Sports & Recreation

Wheelin’ Sportsmen Makes a Bull’s Eye

Debbie Marsh — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:34:00 GMT

Are you yearning to wake up in the wee hours of the morning and head outside with a rifle or fishing pole in your hand? The Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) organization gives people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors by hunting, fishing and shooting.

Created in 2000, the group partners with state and federal wildlife agencies, NWTF chapters and corporate sponsors to hold events across the country. They welcome the participation of people with any type of disability to most of their programs. Occasionally, Wheelin’ Sportsmen teams up with Disabled American Veterans in order to target returning vets.

Anyone can become a member of Wheelin’ Sportsmen, but membership is not necessary to participate fully in their events. The organization is dedicated to the promotion of confidence and self-esteem. Making friends and getting outside are encouraged in all of their activities.

Members receive Wheelin’ Sportsmen magazine at no extra cost. A recent issue featured articles on fishing, growing your own bait, a Turkey Call photography contest, profiles of four youth who have enjoyed the program and an alligator vendetta initiated by a man whom the reptile left paraplegic.

A sampling of Wheelin’ Sportsmen events on their website lists Ultimate Team-Up hunts where an able-bodied person is partnered with a hunter with a disability, the Does for Does program that features women with disabilities pairing for non-competitive hunting and fellowship with able-bodied women hunters, Ultimate Duos for youth hunters and Fishing Round-Ups for all ages.

For further information or to join Wheelin' Sportsmen, click here

Karting Gives Access to Any Racer

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:52:00 GMT

Motor sports are very popular around the globe. However, for many people with disabilities the possibility to join in has been somewhat limited in the past.

Fortunately, since motor sports utilize vehicles as their primary piece of sporting equipment, they are actually one of the most accessible recreation options available to people with disabilities. This is why accessible karting has begun to develop an amazing following.

Accessible Karting for People with Disabilities
Making karting and go-kart racing accessible has actually been very easy. Nearly every aspect of a go-kart can be modified to fit the physical needs and abilities of the driver.

For example, the harness system can be modified to provide extra support or to fit the shape of the driver's body. Modifications to the control system can also be made so that foot pedals are not required. Other modifications can also be made to improve the accessibility of the go-kart based on the driver's needs.

Motor Sports Racers with Disabilities Lead the Sport
Many motor sports racers began their driving careers with go-kart racing. Because of this, these athletes have played an important role in translating modification made to Formula One vehicles back to accessible karting vehicles.

For example, Alex Zamandi, who is a famous Formula One driver, lost his legs during a serious accident and had his car modified so he could still race. CRG, which was formally known as Kali Karts, worked with Zamandi to design accessible karts for people with physical disabilities. One of the biggest accomplishments of this team was the development of a hand-operated accelerator and braking control system.

Accessible Karting Vehicles
While it has been somewhat difficult to find accessible go-karts in the past, today they are sold across the country. CRG is just one company that manufactures accessible karts. If you are interested in getting started in this exciting new sport, you will need to find a make and model that fit your physical needs and driving abilities.

Keep in mind that professional go-karts, even the ones designed for people with disabilities, are fast machines that have a lot of power. Some of the top performers can pull 3Gs and attain speeds up to 70 mph.

Where to Race
Getting involved in accessible karting is easy. First you need to decide if you want to complete in an accessible race or a mainstream karting race. If you are interested in testing the waters with other people using accessible karts, you will want to look for karting events sponsored by accessibility organizations like Life Rolls On.

On the other hand, if you have developed serious karting skills and are ready for mainstream racing, you can find local go-kart racing events to enter. To find these events, contact your local go-kart team or organization or your local racetrack.

Remember to ask about vehicle requirements before entering a go-kart race to make sure your modifications, especially the weight of your vehicle, won't disqualify you.

See Eisla Sebastian's Disaboom member profile
See Eisla Sebastian's Associated Content profile

Pressure Sores: Reducing the Risks

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:24:00 GMT

For anyone with impaired mobility and sensation, a pressure sore should be considered a big red flag, marked “DANGER” when it comes to personal care.

We most likely know the horror stories of sores opening on bony parts of the body after too much pressure, of maggots being used to eat the dead flesh, and months in bed, lying in awkward positions to keep the pressure off the damaged areas.

When pressure cuts off the blood supply to an area, usually from sitting or lying in one position for too long, then the tissue can break down and lead to a sore. Basic prevention measures are to change position often, use special pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions, check vulnerable areas of the skin regularly, ensure good nutrition, and seek medical treatment if a sore develops.

If you’re not clued up, then do some online research into pressures sores, but be warned if you click on ‘images’: I was about to eat my dinner, and it put me right off!

What about sport and pressure sores?
If you’re an active wheelchair user, then the chances of a pressure sore are reduced in one sense from regularly changing position. But sitting in different forms of transport, like a hand-cycle, a sports chair, a kayak, a sit-ski etc., introduces new dimensions, unusual shapes and areas that can add pressure. I’m always surprised to find that these bits of equipment rarely come with decent pressure-relieving seating.

