FALL 2018
A PUBLICATION OF DISABLED SPORTS USA
FREEDOM IN THE WATER Page 10 SAILING CAN TAKE YOU AWAY Page 16
VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 2
Nearly 10 years after losing her legs
in a tragic car accident, a wish
made by her ailing father motivated
Yvonne Llanes to leave her
wheelchair behind for good.
Read Yvonne’s story and be
inspired: HangerClinic.com/Yvonne

More than 1,000,000 patients are
empowered with prosthetic and
orthotic solutions each year at our
800+ Hanger Clinic locations
nationwide. Open your world of
possibilities. Come see us!
Call 1-877-4HANGER or visit
HangerClinic.com today.
1-877-4HANGER | HangerClinic.com
© 2018 Hanger Clinic
Facebook.com/HangerNews
Twitter.com/HangerNews
Instagram.com/HangerNews
YouTube.com/HangerNews
EmpoweringAmputees.org
AMPOWER
© 2018 Fillauer LLC
Meet the AllPro: the most naturally active, flexible, energy-returning foot
from Fillauer. Join the team on Instagram at @fillauerallproallstars.
www.fillauer.com
AllStar
Explore like a pro.

C
1
1
www.fillauer.com/etd2
The Bluetooth® word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. App Store® is a trademark of Apple Inc. © 2018 Fillauer Companies, Inc.
ETD2
Available
now
Multiple Grasping
Patterns
The ETD2 has multiple
grasping patterns to interact
with a variety of shapes, from
sheets of paper to large,
unwieldy cylinders.
Water Resistant
The ETD2 is submersible up
to the quick disconnect wrist.
Bluetooth® Interface
Easily set up and make
adjustments to the ETD2 with
convenient Bluetooth access
via the MCUI app available
from the App Store®.
Soft Push Tab
Provides a soft, rubber
interface for everyday
tasks such as pushing
elevator buttons.

5
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
Contents
13
29
© 2018 by Disabled Sports USA, Inc. All rights reserved.
Articles may not be reprinted in part or in whole without
written permission from DSUSA.
PERSPECTIVE
Kirk Bauer, JD,
Executive Director
FREEDOM IN THE WATER:
THE BENEFITS OF
ADAPTIVE SWIMMING
WARFIGHTER VERONICA
KO NOT DEFINED BY HER
LIMITATIONS
SAILING CAN TAKE YOU
AWAY
E-TEAM MEMBER JULIA
GAFFNEY SETS HER
SIGHTS ON 2020
CHAPTER LISTING
Find Your Local Chapter
CHAPTER EVENTS
Upcoming Adaptive Sports
Opportunities
MARKETPLACE
Product Showcase
6
10
13
16
20
22
24
35
10
16
WINTER
7
Cover Photo of Swimmer Ryanne Carr
at the UCO Endeavor Games
Cover Photo by Reed Hoffmann
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
Credit: Will Ricketson, US Sailing Team
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
6
PERSPECTIVE
Summer is definitely in full swing. But, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment
to reflect on the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games that took place in PyeongChang,
South Korea, in March. Team USA racked up a total of 36 medals, including 13 gold,
15 silver, and eight bronze.
Of the 74 athletes that represented the United States at the 2018 Winter
Paralympic Games, 61 of them have participated in Disabled Sports USA programs
or been involved in one of DSUSA's 125 chapters across the country. That is a
whopping 82 percent.
Thirteen of the Team USA athletes have been a part of DSUSA’s Warfighter
Sports program, including alpine and Nordic skiers Kevin Burton, Josh Elliott,
Andrew Soule, and Bryan Price, as well as snowboarders Jimmy Sides and
Michael Spivey. Several players on the U.S. Sled Hockey Team are also former
military members and have participated in Warfighter Sports activities, including
Rico Roman, Ralph DeQuebec, Jen Lee, Travis Dodson, Luke McDermott, Josh
Misiewicz, as well as wheelchair curler Kirk Black.
Speaking of Warfighter Sports participants, retired Army Lt. Col. Veronica Ko
is another remarkable athlete. Just one year ago, she underwent an above-knee
amputation after a motorcycle accident. But that hasn’t stopped her. Check out her
story on pages 13-15.
