Breaking Down Barriers: SportsAbility Alliance Partners with FWC, FWFF and NextEra Energy Foundation to Provide EcoRover Chairs for Mobility Impaired Hunters

SportsAbility Alliance is thrilled to share the success of the recent FWC Mobility Impaired Hunt Kickoff Event at Blackwater Wildlife Management Area on January 31st. This event marked a significant milestone in our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can experience the wonders of Florida's outdoors. We're proud to be at the forefront of this initiative, partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida (FWFF), and NextEra Energy Foundation to make wild Florida more accessible than ever. The event was attended by representatives from leadership of all of our partners who shared their thoughts on the importance of this project and the support of it.

FWC is a major partner for the project and hosted the Kickoff event with a big outdoor luncheon and gave away over two thousand dollars worth of door prizes to the Mobility impaired attendees. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of two brand-new EcoRover track chairs, made possible by the generous support of NextEra Energy Foundation, the charitable arm of Florida Power & Light. These all-terrain chairs will provide individuals with mobility impairments the opportunity to explore and hunt in areas that were previously inaccessible.  Through our ALLOUT program, we will manage and deploy these chairs at various mobility impaired hunts in Florida, ensuring they reach those who will benefit most. We are dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace outdoor adventures on their own terms, and these EcoRovers are a powerful tool in achieving that goal.

This blog post was written by SportsAbility Alliance Volunteer, Jessi Wynn.

Jessica Long: Inspiring the Next Generation of Adaptive Swimmers 

Jessica Long stands as one of the most decorated Paralympic swimmers in history, a title earned through sheer determination and relentless hard work. Her journey to success has been anything but easy, culminating in an astonishing 30-time Paralympic medalist, world champion, and record holder.

This blog post was written by Jessi Wynn, SportsAbility Alliance Volunteer.

Top Adaptive Sports to Try This Winter: Stay Active and Engaged All Season

Winter adaptive sports provide a unique and rewarding way to stay active while embracing the season's magic. From the slopes to the ice rink, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So bundle up, get involved, and discover the thrill of winter sports this season, you just might find your new favorite pastime!

This blog post was written by SportsAbility Alliance Volunteer, Jessi Wynn.

Trischa Zorn: The Most Accomplished Paralympian in History

Trischa Zorn is the most successful athlete in Paralympic history, competing in over seven Paralympic Games from 1980 to 2004 and winning 55 medals (41 of them gold). Her extraordinary achievements in the pool have set a standard in sports, especially within the Paralympic community.

This blog post was written by SportsAbility Alliance Sports Management Spring 2024 Intern, Hannah Moret.

Esther Vergeer: A Paralympic Legend

Regarding sports legends, few can match the achievements of former Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer. She dominated the sport for over a decade, winning 470 consecutive matches and seven Paralympic gold medals.

This blog post was written by ABLE United as part of their sponsorship of SportsAbility Expo 2024. 

Level up your game: How ABLE United can help you save for adaptive sports

ABLE United, Florida’s disability savings program offers tax-free savings and investment accounts for individuals with a qualifying disability and their families to save funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.

Active Leisure for Life Award Recipient Creates Accessible Playground

According to the FSPF, the “new playground, located a short distance from the park’s beachfront along the Wakulla River, includes several accessible play elements and a wide path to accommodate mobility devices. The playground’s centerpiece is a large glider styled in the fashion of the park’s iconic river tour boats.” The playground is open during regular operating hours and access is included with park admission.

This blog post is written by TMH Staff, as part of their sponsorship of SportsAbility Expo 2024

5 Limited Mobility Exercises You Can Perform at Home
Have you come to the realization that you can’t move around the way you once could? Perhaps it’s become harder to reach for things, stand up from sitting or even walk around a room. As you age, or recover from injury, this probably feels expected, but it doesn’t have to be the norm.