When using any new piece of equipment or seating, investigate it for potential pressure problems, and be generous with extra foam, gel, sheepskin—anything that you know works well in relieving pressure for your skin.

Sometimes I’ve thought that being active is an excuse to be less concerned about pressure sores. I’ve been reminded, though, that it actually means being even more vigilant, having our radar turned up high for anything which might compromise our healthy skin.

One paralysed friend spent six months in hospital after acquiring a pressure sore when a tiny pebble fell into the seat of his kayak as he manoeuvred himself in. Despite being careful, he was tired, didn’t double-check his seat, and was unluckily caught out. It meant that he missed out on big parts of a journey of a lifetime, sea kayaking the coast from Canada to Alaska.

I, too, was caught out this summer, and had to spend three weeks lying on my front, after paddling a kayak that I’d never tried before whilst on holiday. I bruised my bottom badly after a few days in the kayak, due to insufficient layering of foam and gel which I had added to the seat. Three weeks of inactivity was hard, especially being disciplined enough to stay off when there was no open wound. But when it comes to pressure sores, it’s just not worth taking risks.

Reducing the Risk . . .
Whatever you choose to sit on, it’s best to know your own skin tolerance and find suitable options that work for you. Hand-bikes and sit-skis for example, often come lined with one-half inch of closed-cell foam. I’ve never had any problems, but then I usually add something extra for longer days out, like a gel pad to give more relief from ‘shear’ movement. However, here are a few items I’ve found useful to ‘top-up’ the pressure-relieving safety of my sports kit.

Additional Information:
‘Skwoosh’ cushions provide gel seat pads, particularly for kayaking but in different thicknesses, they are useful for many everyday activities.

‘Jay’ cushions, particularly a Jay Protector Gel pad for horse riding.

For camping, ‘Thermarest’ sleeping mats from the ‘Camp and Comfort’ series – thicker than others, OR ‘Exped’ down mats – thicker than Thermarest and more insulating, but take longer to blow up.

Faster, Better, Stronger: An Elite Athlete’s Training Manual For the Rest of Us

Bob Wassom — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:58:00 GMT

This is a book that can benefit all of us, regardless of athletic ability or physical capability.

The principles espoused will make anyone healthier and feel better. Faster Better Stronger: 10 Proven Secrets to a Healthier Body in 12 Weeks is co-authored by Dr. Eric Heiden, the Olympic gold medal winning speed skater who is now an orthopedic surgeon; Dr. Massimo Testa, one of the foremost cycling trainers, physicians and exercise physiologists in the world; and Deanne Musolf, a fitness and outdoor writer.

The book is written in an engaging and easily understandable style that moves logically from scientific background to step-by-step training manual. Whether you’re training for a marathon, bicycle tour, hand-cycling adventure, Paralympic competition or just want to make the most of what you have physically, it’s an excellent and motivating tool.

I purchased the book because, as a 58-year-old spinal cord injury survivor (an incomplete C4-5 fracture that resulted in quadriplegia), I want to maximize my limited physical capabilities so I can continue to pursue my outdoor passions of cycling and cross country skiing. I have limited strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, so it made sense that I could benefit from following a scientifically designed and proven program. As a resident of Salt Lake City, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Testa and have him do a bicycle fitting for me at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital’s athletic performance lab.

What I discovered is that the book has benefits that go beyond athletic training. The chapter on nutrition is worth the price of the book alone. As the book states, “A Formula One race car cannot be separated from Formula One fuel. Likewise, the food you eat cannot be separated from your body and its performance.”

What follows is a simple way to eat right for maximum performance. It’s not complicated and it’s not expensive. Additionally, it’s presented in a way that anyone can follow—college student, working parent, or traveling road warrior. The book will tell you what to eat at what time of day to maximize your training and performance, make you feel better, and attain your proper weight.

Another important aspect the authors deal with is goal setting. Fifty percent of all people who start an organized exercise plan drop out within three months, defeated not by the exercise itself, but by their goal.

As the book states, a meaningful and realistic purpose is critical to fitness success. Realistic is key. It makes little sense for me to set a goal to ride in the Tour de France. It’s not possible, no matter how hard I work. My goal is to ride a century tour (100 miles), a goal I set after consulting with Dr. Testa. To attain that, I will set smaller interim goals along the way.

What I love about this book is that it is written for those of us who are not professional athletes—those who work for a living, have other responsibilities, and yet who want to be healthier, more fit and improve our performance. As Dr. Testa told me, “Anyone can improve.”

The book is a complete tool kit. After providing all of the background to understand the “why,” the second half of the book tells you “how.” From initial assessment to detailed training schedules, it gives you everything you need to be your own personal coach.

Anyone who wants to be stronger, healthier and feel better can benefit from this book, whether you have a disability or not. Proper nutrition, getting enough sleep, the right amount (and type) of exercise—these are beneficial practices we should all pay attention to in order to have a better quality of life. Faster Better Stronger is as foolproof as it gets.