Also among the Team USA athletes competing in South Korea, ten of them
are members of DSUSA’s E-Team, including alpine skiers Andrew Kurka,
Tyler Carter, Jamie Stanton, Andrew Haraghey, Connor Hogan, and Allison
Kunkel; snowboarders Brenna Huckaby and Noah Elliott; and Nordic
athletes Grace Miller and Ruslan Reiter.
A number of DSUSA E-Team members are setting their sights on
competing at the next Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020 in Tokyo.
One of them happens to be swimmer Julia Gaffney. You can read more
about her on page 20.
Now that we are feeling the heat of the summer, we can focus our attention
on some warm weather sports. Swimming, whether done indoors or outdoors,
is one of the best sports for personal health, and can be done by almost anyone
regardless of physical ability. Learn more about the benefits and adaptations of the
sport on pages 10-12. For another water sport, you might want to consider giving
sailing a try (pages 16-17).
Be sure to check out the array of summer/fall adaptive sports offerings
throughout the United States (pages 24-34) that you can participate
in. Or, contact the DSUSA chapter nearest you to learn about even
more opportunities (pages 22-23).
Find your sport!
Kirk Bauer, JD
Executive Director, Disabled Sports USA
U.S. Army (Retired)
kbauer@dsusa.org
CHALLENGE Magazine (ISSN 1940-526X) is published three times a year by
Disabled Sports USA, Inc., 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 608, Rockville, MD 20850
Editorial Director: Shuan Butcher
Advertising inquiries: Ron Sonntag Public Relations, Patty Johnson, 800-969-0200 ext 103
patty@rspr.com
Disabled Sports USA Board: Katrina Shaklee (President), Will Reynolds (Vice President),
Bill Gates (Secretary/Treasurer), John Blossom, Jack Daly, Keri Serota, Alexander Garner,
Marya Propis, Nicole Roundy
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
8
SPONSORS
Diamond
Platinum
Disabled Sports USA Thanks its Corporate
and Community Sponsors for Their Support!
ARIEL CORPORATION
WORLD STANDARD COMPRESSORS
9
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
SPONSORS
Gold
Silver
AECOM
AES Global Insurance
Alston & Bird LLP
Anthem Life
Aon
Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center
Breckenridge Ski and Sports
Capital Bank
Carlton Fields PC
CIGNA
Cooley LLP
D’Amato & Lynch, LLP
DAV Charitable Service Trust
Franklin Templeton Investments
Fujitsu America
GE Energy Financial Services
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Goodwin Procter
Greenberg Traurig
J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc.
JLT Re (North America) Inc.
John's Day Bridge Society
Katten Muchin Roseman LLP
Kaufman Dolowich Voluck
KDV Law
KPMG
Lewis Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics
Million Dollar Round Table
Munich Re
Northrop Grumman
O’Melveny & Meyers LLP
PARTNERS+simons
PGA Tour Charities
RenaissanceRe
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Foundation
SERVPRO
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Swiss Re America Holding Corporation
TigerRisk
tKg Wholesale Brokerage
Trijicon
U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress
May & Stanley Smith
Charitable Trust
Dumbarton Strategies
Trophy Trust
Jack Kagan
Foundation
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
10
“It really frees you up,” said U.S. Paralympics swim coach and classifier Glen O’Sullivan.
Karen Morrison, the founder and executive director of Aquability, a Disabled Sports USA chapter
based in Idaho, agrees. “The buoyancy of the water provides a sense of freedom, something you may
not find in other adaptive sports.”
Both O’Sullivan and Morrison also believe that swimming is one of the best sports for getting into
shape. Swimming is great for balance, flexibility, increased circulation, pain control, and improving
the respiratory system, not to mention the escape it can often provide. “When you are in the water,
and particularly under the water, you really can shut out the rest of the world,” Morrison said.
Furthermore, swimming is an essential life skill that can ensure one’s own safety while participating
in other water sports or activities. For those reasons, swimming can benefit individuals with a wide
range of ages and abilities.
Learning to swim is actually a byproduct of Morrison’s therapeutic aquatics program. Promoting
healthy lifestyles and positive social interactions are two of the main advantages of the program she
founded in 2010.
GETTING STARTED
Very little is required for someone interested in getting into adaptive swimming, just a swimsuit
and a towel is all you really need. “Swimming is a very affordable sport, not a lot of equipment is
Water is such an equalizer, which is why
swimming is a great sport for anyone, regardless
of their physical disability.
