course bike, and an on-trail run course.This fun day builds confidence and excitement regarding the benefits of exercising and fitness while promoting self-confidence through a non-competitive sports experience. In its 2nd year, Superkids welcomes all children and tries to meet the needs of athletes with disabilities.
Therapeutic Riding
Turning Pointe.
Provides individuals of all ages who have physical, cognitive and
emotional disabilities the opportunity to experience a variety of
therapeutic equestrian activities in a safe, secure
environment.
Greenlock Center. Horseback riding for people of all ages with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities. It is a place where 130 riders, with all types of disabilities, come six days a week to sit on the Greenlock horses to strengthen their legs, to teach their body what balance is for and to learn to hold their head up by themselves.
Ponies As Partners - Therapeutic Riding, Inc. 516 Third Beach Road Middletown. A non-profit organization providing equine therapy services to individuals utilizing the Equine/Human bond to facilitate physical and mental health and wellness.
Also: Rainbows End Therapeutic Riding Center 12 Jarvis Lane, North Attleboro, MA 02769 (508) 643-9871 and Teaberry Knoll Academy of Therapeutic Riding, Inc. (NHRHA accredited) 201 Miller Street, Seekonk, MA 02771 (508) 336-6555.
Other Athletic Programs
access2adventure (a2a).
Provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities living in
Southern New England to participate in a variety of sports,
recreational activities and adventure travel.
Shake-A-Leg Sailing. Fully accessible facility at Fort Adams State Park for all ages. Sailing opportunities in custom-designed boats are open to individuals with physical and developmental disabilities (groups welcome).
AccesSportAmerica. Offers daily, weekly or summer long programs for people with disabilities through affiliations with camps, schools and hospitals. New England programs include one at Reservoir Pond, Massachusetts Hospital School, Canton Mass.
The Celtics. New England Paralyzed Veterans of America (NEPVA) sponsors this wheelchair basketball team that plays exhibition games with able-bodied people in wheelchairs, usually town officials, policemen, firemen or teachers. Players are from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Canada.
New England Handicapped Sports Association (NEHSA). Offers adaptive ski and snowboard lessons for people of all ages and all disabilities at Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire.
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports (VASS). Offers low-cost sports and recreation programs for people with disabilities. Teaching techniques and equipment are adapted to make the most of student strengths. Programs include downhill skiing, sailing, snowboarding, rock climbing, water skiing, horseback riding, canoeing, and kayaking.
Northeast Passage. A program of the University of New Hampshire and an Affiliate of Disabled Sports USA. Offers adapted sports and recreation instructional clinics, accessible vacations, adapted equipment rental, and resource referral for individuals with physical disabilities, their friends and families. Consults for schools, businesses, groups and individuals on accessibility, inclusion and adapted sports and recreation.
The Children's Physical Developmental Clinic. A unique physical, motor and recreation program that has been serving children with disabilities from Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island since January 1974. The program is designed to enhance perceptual-motor, gross motor, sport, aquatic and leisure skills as well as social development of children and youth with disabilities, ages 18 months to 18 years.
First Swing Rhode Island. Conducts golf clinics for people with disabilities and instructional clinics for therapists.
Access to Recreation. California mail order company. Offers free catalogs full of adaptive exercise and recreation equipment for fishing, hunting, golf, swimming, bowling, knitting and much more.
PALAESTRA. A quarterly publication of sport, physical education and recreation for people with disabilities. PALAESTRA's mission: to enlighten parents in all aspects of physical activity, making them the best advocates for their children during Individualized Education Plan discussions with school or community recreation staffs.