For more information, visit www.fasterbetterstronger.com. The book is available online through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders for about $20.

Shock and Awe: Veterans with Disabilities Climb Rainier

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:55:00 GMT

Ed Salau is an inspiration. This retired Army National Guard Lieutenant attempted to climb Mount Rainer, a summit that many people have failed to climb to on two legs, with one leg and a revolutionary $30,000 titanium-hydraulic prosthetic leg.

With the "never say die" attitude military personnel are known for, Salau gave his climb everything he had, and even though he missed the summit, his determination to achieve new athletic milestones with a prosthetic leg has inspired thousands of people with disabilities, including many veterans with disabilities, to challenge themselves.

Adaptive Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbing is a sport that requires endurance, mental stamina, lung strength, balance and physical strength. Yet this challenging list of the sport's requirements has not stopped many people with both physical and mental disabilities from climbing their way to the top of the world.

There are dozens of examples of people with disabilities, ranging from Down's Syndrome to missing limbs, attempting some of the most challenging climbs in the world. They achieve their goals, not to prove that it can be done by a person with a disability, because they want the bragging rights that go along with reaching one of these notorious peaks.

Finding the Right Accessibility Tools for Climbing with a Disability
Climbing with a disability makes the climb a bit more challenging. In order to supplement physical limitations, the climber needs to make sure they select the right prosthetics, harnesses and climbing accessories. It is also a good idea to train with, and climb with, a guide that has the experience needed to assist you with verbal cues, encouragement or physical assistance.

Mental preparation is also important when preparing to climb a mountain, regardless of your physical capabilities. The mental preparation process involves visualization exercises, concentration exercises and problem solving exercises. It is also a good idea to run through what-if scenarios to ensure you are prepared to handle physical and medical problems that may arise on the trail to your summit.

SPLORE - Climbing with a Disability Program
If you have never climbed before and you have a disability, or if you haven't climbed since you incurred a disability, then SPLORE is a great program to look into. This Utah based nonprofit offers a variety of climbing adventures that are guided. This program works with kids and adults. Their adventures include half-day and full-day activities, training on an indoor climbing wall and full-on sheer cliff climbing challenges.

Deciding to Climb
Mountain climbing is an extreme sport and not for everyone. However, you would be surprised at how accessible climbing and hiking can actually be. Many of the National Parks and State Parks in the United States have revamped their trail systems to make them wheelchair accessible. This means that even when you are wheelchair-bound you can explore the high grounds of this country.

If you are interested in climbing a mountain and you don't know where to start, start small and gradually gain elevation and difficulty. The gradual approach will allow you to develop the skills, strength and confidence needed for the more difficult climbs that are in your future.

See Eisla Sebastian's Disaboom member profile
See Eisla Sebastian's Associated Content profile

Wilderness Inquiry Makes the Outdoors Accessible to Kids and Adults with Disabilities

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:40:00 GMT

Wilderness Inquiry is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making outdoor activities and adventures accessible. Its programs offer training to people interested in working with kids and adults with disabilities in an adventure sport setting. Their programs are also designed to improve the rate of inclusion for outdoor sports. With more than 200 trips a year, this organization is reaching thousands of people, organizations and families.

Programs Offered by Wilderness Inquiry (WI)
Wilderness Inquiry - Wilderness Inquiry has six main programs that it runs throughout the year. The first is for the 13 to 18 age group. It is called the Adventure Leadership Program and trains young adults for leading Wilderness Inquiry trips.

Scout Program - The second program is the Scout Program. The Scout Program works with both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts to make their programs more accessible to kids with disabilities. Accessible outdoor adventures make it possible for more kids to enjoy the benefits of these youth organizations.

Youth Program - The third program is the Youth Program, which is an inclusion program geared at helping kids with disabilities develop the skills needed to be safe when participating in outdoor activities. These Wilderness Inquiry programs are aimed at making the outdoors less scary for these special kids.

Family Programs - Family programs are also offered by WI. These programs work with families of all shapes, sizes and abilities. Some families have parents with disabilities, while others include children with disabilities. The goal of this program is to get the families to work together to overcome challenges presented by the outdoor adventure.

Gateway to Adventure - Gateway to Adventure is the fifth program offered by WI. This program is geared towards people with cognitive disabilities. The goal of this program is to make outdoor adventures safe and fun. Some of the skills that are taught during this program include fire safety, the proper use of safety equipment and proper behavior for outdoor sports.

Inclusion Training - The final program offered by WI is Inclusion Training. This program is designed for companies that are interested in making their organizations more inclusive and accessible. This program can be delivered onsite or offsite and is a valuable team building tool.

How to Get Involved
If you are interested in getting involved with Wilderness Inquiry, you have several options. Your first option is to volunteer. Kids and adults can both volunteer their services to help with WI trips, as well as administrative jobs.