FREEDOM IN THE WATER:
The Benefits of Adaptive Swimming
Credit: Aquability
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
11
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
required,” O’Sullivan said. “You mainly have to have a
desire to get into the water.”
Goggles and a swim cap are optional purchases but
everything else you need can typically be found at the
pool. “I use things that are already on the pool deck,”
said O’Sullivan, a former member of the Marine Corps
who started teaching with Great Lakes Adaptive Sports
Association (GLASA), a chapter of Disabled Sports
USA, in 1997. For example: items like kickboards and
noodles help with flotation and balance; dive sticks can
help streamline the arms; and buoys can prevent legs
from dragging.
Morrison also suggests that snorkels can assist those
with mobility issues with breathing and for not turning
their head. She is also a big supporter of flotation
wraps that can improve body position in the water. For
visually impaired swimmers, tennis balls or other items
can be used as tappers to help alert the swimmer when
he or she is approaching the end of the pool.
One of the first things any new swimmer must do is
get comfortable in the water. “You have to figure out
how to move your body in the water,” O’Sullivan said.
As an instructor, he works on balance and breathing
first, followed by strokes (arm and leg techniques).
“Every swimmer is different, so different approaches
are needed. Sometimes it requires experimentation to
find out what works,” he said.
Modifications to a swim stroke or kick can be made,
depending on the athlete’s impairment. For example,
athletes with cerebral palsy who may not have the
coordination to complete the kick can show the intent
to kick or drag their legs.
Other adaptations are permissible as well. Athletes
may start from the water, the wall, or the blocks
and can be given time to get into the appropriate
Continued on page 12 >>
Credit: Aquability
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
12
starting position. In addition, the swimmer may need assistance
from someone on the deck as well. For athletes with visual
impairments, a personal assistant can serve as a “tapper” and
notify the swimmer of a turn or the wall by using a pole with soft-
tipped ends to tap the swimmer accordingly. It is also helpful to
use rich verbal descriptions when communicating instructions
and physically assist a visually-impaired swimmer to achieve
correct technique.
ON YOUR MARK
There are a number of programs that offer swimming as a
recreational sport only, like Aquability. If you are interested in
taking it to the next level, you will need to find a swim coach or
instructor. Lindsay Grogan, a member of the U.S. Paralympic
Swim Team for the 2016 Rio Games, suggests doing research to
learn more about adaptive sports groups and swim clubs in your
area.
At the age of 7, Grogan had her left leg from the knee down
amputated after years of scleroderma-related contractures. One
year later, she had the opportunity to watch the Paralympic
Games when they were held in Atlanta. That led her to eventually
connect with BlazeSports, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA,
and pursue swimming competitively. “It was because of my
experience with BlazeSports that I wanted to get involved in an
adaptive sports organization,” Grogan said. She now serves as a
coach for Kinetic Kids, another Disabled Sports USA chapter in
San Antonio, Texas.
To compete at the highest level, Grogan recommends stepping
up training. “You definitely have to swim more and practice
more,” she said. “But I would do it all over again because of the
experiences that I’ve had, the places I’ve gone to, and the people
I’ve met.”
Four-time Paralympian Jessica Long, the second most
decorated athlete in U.S. Paralympic history, was born with
fibular hemimelia. At just 18 months old, her legs were amputated
below the knee. She tried a number of sports, but swimming was
(and definitely has been) the best sport for her. Growing up, the
prosthetics were giving her trouble. “But in swimming, you don’t
wear prosthetics,” she said. “I felt free and not any different.”
Swimming also allowed Long to become comfortable with
who she was. Challenges still persisted though. She experienced
a number of growth moments and calculated having over 20
surgeries. “There were lots of moments I could have given up,”
she said.
To other aspiring athletes, Long says go for it. “It is going to
change your life.” But a lot of hard work is required. Long, who
has won 23 Paralympic medals, puts in about five to seven hours
of work every day. “Practice … always,” she recommends to those
who want to competitively swim. Her routine on a typical day
starts with a morning practice, then breakfast, then stretching
or some form of physical training, followed by a nap, lunch,
afternoon practice, and wrapping up in the weight room.
She also encourages athletes to have a good attitude. “You
have to realize that everyone’s going to have bad days. My
parents allowed me to fail (fall down, lose a leg, etc.), which really
prepared me in so many ways.”
Swimming will always be part of her life moving forward. “I am
always going to swim for exercise. It is one of the best sports for
your joints and heart,” she said.
