Sports and Recreation Information
University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics Program
At the University of Arizona, disabled athletes have the opportunity to compete in a variety of sports, including Wheelchair Track, Quad Rugby, Tennis, Men's & Women's Basketball, Goalball; a sport for the blind and visually impaired.
Each athlete in the Adaptive Athletics Program is expected to meet high academic standards and represent his/her school and community with pride and professionalism. In return, they are able to compete nationwide and internationally in their respective sports against world-class athletes, and have access to training, practice facilities, and staff here at the University of Arizona campus.
http://drc.arizona.edu/athletics/index.html
Freedom For Life Foundation [Darol Kubacz]
Freedom for Life is more than just an organization for people with disabilities. It's an organization that can change the way people look at life.
By introducing people with disabilities to outdoor activities and adventure sports they may have previously thought they couldn't participate in, Freedom for Life breaks down barriers and inspires people to live lives they never knew were possible.
Interested in accessible outdoor travel destinations in AZ? Here are two excellent resources for planning your next Arizona trip:
Accessing Arizona [Loren Worthingthon]
Nature Calls Photography [Guerry Dalrymple]
www.naturecallsphotography.net
Arizona Birding on Wheels
Are you interested in bird-watching in AZ? If so, here's a great resource for tips on birding and locations of accessible trails for viewing some of Arizona's beautiful wildlife.
http://azbirdingonwheels.blogspot.com
The Grand Canyon State Fencing Foundation 501(c)(3) is pleased to announce the start of a fencing program called Seated Fencing in Arizona
This program is offered to men and woman of all ages with physical disabilities. The foundation is dedicated to help the athletes reach their goals from recreational to Competition and para-olympic games.
The program is starting in January 2009 at the Webster Recreational Center
202 north Sycamore , Mesa az
Every tuesday from 6-9 pm
No equipment is needed.
We accept registration now.
If anyone is interested please contact me at: Pia Douglas at 480 288 7834 piadouglas@earthlink.net you can also log on to our website http://www.gcsff.org and http://www.wheelchairfencer.org or more information
Thank you for your help in promoting this wonderful sport and would be happy to discuss with you any question you may have.
Pia Douglas
GCSFF Secretary
Goalball
Goalball is a highly competitive sport played three-against-three, indoors on a gym floor, primarily by blind and visually impaired athletes. It is played from the local school-gym level on up to the Paralympic, 'Team USA' level internationally.
Games are usually quite competitive and exciting to watch. There are two teams playing against each other, with one on each end of a 60x40 foot court. All players are blindfolded to make the game fair. This is due to varying levels of sight among players. Some are legally-blind, some are totally blind. The blindfolds ensure equality among players.
The object is to roll a three-pound goalball, which is like a heavy basketball, past the opposing team without them stopping it. It is their job to block that ball at all costs. The ball has bells in it that allow the players to listen for it. When they hear the ball coming towards their end of the court, they dive, usually head-first, towards it hoping to block it with their body and stop it. They often slide back and forth on the floor, using their bodies to block the oncoming ball. If all three players miss the ball and it goes past them or over them and then over the back line, it is considered a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of two 10-minute halves wins the game.
The players use cord or thin rope taped to the floor, or other similar tactile markings, to orientate themselves as to where they are on the court.
Rules
ASU adaptive recreation
http://src.asu.edu/Adaptive/Programs
AZ School for Deaf and Blind
http://www.asdb.state.az.us/southern/tucson/athletics/goalball/home.html
UofA Goalball
http://drc.arizona.edu/athletics/goalball/index.html
Access to Recreation http://www.accesstr.com
Don Krebs' Access to Recreation catalog is probably the best collection of adaptive recreation equipment available. Here you'll find everything from all-terrain wheelchairs to electric fishing reels to devices that help turn pages in books. Also, you'll find splints, aids to daily living, as well as devices you haven't even thought of. Get on their mailing list to receive their free catalog. 1-800-634-4351. An excellent resource!
Improbable Theater Company http://www.abil.org/Programs/improb_theatre.htm
In 1999, several individuals who enjoyed attending theatrical and musical performances through ARTREACH, a program of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), desired to become more than spectators. They started a Readers Theater that quickly grew into the Improbable Theatre Company (ITC). ITC is a troupe of Phoenix based artists dedicated to the personal, social and political voices of people with disabilities. Our mission is to create and present artistic works that entertain, inform and challenge audiences, while breaking down barriers of ignorance and heightening our community visibility beyond disability.
ITC operates under the auspices of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), and is partially funded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Phoenix Arts Commission.