Your second option is to apply for a job with Wilderness Inquiry. Jobs range from instructors to administrative staff. You can also apply for an internship. Internships can help you earn college credit and gain practical work experience, while helping people overcome their challenges so that they can enjoy the splendors of nature.

Finally, you can make a financial donation to Wilderness Inquiry. Your donation is tax-deductible and will go towards the costs associated with running the accessible outdoor programs offered by Wilderness Inquiry.

See Eisla Sebastian's Disaboom member profile
See Eisla Sebastian's Associated Content profile

Extracurricular Sports for Students with Disabilities

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:26:00 GMT

Different types of extracurricular sports options can help make it possible for people with disabilities to participate in a variety of sporting activities. Electronic, segregated, unified, parallel and regular sports all are options for persons with disabilities. There are some major and minor differences between these five methods of extracurricular sports activities available to students with disabilities.

Electronic Sports
Electronic sports are those extracurricular activities in which the results are computed electronically. These types of sports are useful to those with disabilities, as they can make game play more accessible, depending on the individual's disability. This can also prevent any unfair scoring from taking place.

An example of an electronic extracurricular sport is bowling. In bowling, a computer keeps track of the turns and scores of players. It is all displayed on a monitor near the bowling lane. Other electronic sports for extracurricular activity include the shot put, the high jump, track and field and power lifting.

Parallel Sports
In parallel sports, those with disabilities run their sports activities during a certain meet or event after or at the same time as those without disabilities.

For instance, if the event in the competition or track meet is a long jump, those without disabilities would complete their event together. Then, immediately following would be the same event for individuals with disabilities. At times, the two groups may participate together in the same event.

Paralympics is one example where parallel sports are effectively used for students with disabilities. Special Olympics is another organization that employs parallel, extracurricular sporting methods.

Segregated Sports
When students with disabilities play on segregated sports teams, they play and compete only with each other. They do not compete in extracurricular activities with individuals who do not have disabilities. This is common in special programs created for individuals with disabilities. Many public and private schools offer these options to students with disabilities. The disabilities can be either mental or physical.

Unified Sports
Unified sports are those in which students with disabilities participate in the extracurricular sports activities with others who do not have disabilities. An example of unified sports would be a team for students with disabilities accepting those without disabilities to play on their team for reasons of either filling team number requirements or just to be inclusive of everyone. The same could occur in reverse where a "regular" sports team allows students with disabilities to participate.

Regular Sports
This, of course, is when students with disabilities play on "regular" sports teams. Similar to unified sports, everyone plays together. However, the difference is that with regular sports, there may or may not be mention of a student's disability. Accessibility issues are addressed when or if they arise.

For instance, someone who has a prosthetic arm or leg could play along with students who do not have any physical disabilities. This type of interspersion is often done to foster the notion that everyone is equal and should play and compete on teams together.

Source:
A Framework for Interscholastic Sports for Youngsters with Disabilities

See Momie Tullottes' Disaboom member profile
See Momie Tullottes' Associated Content profile

National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic: Registration Now Open

Jenny Tankersley Ballou, Veterans Administration — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Time to wax those skis!

Registration for participation in the 23rd National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is now open until November 30, 2008 for the more than 450 disabled veterans, who are expected to register to ski the Rocky Mountains at the 23rd National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, March 29 –April 3, 2009. Among those are nearly 120 recently injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF).

Clinic Draws Disabled Vet Skiers from Across the Country
The Clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to U.S. military veterans with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological problems and other disabilities who receive care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility or military treatment facility.
Last year, more than 100 active duty military personnel and veterans from OIF/OEF attended. An estimated 200 certified ski instructors for the disabled as well as several current and former members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team serve as ski instructors to meet the unique needs of the participants.

Adaptive Sports: From Skiing to Scuba, Plus Snowmobiling and Sled Hockey
Co-sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Clinic is a world leader in promoting rehabilitation by instructing veterans with disabilities in adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, and introducing them to a number of other adaptive recreational activities and sports. For many newly injured veterans, the Clinic offers them their first experiences in winter sports and gives them the inspiration for continued self development.

At the six-day event, veterans will also learn rock climbing, scuba diving, snowmobiling, curling and sled hockey. All activities are designed to help participants develop winter sports skills and take part in a variety of other adaptive sports and workshops, which demonstrate that having a physical or visual disability need not be an obstacle to an active, rewarding life.

Includes Beginners and Elite-Level Skiers
This year, the Clinic will again offer an innovative race training and development program designed for elite-level skiers. The program has been made possible through an agreement with the United States Olympic Committee and is used to identify potential Paralympics athletes, the Olympic equivalent for world class athletes with disabilities. A number of these elite athletes began their winter sports endeavors through skills they learned at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.

Known for inspiring "Miracles on a Mountainside," the Clinic shows that the lives of disabled veterans can be changed forever when they discover the challenges they can overcome.

To obtain a registration package, contact Teresa Parks, Administrative Coordinator of the Clinic, at (970) 263-5040. For further information, check out the Winter Sports Clinic website, currently being updated with 2009 information.