O’Sullivan, who went to the Rio Games in 2016 as a Team USA
coach, offers some additional advice for swimmers who are ready
to go from recreational swimming to competitive swimming. “To
make the jump to elite level, you must live and breathe swimming.
The elite athlete has to be in the water every day,” he said.
Besides getting in the water as much as you can, you should
start going to regional swim meets as well as some of the adaptive
sports regional games that exist (a number of them hosted by
DSUSA chapters). You should also go through the classification
process to get an idea of who you might be competing against and
check your times against the other swimmers.
From a training perspective, competitive swimmers should
work on all the strokes and focus on techniques that will help
prevent injuries. “A lot of cross training and strength training
(weights and calisthenics) will go a long way,” O’Sullivan said.
In the pool, a snorkel can help build stronger lungs or focus
where your head should be placed. Paddles can help with
strengthening and strapping a parachute around your waist can
build resistance.
After having focused on the physical element of sports training,
you have to mentally prepare. “A lot of elite athletes will work with
sports psychologists,” O’Sullivan said.
FIND A PROGRAM
Regardless of whether you want to swim recreationally or
competitively, it is a great sport to consider. As Grogan notes,
“Just about everybody can swim.”
Reach out to a local swim club or adaptive sports organization
to find the right fit. Most aquatic facilities are accessible. You can
find a local swim club near you by visiting www.usaswimming.
org/join. Over 30 Disabled Sports USA chapters offer adaptive
swimming programs at some level. To check out that listing, visit:
https://www.disabledsportsusa.org/location-map/.
<< Continued from page 11
Credit: Aquability
Credit: Reed Hoffmann
13
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
WARFIGHTER VERONICA KO NOT DEFINED BY HER
LIMITATIONS
Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Veronica Ko’s deployments
included Operation JOINT FORGE in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Operation JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo, Operation IRAQI
FREEDOM, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in
Afghanistan. So, a motorcycle accident on Aug. 13, 2017, which
resulted in an above-knee amputation wasn’t going to stop her.
Forty-five days after the amputation, she was handcycling with
Disabled Sports USA in the Army 10 Miler. “I hadn’t gotten my
socket yet,” she said.
Ko retired from active duty in 2013 after a distinguished
military career. “During my nearly 21 years with the U.S. Army, I
had three tours in South Korea, two tours in Germany, and several
missions in Japan, Mongolia, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and the
Philippines,” she said. Her stateside assignments included Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Gordon,
Georgia, Fort Carson, Colorado, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort
Shafter, Hawaii,
and Washington,
D.C.
Originally
enlisting as a
radio operator/
maintainer, she
was recruited
to work with
the Criminal
Investigation
Command shortly
after getting to the
unit at Fort Carson.
She also participated in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program
in TaeKwonDo. In 1995, Ko completed Officer Candidate School
and served as a Signal Officer for several years before becoming
a Northeast Asia Foreign Area Officer. “I particularly enjoyed
my time assisting NATO with training Afghan National Police
where I oversaw the effort to build and improve 48 different police
precincts,” she said.
WARFIGHTER SPORTS
Continued on page 14 >>
“I KNOW I CAN GO BACK TO
DOING EVERYTHING I USED
TO DO AS AN ABLE-BODIED
PERSON.”
The battle isn’t over.
AIG is proud to partner with Disabled Sports USA
to raise awareness and funds for wounded veterans
in their Warfighter Sports Program.
© 2015 American International Group, Inc.
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
14
WARFIGHTER SPORTS
Prior to her injury, Ko was very active. “I love anything
and everything outdoors. Way I see it, everything that gets
your blood racing is probably worth doing!” She was an avid
climber/backpacker. During the summer of 1990, she hiked the
Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia. Her noteworthy
climbing achievements include 28 of Colorado’s 53 “fourteeners”
(14,000+ feet in elevation), Mt. Seorak in Korea, Mt. Fuji in Japan,
several peaks in the Dolomites, Switzerland (Kaiseregg, Eiger,
and Breithorn), Kilimanjaro, Grand Canyon rim to rim (North to
South), as well as reaching base camp at Mount Everest.
She also loves skiing (alpine, backcountry, cross-country),
flying, scuba diving (rescue diver), paragliding, stand-up
paddleboarding, running, biking (road and mountain), and
swimming.