This blog post was written by Kasara Barto, Events and Communications Manager for SportsAbility Alliance 

North Florida Christian High School Baseball Team Triumphs in SportsAbility Alliance’s Big Kahuna Fundraiser

SportsAbility Alliance’s recent Big Kahuna Event witnessed an exhilarating display of teamwork, and competitive spirit as five teams battled it out for victory. Held at beautiful Maclay Gardens State Park, this event brought together supporters of SportsAbility Alliance for an unforgettable day of adventure.

This blog post was written by Cameron Rolston, SportsAbility Alliance Social Media Intern.

Spotlight on Florida Businesses for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I spent October learning more about Disability Employment Awareness throughout different areas of Florida. I had the chance to talk to two companies in Florida - Inspire of Central Florida and Future Pathways -  that assist people with disabilities learn job readiness skills, master important life skills, and help them get jobs.  

This article was written by Madeline Mancini, Sports Managment Intern for SportsAbility Alliance.

The History of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In 1945, congress enacted a law that declared that the first week in October was “National Employ the Physically Handicapped week.” The declaration was part of an organized effort to educate the public about issues surrounding disabilities and employment. By 1988, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. During this time, congress also expanded the week to the entire month of October and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). 

The NDEAM was established to shine a spotlight on the varied contributions of individuals with disabilities to the workforce and economy of the United States.

 

This article was written by Madeline Mancini, Sports Managment Intern for SportsAbility Alliance.

What is National Disability Awareness Month?

National Developmental Disability Awareness Month was founded on February 26, 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. He officially declared Proclamation 5613, making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for individuals to provide understanding, encouragement and opportunities to help people with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives. In March, we specifically take extra steps to raise awareness about the support and rights of people with disabilities. Since Reagan’s declaration, attitudes toward individuals with disabilities have shifted and programs have increasingly supported the independence of people with disabilities.

This blog article was written by SportsAbility Alliance Sports Management Intern, Sean Munroe.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Caitlin Murphy.  Murphy is a school psychologist for Thomas County Schools in Georgia.  The following are questions related to her role, the benefits of recreation for people with developmental disabilities, and how to interact with people with disabilities.

"The greatest thing I have learned by being a school psychologist is patience. You never know what children are going through or struggling with."

- Caitlin Murphy 

Can you describe your role as a school psychologist and the responsibilities associated with the position?
Murphy: As a school psychologist, I work with children of all ages. I assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide the school team with relevant information to inform their educational planning. I make suggestions for additional support available at school, whether that is through general education support or support through a Section 504 plan or IEP. 

SportsAbility Alliance and all our events are for people of all abilities. Athletes can choose to be as competitive, or not, as they would like, and everyone is able to participate! However, for those athletes looking for something a little more competitive, Special Olympics may be a good option to consider. Special Olympics offers many different sports and does have requirements in order to participate. Here is some more information!

“Special Olympics is important, as it empowers and provides inclusion for special needs athletes. I learned a great deal about patience and will power from Special Olympics athletes, that I may have never experienced if not for Special Olympics,” said Special Olympics Coach Gladys Liehr. 

What is the Special Olympics?

Special Olympics is an international program that provides individuals with intellectual disabilities that are eight years or older access to year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Inaugurated in 1968, the Special Olympics was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee on February 15, 1988. International headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
By the early 21st century there were chapters in nearly 200 countries. More than one million athletes participate annually in some 20,000 meets and tournaments held worldwide, culminating in the international Special Olympics World Games every two years, alternating between winter and summer sports and each lasting for nine days.

Children are introduced to physical culture from a very young age. From “Mommy & Me” infant movement classes, to youth recreational soccer leagues, to sibling rough-housing. Physical culture is key for healthy child growth. Children start to develop gross motor skills as early as four to five months old. Before kids learn to talk, they use physical gestures to communicate with others. They learn social cues and context first through body language and behavior. Children rely on bio-pedagogy teachings to understand how their body is an instrument for communication and activity. Even as children learn to communicate verbally, physical culture continues to guide how they interact with one another and the rest of society.