Photos courtesy of Ian Garner and Jessica Tidswell of the US Ski Team.

The View from the Top: Steve Muse Reflects on Climbing Before and After a Spinal Cord Injury

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:21:00 GMT

It’s the summer of 1994 and Steve Muse, a 36-year-old big wall climber from Southern California, is enjoying the view on the top of El Capitan. Standing above the notoriously steep but straightforward 16 pitches of the Zodiac route, he is finally on flat ground. The view from the top is unimaginably spectacular.

It Happened in an Instant
Fast forward a decade to April 2004. The view isn’t as clear and bright for Muse. Lying flat on his back in a trauma center, Muse is now a quadriplegic. After falling asleep at the wheel during a commute between San Diego and Thousand Oaks, California, Muse collided with a freeway bridge abutment traveling 65 mph. He broke his neck. In his mind, the vertical world he once loved, and the view from the top, is gone forever.

“I was depressed and thought that part of my life was over,” Muse explains. In a journal entry about his injury, he adds, “Climbing and mountain biking was such a part of my life prior to my accident that it defined who I was. The places I visited and the friends I shared those experiences with will always be in my memory. I took for granted my physical ability. Never again will I be able to visit the wild places where I once played. Being paralyzed is a permanent thing. You can’t run from it, you can’t hide from it, it simply is…”

On the Road to Recovery
Muse says thoughts of depression turned to suicide and, were it not for the love of family and friends, as well as the guidance of a dedicated network of caregivers, he admits he might not be here today.

Then things began to change. “I was recovering at Sharp Rehab and my buddy, Tommy Thompson, told me that whenever I was ready to share a rope again, he would be waiting and ready to go. I was getting stronger and those words made me begin to think about what might be possible in my life. My mind went back to El Cap,” he exclaims.

In the summer of 2007, Muse was active and feeling confident again.

“I drove up to Squaw Valley with Tommy to visit with (adaptive big wall climbing pioneer) Mark Wellman, who was working a tilt-up climbing wall for a gimp sports expo called No Barriers,” Muse explains. “I got spanked hard trying to climb that damn 20’ wall only making it half way before my arms flamed out. Lowering off with my tail between my legs, I realized how far I had to go before capturing such a high goal. Sometimes a man's reach is further than his grasp and I was humbled again.”

Pondering Life Before and After the Accident
Humbled again and in his late 40s, Muse recalls he was torn between two lives - one before his accident and one after it. The life before the accident was a memory and the life after the accident is the one that is suddenly becoming extraordinary and quite unbelievable. He admits the life he once thought was “limited” now includes the goal of climbing El Cap again. Despite his Squaw Valley set back, he plans to follow the Zodiac route up to the top once again.

Setting a Goal
He recalls in his journal, “On my 50th birthday, Jan. 17, 2008, I decided to do an ‘El Cap Day’ to see how long it would take me to do 30 laps up and down the 20’ rope. “Four hours later I completed the 600’ without stopping, except to shake out my arms and hands. I continued to weight train four days a week doing 216 lat pull downs in the morning before work, increasing the weight as the reps got easier. Also, kayaking almost every Tuesday night (for about 5-7 miles) and sometimes on Thursdays with Jen’s group at Aqua Adventures. I would ride my hand-cycle on weekends for 20-30 miles.”

Back on the Rock
After a year of training, Muse is in Yosemite.

“It was wonderful being in the Valley again, sleeping on the ground for two weeks, smelling the trees and being with your friends. I left my wheelchair behind for eight days and spent six days on the wall. Things up there just looked so much more beautiful. The falcons soared and the swifts just buzzed around. The whole thing was surreal and I just tried to take it all in,” he says.

Muse will tell you it’s not so much the challenge but the experience that matters now. He has been a climber for more than 20 years and managed to do 16 big walls before his injury. El Cap in 2008 was number 17.

“It was the most memorable and the best climb I have ever done,” he concludes. “Not because it was exceptionally difficult, but because it brought me back to a place I never thought I could go and to be with the people I love.”

When you are Steve Muse, that “place” is the top. And the view from the top – no matter where that might be - is best enjoyed when it is shared with others.

Photos courtesy of Steve Muse

BBC America Releases Documentary Focusing on Fastest Man with No Legs

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:17:00 GMT

Since he was a mere 11 months old, Oscar Pistorious has worn prosthetic legs. Born without bones in either of his lower legs, his parents consulted over a dozen surgeons before making the difficult decision to amputate just below both knees. But growing up without portions of his own legs didn’t stop Pistorious from pursuing sports with a passion. In fact, at 17, he won the Sprint Gold Medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

“I don’t see myself as disabled,” Pistorious, who once also played rugby and water polo, told The New York Times. “There’s nothing I can’t do that able-bodied athletes can do.”

The Fastest Man on No Legs Documentary
These are only a few of the reasons why, at only 21 years old, Pistorious makes for interesting cinema and why BBC America has released a documentary, The Fastest Man on No Legs, which will focus on the athlete people refer to as “Blade Runner.” The nickname is a reference to the state-of-the-art, carbon fiber j-shaped blades known as Cheetahs that Pistorious runs with.