So it is no surprise that with adaptive sports she has quickly
picked up where she left off before her accident. Handcycling the
Army 10 Miler was like a big reunion for her. “You run into people
from the past,” she said. “The experience also allowed me to take
the time to enjoy the scenery and be more reflective.”
Four months after the accident and two months after getting a
prosthetic leg, she joined Disabled Sports USA at The Hartford Ski
Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado. “I was like a kid in a candy
store,” she said. “I was excited and frustrated with the monoskiing
experience. Then I tried Nordic and it allowed me to be more
independent and closer to what normal used to be for me.”
Skiing quickly caught on for her. Just a few weeks later, she
joined Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation, a chapter
of Disabled Sports USA, and followed that up by participating in
their 100K Challenge in January 2018. She has since joined other
DSUSA chapters for skiing events as well.
In March 2018, Ko signed up for the grueling Bataan Memorial
Death March, an annual 26.2-mile march through the New Mexico
Desert at White Sands Missile Range. She had completed the
event in 2002 (before the accident and amputation) “I was part of
the first female team to complete the march in under seven hours.
So, I had done it before. But this experience was just months after
losing my leg and I hadn’t walked more than two miles in my new
leg up to that point,” she said.
She had set out to do the honor march (shorter version), but
had to make a decision to turn right or left. “The prosthesis gave
out on me, but I didn’t want to throw in the towel. I felt fine but the
leg became heavy. Going downhill was actually harder. At mile
19, my mind was strong but my body was starting to say no.” She
decided to stick with Disabled Sports USA Executive Director
Kirk Bauer. “If he was going to do it, I was going to do it.” At mile
22, they did call it quits. “I regret not finishing it, but it gave me a
goal. I am coming back next year with a non-microprocessor leg
and smoking it.”
“The first time I did Bataan, I didn’t fully appreciate it. I was
in the competitive mode. This time, I was able to relate and
appreciate what the Bataan survivors, who were there with us,
went through. Also, I know I can go back to doing everything I
used to do as an able-bodied person.”
Ko recently got her running blade and is getting a water leg
too. She plans to do her first triathlon before the end of summer.
When it comes to adaptive sports, Ko believes in doing three
things: first, set a goal; second, define your norm; and third, take
in the shared experience. “Misery loves company and being
<< Continued from page 13
15
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
WARFIGHTER SPORTS
The Warfighter Sports program was
funded in part by a grant from the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs.
The opinions, findings and conclusions
stated herein are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect those of the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
around others like you, former military with similar pain, is
beneficial,” she said.
In addition to participating in adaptive sports, Ko is currently a
co-founder of a cognitive design consulting firm, Linking Human
Power, and operates as a flight school/fixed-wing commercial
pilot and flight instructor with APS Flight School in Warrenton,
Virginia. She has been humbled and personally moved by the
support and inspiration of fellow amputees/adaptive athletes
as well as the numerous volunteers who dedicate their time to
enrich and encourage people with disabilities to achieve anything
they set their minds to. “I truly believe that inside of most of us,
including me, is the will to survive and succeed in all that we do.
I am defined by what I can do rather than my limitations. With a
positive mindset, appropriate resources, and the support of my
friends and family, I know I can continue to achieve great things
in life.”
As a result, she also wants to give back and pay it forward.
5
FREE
FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH A
DISABILTY
AUGUST 25, 2018
r i d e s e l l s o u t . r e g i s t e r e a r ly !
100 | 80|50 |16 MILE
SUPPORTED ROAD RIDE
A BENEFIT FOR
REGISTER: WWW.SUMMITCHALLENGE100.ORG
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
16
W
hether it is your first time or your thousandth
time, there is just something special about being
on the water. Maybe it is the unique perspective
it provides us regarding our environment and
the world we live. Maybe it is the smell of the ocean or nature in
general. Perhaps it could be the feeling of the wind as it brushes
through our hair or the sound of the boat cutting through the
chop of the waves. Or maybe it is because of an observation
that President John F. Kennedy made when he pointed out the
biological fact that “all of us have in our veins the exact same
percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean.”
Regardless of the reason, sailing is a sport that nearly
every individual can experience as long as there are two main
ingredients available – a body of water and a boat.
Getting On Board
When sailing with an adaptive sports organization, little is
typically required of individual participants when it comes to
equipment or supplies. Sarah Winchester, Operations Manager
for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB), a Disabled
Sports USA chapter based in Annapolis, Maryland, recommends
sailors wear sunscreen, a hat, and non-marking shoes. “In some
cases, you may need to bring a jacket depending on weather and
you may need to bring your own water,” she said. But that is about
it. Everything else is typically provided by the organization.