Sport is one method of teaching these crucial social skills. When part of a sports team, kids learn how to work together and rely on each other. Individually, they learn how to express themselves and their goals through the effort they apply to their physical activity.

Sport is one method of teaching these crucial social skills. When part of a sports team, kids learn how to work together and rely on each other. Individually, they learn how to express themselves and their goals through the effort they apply to their physical activity. Most importantly, children learn through sports that the physical cultural practices of society are contextually specific. Just as the skill set and etiquette required for golf are not the same as what is expected for football, different cultural settings require different physical behavior. The way children treat their peers in the classroom may not be how they treat their opponents on the soccer field. With physical culture as an aid, children can understand easier what behavior is appropriate in different social contexts.

We are often told that we need to exercise but are not told HOW to exercise. First off, let’s differentiate the difference between physical activity and exercise.  Physical activity is any bodily movement that occurs as a result of musculoskeletal contraction that ultimately increases energy expenditure.  This is a fancy way of saying that physical activity is an action that requires energy to perform. An exercise is a structured form of physical activity.  But let’s not get caught up in the jargon because both are one and the same and are important for our mental and physical health.  

The American Heart Association currently recommends that adults accumulate greater than or equal to 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week while children should get at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity weekly.

So, what exactly is moderate vs. vigorous activity? While everyone has different abilities, here are some different ideas to get those recommended “moderate” minutes as classified by the American Council on Exercise that can be adapted to functionality: chores that I push off until the weekend (washing windows, washing my car, cleaning the garage, sweeping/vacuuming), general carpentry, walking 3-5 mph,  mowing the lawn, slow room ball dancing with that special someone, fishing, sailing your boat, canoeing/kayaking (3-5 mph), gardening, leisure biking/stationary bike, leisure swimming (what you consider “easy”), table tennis, shooting hoops, non-competitive volleyball, and golfing!  

Our intern, Alan Thach, interviewed Jim Moore and Javier Rodriguez, team representative of the Orlando Magic Wheels. The Orlando Magic Wheels (OMW) is a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) where physically challenged athletes compete in fast moving basketball tournament play. 

Check out this informative YouTube video for more information about the team, it's history and their mission! 

What is the most common cause of long-term disability amongst adults? Stroke (National Hospital Care Survey Demonstration Projects: Stroke Inpatient Hospitalizations, 2019). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. 610,000 of them being their first new stroke. Subsequently, strokes can reduce mobility in more than half of stroke survivors aged 65 and older (Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2022). The aftermath can affect your ability to transfer, ambulate (fancy term for walking), prevent you from doing activities of daily living, living independently, and increase your risk of falling.

Backward walking activates more muscles in comparison to forward walking, targets knee flexion and helps to activate those muscles
that haven't been firing correctly because of the aftermath of the 
stroke. 

How to Get Involved With the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA)

Many are inspired by the feats on display in Tin Soldiers. This documentary covers the lives of paralympians including gold medalist Alana Nichols. Pulse, based on the life of Oksana Masters, is also popular. (You can watch both movies for free with an Amazon Prime trial.)

Maybe you were inspired by the 2020 documentary Rising Phoenix that went behind the scenes with top athletes in the Paralympic Games. Now you might be wondering what sport is right for you.

Having a disability does not define what a person can or cannot do which is evident by the numerous examples that professional athletes have set. There are many professional athletes that have persevered through mental and physical disabilities in order to reach the highest positions in their profession. An example of this is Shaquem Griffin who was an outside linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks.

Griffin had his left hand amputated as a result of amniotic band syndrome and decided to continue his dream of playing football. Griffin was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Central Florida in which he was a critical part in bringing the program into the national spotlight. In Griffin’s final season at the University of Central Florida, he was the Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, an All American and 2018 Peach Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player. He also helped University of Central Florida achieve an undefeated season in 2017 that led to a Peach Bowl victory against the University of Auburn.