The film is part of a series designed to “take an in-depth, honest, and often surprising look at some of the body image issues that people are struggling to overcome in their search for happiness,” according to BBC America’s Web site. "The Fastest Man on No Legs charts the courageous plight of the double amputee from South Africa, as he chases his dream to compete in the 2008 Olympics in China.”

The film will focus specifically on what Pistorious has gone through as he challenges a 2007 decision by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) that banned the use of technical aids in sprinting.

Hitting a Roadblock with the I.A.A.F.
“With all due respect, we cannot accept something that provides advantages,” said Elio Locatelli of Italy, the director of development for the I.A.A.F., urging Pistorius to concentrate on the Paralympics that followed the Olympics in Beijing. “It affects the purity of sport. Next will be another device where people can fly with something on their back.”

Viewers will get a first-hand understanding of the grueling tests and heartbreaking news that dashed one part of Oscar’s lofty ambitions. And many will be left with questions about the I.A.A.F.’s motives for the decision. Was it really the issue of an unfair advantage that was the genesis of the decision?

Or, as some Pistorious fans claim, was it the image that the Olympics puts forth that was really at stake? Was the I.A.A.F. afraid of being faced with questions about what exactly it means when a person with physical disabilities races against someone without them and is triumphant?

By the time any of these questions are answered, if they ever are, Pistorius’ lithe, muscle-laden silhouette may have already achieved status as one of the most iconic images in sports history to date. And the lines between able bodied and disabled will surely have been blurred a little further because of him.

“These have always been my legs,” Pistorious pointed out in a New York Times interview. “I train harder than other guys, eat better, sleep better and wake up thinking about athletics. I think that’s probably why I’m a bit of an exception.”

Joel Berman and Adaptive Adventures Are Bringing Outdoor Recreation to You

Mike Savicki — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:56:00 GMT

Ask Joel Berman what the most valuable component of Adaptive Adventures is to the public and he describes the trailer full of adaptive sports equipment and gear that travels the country to camps and clinics nearly every month of the year.

Press him a bit harder and he says that his people—the expert team of staff and volunteers who keep Adaptive Adventures moving forward—are also vital to the equation. He’s a proven disabled sports leader, but Joel Berman’s formula for success is a bit different than most. He brings outdoor recreation to the community: trailer, people, and all.

“By design, we aren’t a site-based organization,” explains Berman, co-founder and executive director. “Since we’re mobile, we can collaborate and partner with almost anyone. That gives us the flexibility and the opportunity to be something different in the disabled sports marketplace. We work in any number of locations.”

By bringing “programs to people” as opposed to “people to programs,” Adaptive Adventures is a four-season organization that offers individual, outdoor sports to communities all across the country.

In 1999, Joel Berman co-founded Adaptive Adventures with fellow disabled skier, Matt Feeney, to identify, promote, and provide progressive sports and recreation opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities of all ages and skill levels. The organization focuses primarily on promoting inclusive recreational sports like cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and water and snow skiing from offices in Evergreen, Colorado, and Wilmette, Illinois.

“We believe it’s about giving people more choices,” says Berman. “By being mobile, we can serve people in a variety of locations and enhance the organizations that are operating in fixed locations, too.” He explains that if a parks and recreation district or rehab hospital calls Adaptive Adventures to inquire about an event (like a water ski clinic or kayaking camp), he has the flexibility and the resources to design a program that uniquely fits their needs and conduct it right in their back yards.

“If we were a site-based organization, the best we would be able to do in those cases is share our existing schedule and invite them to come and join us from wherever they are,” Berman says. “Cost, distance, and resources would limit success.”

He adds, “Since park districts, ski areas, and even rehab hospitals don’t want to purchase all the equipment because of factors like storage and liability, we bring it to them and provide the staff and volunteers to make the events happen. The point is that it’s easy for us to facilitate a group because of our structure.”

This coming winter, for example, Adaptive Adventures will be at eight different mountains in Colorado alone, where their trained staff and adaptive sports equipment, such as mono-skis and adaptive snowboards, will afford hundreds of physically challenged athletes the opportunity to get out on the slopes.

Inclusion, Integration and Opportunity
At Adaptive Adventures, integration is not just about people; it’s about sports, too. Joel Berman explains, “While I have total respect for team sports, I believe that one of the inherent problems is that all too often you do it with others while friends and family just sit and watch. If you look at sports like skiing, cycling, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking, you can very easily do them with family, friends, and peers in the mainstream. Participation is about integration and inclusion.”

Leading a disabled sports organization is no different than being a Wall Street or Chicago financier, adds Berman. “Coming from Wall Street and the financial market in Chicago, I’ve learned that business is business,” he offers. “Whether you are looking at derivatives or leading a clinic of novice skiers through fresh powder, it’s still about things like staffing, programming, and developing your product. Starting a disabled sports organization is really no different than starting a restaurant or a leasing company, both of which I did when I was in my 20s. The only difference is that with a charity, happiness isn’t tied to getting rich.”