Before one even gets into a boat, a safety briefing occurs. Life
jackets are provided and must be worn at all times. As a safety
precaution, keep in mind that at no time should you be restrained
to the boat (seat belt, etc.) to avoid entrapment issues.
There are three aspects to adaptive sailing, according to Bob
Ewing, co-founder and president of Footloose Sailing Association,
a Disabled Sports USA chapter in the Seattle area. Each person
must figure out which one route interests them or that they
are comfortable with. The first option is just going along for a
ride, which allows the sailor to enjoy the social and recreational
benefits the sport provides. “Going out for a sail allows you to
leave your disability on the dock,” he said. “It can provide an
escape from everything that you normally deal with.” The second
option is to experience it, through a hands-on approach. For
example, you can become a crew member and perform some
of the tasks required while out on the water. The third aspect is
taking it to the next level, when you come to the realization that
you want to get your own boat, take long distance excursions, or
race in regattas and other events.
A variety of boats are utilized for sailing that will support
all ages and athletic abilities. Footloose utilizes boats that can
accommodate individual comfort levels. The Access dinghy,
for example is a small boat that is simple and easy to sail. It
can accommodate two sailors, side by side with two masts and
a joystick in the middle. The dinghy was specifically designed
to remove some of the barriers to sailing including concerns
over complexity and stability. The servo assist option allows the
joystick to be controlled by hand, foot, chin or any moving body
part and allows those with additional mobility issues or profound
disabilities to participate in the sport as well.
For some, the biggest perceived hurdle can be getting in and
out of the boat. If you cannot access the boat on your own, there
are a number of other ways to do so. “When you go sailing, you
leave your wheelchair or your walker on the dock,” Winchester
said.
Individuals that need help transferring in or out of the boat
Credit: Will Ricketson, US Sailing Team
17
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
can either get personal assistance, be hoisted by a special lift,
or use a transfer box. The transfer box is a metal box that can
be positioned like a ramp into the boat with hand guards on the
side that allows individuals to gently slide into the boat. Given
these capacities, as well as the special seating and rigging that is
available for adaptive sailing, almost anyone has the opportunity
to set sail, including those with physical and mental disabilities,
visual impairments, and spinal cord injuries. This sport also allows
and encourages family members or caregivers to participate as
well.
All Aboard
Once on board, another safety briefing typically takes place
before you leave the shore to review other important instructions
to ensure a safe and pleasant experience on the water. Boats are
equipped with all the necessary safety gear, including a radio, first
aid kit, life preservers, and more. CRAB provides one skipper and
sometimes a crew member for each boat. Skippers must have a
good sailing resume, with extensive training and experience. Crew
members don’t have to have any experience – only a willingness
and ability to assist with some of the sailing functions. This is
where all participants can have an interactive and engaging
experience as they may be able to help with the lines or even steer
the boat.
A number of assistive technologies exist to help individuals
who may have a severe disability or are quadriplegic, according to
Ewing. For example, a chin stick is available for those who may not
have use of their arms. In addition, a sip and puff steering system
can be used to steer the boat by sending signals through the use
of air pressure by "sipping" (inhaling) or "puffing" (exhaling) on a
tube or straw.
Ewing points out that there are a lot of tasks to do on a boat
besides steering it. Two things must continuously be monitored,
including the weather (must be cautious of heavy winds or
lightning) and where the wind is coming from (so you can
optimize the wind and adjust the sails). In addition, participants
can help by pulling sheets, or lines, that will maneuver the boat in
the water. In sailing, you will hear words like tiller, jib, foremast,
tacking, bowspirit, spinnaker, leeward, or halyard, just to name
a few. “Sailing terminology is a foreign language,” Ewing said.
“Don’t worry if you are not familiar with them at first and don’t be
intimidated.”
Ready to Race?
Just like with about any sport, competitive opportunities
exist in sailing. If you have fallen in love with being on the water
and have the desire to start racing, a number of regattas and
races take place across the country and world. Ryan Porteous, a
member of Disabled Sports USA’s E-Team, participated in the 2016
Paralympic Games. At just seven years old, the San Diego resident
enrolled in his hometown yacht club’s Junior Sailing Program, an
eight-week program during the summer.