Skydiving http://www.skydiveaz.com
For you thrill-seekers, Skydive Arizona, near Eloy (half way between Phoenix and Tucson,) offers tandem jumps, and has experience helping people with disabilities. Of course, there are some guidelines you must meet before jumping (as well as legal waivers to sign,) but adrenaline junkies will find that in many cases "where there's a will, there's a way." Visit their webpage or call the school for further details: 1-520-466-3753
email: school@skydiveaz.com
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair basketball is a popular and exciting sport. Several teams exist in Phoenix and Tucson, both men's and women's. Below is information to help you start your search into local teams.
Phoenix:
Gary Venjohn, Ex. Director/Coach
Banner Wheelchair Suns
602-790-7909
Tucson:
Derek Brown, Head Coach
Men's & Women's Wheelchair Basketball
University of Arizona Wildcats
Ph. (520) 626-5492
E-Mail: ddbrown@u.arizona.edu
National Wheelchair Basketball Association http://www.nwba.org/index.php
Whispering Hope Ranch http://www.whisperinghoperanch.org
This accessible camp, near Christopher Creek, AZ, is host to several camps/retreats throughout the year, including the AZ Spinal Cord Injury Assoc. retreat, stroke camp, and many others. The camp features many animals of different types who have special needs. Check out WHR and attend a camp there and you will find it a magical place!
Phone: 928-478-0339 Email: whrf@whisperinghoperanch.org
Fishing Has No Boundaries http://www.fhnbinc.org
Fishing Has No Boundaries, Inc. (FHNB) is a non-profit 501-C3 organization whose goal is to open up the great outdoors for people with disabilities through the world of fishing. FHNB has grown into a National Organization with 23 chapters in 11 states, enabling thousands of individuals with disabilities to participate fully in this spirit lifting, morale booster, trouble free recreational activity.
HORSES HELP
Offering happiness and independence on the back of a horse HORSES HELP provides therapeutic and recreational horseback riding to a diverse population of people with special needs.
CAMELOT
Camelot's mission is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through programs of horsemanship and outdoor education, which develop self-worth, independence and active participation in the community.
Since its inception in 1980, Camelot has offered one-on-one education, with instruction tailored to the individual needs of the student. The student learns riding, grooming, training, showing, breeding, vet care and stable management.
DARING ADVENTURES
Daring Adventures is an exciting new program that offers six outdoor recreation programs for teens and adults with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. The new programs, listed below, are a great way to get active while meeting new people. Though there is a fee for many programs, volunteer service hours can be exchanged for all enrollment fees. www.phoenix.gov/PRL/dadv.html
- Activities include:
- Adaptive Cycling
- Adaptive Kayaking
- Sled Ice Hockey
- Cross-country skiing
- Hiking/Backpacking
- Wilderness Camping
- Volunteer Service Exchange
- Program Schedule
MESA ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED SPORTS
The Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled (MASD) is an all-volunteer, not for profit organization dedicated to providing sports and recreation opportunities to individuals with all types of disability. This could include but not be limited to mental retardation, orthopedic impairment, sensory deficit and/or neurological involvement. The Association provides year round sports training and competition through our Special Olympics programs for athletes who are mentally disabled. In addition, sports and recreation opportunities are provided for individuals with physical disabilities through our programs sanctioned by Wheelchair Sports, USA; National Disability Sports Alliance; Disabled Sports, USA; and the United States Association of Blind Athletes. The Association coordinates various resources in a cooperative effort with the Mesa Unified School District and the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Cultural Division to provide a comprehensive program of sports and recreation to individuals with disabilities of all ages
INCLUDING:
- Archery For The Physically Disabled
- Bocce For The Physically Disabled
- Bowling For The Physically Disabled
- Goalball For The Physically Disabled
- Power Soccer For The Physically Disabled
- Swimming For The Physically Disabled
- Table Tennis For The Physically Disabled
- Track & Field For The Physically Disabled
- Wheelchair Basketball For The Physically Disabled
AZ SPINAL CORD INJURY ASSOCIATION EVENTS CALENDAR
www.azspinal.org/calendar.aspx
DON PRICE
Don Price, the current Chair of the Board of CyberCIL, is originally from Wisconsin, but has been an Arizona resident since 1986. Don was injured in a diving accident in 1982 which left him with a spinal cord injury at the C5-6 level. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, before transferring to the warmer climate of Arizona State University.
Don Price is currently the Early Intervention Coordinator at AZ Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), in Phoenix. He is also on the board of the AZ Spinal Cord Injury Association, as well as a member of the State Rehab Council, and the Sports and Recreation Page Coordinator at CyberCIL.
Don has strong beliefs that life does not end at the onset of a disability. In fact, he believes that the quality of life can be as good or better for a person with a disability as for a person without a disability, given equal access to choices and control of ones life. It is this belief in the fundamental tenets of the Independent Living Philosophy that attracted Don to CyberCIL.
Don Price can be contacted at: DonPrice63@yahoo.com