About Adaptive Adventures and Joel Berman
Adaptive Adventures is a mobile, non-resort based organization that brings programs to people as opposed to bringing people to programs. They offer a full menu of winter and summer programs that are open to people with a host of different disabilities, and they cater to novice, advanced, and expert athletes alike. Their programs, expert staff, and volunteers—many of whom are also physically challenged—serve as valuable resources to therapists, rehabilitation hospitals, parks and recreation departments, and peer organizations across the country.

Co-founder and executive director Joel Berman lost his left leg above the knee in a railroad accident in 1981. After three years of rehabilitation, he re-entered the workforce and specialized in derivatives products, arbitrage, and corporate money management for a decade. After relocating to Colorado in 1994, he became more involved with disabled sports and volunteered as a disabled ski and sailing instructor. Joel Berman and his family moved back to Chicago in 2003 to open the Midwestern office of Adaptive Adventures.

For complete information on Adaptive Adventures and a full schedule of programs and activities, please visit www.adaptiveadventures.org.

Photos courtesy of Adaptive Adventures

Read More
For more information on adaptive sports, see:

Tailgaters with Disabilities Tally Own ‘Touchdowns’

Herb Drill — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:29:00 GMT

Whether it’s Lincoln Financial Field or Mile High Stadium, tailgating is super for people with disabilities (PWD).

Enjoyment in the parking lots ties points scored inside. Tailgating has lifted equipment/supplies sales through the uprights into a niche market.

Tailgating PWD can check Dining with Dignity and OXO Good Grips® utensils, Williams Sonoma, and rehab specialists’ catalogs.

All Things Considered
Joseph and Michelle Wright join marketing executive Edward Shapson and a guest before Philadelphia Eagles games. A Vietnam vet, Joe had a leg amputated after cancer developed. That hasn't tackled this fan; he's in the stadium supporting his Birds.

The third couple is designated chefs Greg and Diane Locke. Shapson says Locke knew “my guest for the home opener would be my daughter, Stephanie, who’s about to birth my grandson, Harrison.”

Greg wanted a ‘healthy’ menu: grilled turkey breast, salad, and rolls/butter.” Shapson brought veggies/onion dip. The Wrights fielded dessert. For a Sunday or Monday night game, Locke makes steak. For a 1 p.m. kickoff, he'll serve a morning appetizer and lunch and hit the parking lot around 7:30 a.m. to position parking spots for Shapson and the Wrights, set the tent, and position his grill.

In the Game
If it's a 4:15 p.m. start, Shapson teases, the Lockes “arrive later ... 8 a.m. We get brunch, lunch, or dinner, with a football game as added points.”

Longtime Eagles fans, initially the Wrights cheered simply: “no food, in the car reading the paper until the game.” They always had four tickets, sold two. Seven years ago, Diane and Greg became game mates.

“That's when the food started,” Michelle recalls. “Greg planned menus and voilá: tailgating. Each year we've made it more enjoyable—better grill, portable heater, picnic tables, and a porta-potty.”

The Wrights signal “anything Italian is good, but our chef (Irish) usually serves chicken, turkey, hamburgers, hot dogs, and filets. Everyone who joins our tailgating is nudged to bring food or munchies.”

No special accessibility equipment is used “other than Joe’s crutches when not wearing his leg.”

No ‘Stick Shift’?
Michelle’s “passion” for the Corvette they drive to the game traces to “the TV series Route 66. I made it my goal to buy a new Corvette. It took 40 years” to buy a brand new 2004 Corvette. “People ask Joe why he would buy a Corvette with an automatic transmission. Joe finds it a “huge compliment that they don't think of him as handicapped.”

Michelle, with a music education degree, found schools “not paying teachers much money.” She became an insurance company temp and she’s a lead compliance consultant for an insurance services firm and works from home – “it’s a very nice perk on cold, dreary, snowy days.”

Joe, with degrees in engineering and management, is a regional quality manager for a major digital security company. With the GI Bill, he received a master’s degree from the Wharton School.

Michelle adds that President Clinton declared Joe's type of cancer was “linked to Agent Orange, and the VA is involved in Joe's care, along with Fox Chase Cancer Center.” VA supplied the current leg with a computer chip. “You should see the looks at the airport as they ‘pat’ him down!”

In his wheelchair in Jacksonville, FL, Herb Drill heads Able Me & Associates. His e-mail address is herbdrill@ableme.com. He has Muscular Dystrophy.

Book Review: Running Through Roadblocks – Inspirational Stories of Twenty Courageous Athletic Warriors

Debbie Marsh — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:13:00 GMT

This book is Running Through Roadblocks – Inspirational Stories of Twenty Courageous Athletic Warriors a great gift item for children and teens living with a disability. Author Jerry Del Priore tells the stories of 20 sports heroes who have dealt with circumstances ranging from Tourette syndrome to double amputations.