But in 2011, at the age of 18, he slipped on a dock and broke his
neck, causing almost complete paralysis. “I didn’t know if I would
ever walk again and I wasn’t sure about the future.” He spent
three months in the hospital. While there, he looked into adaptive
racing. After recovering, he jumped right back in a boat. A couple
of years later, in 2013, he qualified for the U.S. Sailing Team. He
would go on to serve as the skipper of a mixed 2-person SKUD 18
team, which placed fifth in Rio.
Porteous likes sailing for three reasons. First, it doesn’t take a
lot of adaptive equipment. "You can pretty much sail any boat, as
long as you have a seat." And second, although there are several
adaptive regattas that exist, sailing is one sport that allows you
to be as competitive with an able-bodied person. "You would
never know the difference between the two." Third, each sailing
experience is unique. After all, the sport is governed by mother
nature.
Alternatives to Sailing
For communities that may not have sailing opportunities, it is
important to point out that other boating options are available for
those that enjoy being on the water. For example, Sailing 4 All, a
Disabled Sports USA chapter located in Richmond, Virginia, offers
pontoon boating to individuals with physical disabilities. Ted
Abbott, president of Sailing 4 All, says they take regular cruises
on a weekly basis up the James River. Boating this way provides
different benefits than sailing might, including the ability to
accommodate more people as well as power wheelchairs.
Connect with a Chapter
Approximately 30 Disabled Sports USA chapters offer some
sort of sailing or boating program. To find the one nearest you,
visit https://www.disabledsportsusa.org/location-map/. If you're
not located near a DSUSA chapter, Porteous recommends you
reach out to a local yacht club or sailing center. A number of them
offer introductory Learn to Sail programs. “The sailing community
is pretty open,” he said.
When you are on the water, remember that you have to deal
with whatever is given to you, the wind, the waves, etc. “Which is
kind of like life,” Ewing said.
Credit: Footloose Sailing Association
Credit: Chesapeake Region
Accessible Boating (CRAB)
Credit: Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating
(CRAB)
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
18
OTTOBOCK LINERS – COMFORT, CONFIDENCE, AND
CUSTOMIZATION
How would you like to experience a liner with a secure fit that
is gentle on your skin? Imagine starting your day donning a
comfortable liner that can handle even an athlete’s workout
with grace.
Because liners play such an important role in the comfort and
health of people who wear prosthetic legs, choosing the right
liner for your lifestyle is extremely important. Not only must it
fit well and be comfortable to wear, it should have antibacterial
or scented options available to make your social interactions
more enjoyable and less stressful. These liners should also be
made of a flexible, cushioning material to reduce movement and
chafing between your skin and socket.
To meet a range of individual needs, Ottobock has standard
liner models available in three different materials—silicone,
polyurethane, and copolymer. These materials perform
differently depending on your lifestyle, activities, and
suspension.
A silicone liner provides high stability and good connection,
and performs best with shuttle-lock or lanyard suspension.
Silicone liners work well for individuals with low to moderate
activity levels.
Polyurethane has a unique ability to flow away from high
pressure. That means the pressure in your socket is well
distributed. A polyurethane liner offers a precise, intimate,
and comfortable fit for all types of residual limbs. These “flow
characteristics” and damping of pressure on your limb make
it a good choice for sensitive, bony, or scarred residual limbs.
Polyurethane performs best with vacuum or suction suspension,
and for people with low to high activity levels.
Copolymer is soft, cushiony, and highly elastic, offering
good protection for individuals with low activity levels. These
thermoplastic elastomer liners contain skin-friendly white oil,
which is excellent for residual limbs with dry skin. Copolymer
performs best with individuals with low activity levels with
either pin or suction suspension.
Ottobock Liners are available with a variety of special
features, such as antibacterial additives, fresh scent, textile
outer layers for easier application, anatomical shaping,
non-stick treatments, variable thicknesses to accommodate
sensitive skin, and pre-flexed shape. You can also order
custom polyurethane liners, if you need a personalized fit to
accommodate a unique shape or unusual length or thickness.
SPONSORED CONTENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Learn more.
Visit ottobockus.com
19
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
QLK is the only wheelchair docking system
that gives everyone true peace-of-mind.
DRIVERS QLK
• Complete independence to drive
your vehicle
• More wheelchair clearance
• Improved user experience
DEALERS QLK
• Custom options: advanced stabilizer,
wireless release, adjustable height
floor mounts...and more!