Del Priore’s writing is adequate to the task as he profiles each athlete in three to five pages. Every story ends on an upbeat note. Youth and adults alike will be positively influenced by the multitude of roadblocks these tough competitors have worked through.

However, some readers may wish there was a little more detail in the descriptions of adversity. I wanted to know if Mary Bryant threw up during chemotherapy, a time when this amazing woman completed her fourth marathon.

What did Paul Martin’s father do to make his son prefer a foster home to living with his dad, and how does the younger Martin feel about those years now? Glossing over reality can be a disservice to certain readers.

And if you like to see pictures coincide with a story, you may be disappointed. Most of the featured people appear on a two-page spread in the middle of the book. Seven have no photo at all.

Overall, this is a solid paperback for any age group if what you’re looking for is a quick read to inspire or reinforce some positive willpower. And there is nothing objectionable in any of the content for even the youngest reader. This book is a highly recommended read for someone, particularly a youth, who needs some encouragement.

Running Through Roadblocks. Jerry Del Priore, Fletching Books, 2008. 95p. ISBN 978-1-934452-03-5

Wheelchair Soccer Powers Up! Soccer for Kids and Adults with Disabilities

Laurie Meier — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:01:00 GMT

The rapidly growing sport of wheelchair soccer, also known as power soccer, is a great way for you or your kids to get involved in sports. And one of the best ways to participate in wheelchair soccer is through the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA).

Played from a wheelchair, power soccer is similar to field soccer, but is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four power-chair users attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in an attempt to score goals. As the USPSA points out, “Power Soccer combines the skill of the wheelchair user with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in an extremely challenging game similar to soccer.”

How the US Power Soccer Association Works
In the USPSA system, players on the co-ed teams range from 13 to 30 and usually stay on their teams for a decade or more. Because the players’ participation is so long-lived, the teams essentially become communities, encompassing not only the team members but also their coaches, referees, families, and fans.

The USPSA is organized into two divisions, with 15 Division 1 and 26 Division 2 teams, a number they hope to expand substantially. According to Executive Vice President Karen Russo, “It is our goal to create teams in every state and grow the program across the country.”

Currently they have teams in 11 states, which means that competition among teams may sometimes involve a substantial amount of travel. In addition, they hold a number of clinics at multiple sites around the country, as well as four national training sessions. (To offset travel costs, many families hold car washes or solicit sponsorships from local businesses.)

Building on World Cup Championship
No pun intended, the USPSA is on a roll. One team managed by the USPSA in 2007, Team USA, won the first ever World Cup Championship in Tokyo, Japan. Team USA easily won all of their matches except a “white knuckle” tie with France which Team USA broke in triple overtime.

But no one is resting on his or her laurels. From its beginnings in France 30 years ago wheelchair soccer has grown internationally. Now, wheelchair soccer organizations worldwide are teaming up with their respective National Soccer Associations, hoping to play alongside them at future world cup matches.

As part of that push, the Federation Internationale de Powerchair Football Association was formed in 2005 to regulate the popular sport. The next step is to make wheelchair soccer a Paralympics’ event.

Building on the international momentum, the USPSA has recently been accepted into the United States Soccer Association. In addition, the USPSA is recruiting referees and hoping to fill administrative openings in the organization, most notably Director of Development. The field is wide open now for people who want to become a part of the wheelchair soccer organization.

Finding or Starting a Wheelchair Soccer Team in Your Area
Think wheelchair soccer might be the right sport for you or your child? Find out whether there’s a team in your area – or, if not, how to start one – by visiting the Power Soccer Association’s website and go to the “Upcoming Clinics” tab at the top of the page.

If no clinics are scheduled for your region in the coming months, USPSA suggests you contact Eastern Regional Director Jerry Frick at east-director@powersoccerusa.net or Western Regional Director Jonathan Newman at west-director@powersoccerusa.net. Or if you prefer, you can call 1-866-928-9009 to speak directly to someone from USPSA.

Annual TEE Tournament Features Veterans with Disabilities

Laurie Meier — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:28:00 GMT

The Veterans Administration began developing a program to introduce adaptive golf to people with visual impairments. During the course of 15 years, the program has grown into a tournament - the TEE Tournament. TEE represents the VA’s three step therapeutic program for those with visual impairments; Training, Exposure and Experience.

With the help of the Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere (GIVE), an organization that raises funds for adaptive golf, and The National Amputee Golf Association which hosts local adaptive golf clinics, the Tee program grew from adaptive golf for the visually impaired to helping golfers with amputations and wheelchair-users.

The annual TEE Tournament now includes an adaptive horseshoe competition and an adaptive bowling event for veterans. TEE has grown into a model for adaptive golf programs nationwide.

Local golf courses cooperate to provide a high quality golf program and the tournament gives veterans with disabilities in and near Iowa City a chance to socialize at their open and closing reception and casino night.

For more information on adaptive golf tournaments, visit the National Amputee Golf Association or Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere (GIVE) .