• Quick and painless installation
• Brackets for every wheelchair
WE ALL QLK
• Certified iQ Crash Testing forward,
backward and sideways
• Packed with exclusive features
• Proven durability and reliability
FEEL THE LOVE AT: QSTRAINT.COM/QLK-150
MORE HEART.
THE SYSTEM WITH...
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
20
ATHLETE PROFILE
E-TEAM MEMBER JULIA GAFFNEY SETS HER SIGHTS ON 2020
Julia Gaffney wanted to play softball originally but thought
that, given her circumstances, it would have been too difficult.
She had taken swimming lessons when she was younger and saw
that as a possible way to become active in sports. “I always loved
the water and was pretty natural at swimming,” she said.
The 18-year-old from Arkansas underwent a double
amputation at an early age. Her right leg was amputated above
the knee as a result of proximal femoral focal deficiency, a birth
defect that affects the hip bone and proximal femur. Her left
leg was amputated below the knee as a result of having fibular
hemimelia, the congenital absence of the fibula. Over the years,
she has undergone a number of surgeries.
Swimming has been a great sport for her. “I am able to take
my legs off and be free,” Gaffney said. “In the water, I don’t feel
my disability.” Her first experience with swimming took place
in 2014, when she joined two summer leagues at a local park. A
year later, she began competition. Her swim team is comprised
of able bodied swimmers and it was her mom that found out
about Paralympic swimming. Her first Paralympic trial took
place at the Endeavor Games, hosted by the University of Central
Oklahoma’s Center of Adaptive Sports, a chapter of Disabled
Sports USA. She got classified there and ended up participating
in five events.
“It was my first time I was around other people with disabilities
and it was really cool to swim against them,” she said.
Gaffney would go on to compete in California, where she
met four-time Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, one of the
winningest Paralympians in U.S. history. “She inspires me a lot.
It was super cool to stand on the podium with her in Mexico City
(at the 2017 World Para
Swimming Championships,
where Julia also medaled).
She has given me various
tips to improve my
swimming,”
It was also there that
long-time Paralympic swim
coach Queenie Nichols
encouraged Julia to keep swimming.
Gaffney became a member of Disabled Sports USA’s
E-Team in 2016, which is designed to support and empower
emerging young athletes (ages 13-24) with disabilities who are
training competitively in sports that are featured in the Summer
and Winter Paralympic Games.
Her best events are the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and
100m breaststroke. She particularly enjoys the 100m backstroke
and 100m breaststroke. “The freestyle stresses me out,” she said.
In a relatively short period of time, Gaffney has medaled at
the World Championship level over a half dozen times. She
earned a gold medal at the 2017 World Para Swimming World
Series. Recently, she
also received her
national A time (the
highest standard) in
Cincinnati in the 200
IM (individual medley),
which sets her up for Pan-
Pacific Para Swimming
Championships in
Australia, the biggest
meet this year.
The high school senior, who is home schooled, may graduate
early (in January 2019) and then hopes to head to Colorado
Springs for training. Gaffney wants to compete at the 2020
Paralympics in Tokyo. “My goal is to make the team and do the
best I can, with a chance to medal,” she said.
Training takes place five days a week, sometimes twice
daily. Dryland workouts last about 30 minutes and may feature
running, planks, pushups, or abs. In the pool, she will typically
swim 6,000 to 9,000 yards on any given day working on different
strokes. “Every day is a different,” Gaffney said. “Sometimes we
focus on distance and sometimes we work on speed.” Prior to
a competition, she focuses on staying calm before the race and
getting into her zone.
She recently got reclassified, so her times are different. From
a competitive standpoint, she is making the adjustment, but she
is up for the competition. “My parents told me that I was super
active and very athletic as a child. I would always try to beat my
brothers (all four of them),” she said.
“IN THE WATER, I DON’T
FEEL MY DISABILITY.”
WWW.SKISPEC.ORG
JOIN US AT THE 31ST ANNUAL the HARTFORD SKI SPECTACULAR
save
date
DECEMBER 3 – 9, 201
8
the
REGISTRATION OPENS IN SEPTEMBER
PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
• Daily Ski & Snowboard Lessons
• Week-long Alpine Ski, Snowboard
& Nordic Ski Race Camp
• Daily PSIA/AASI Continuing Education Clinics
• Adaptive Equipment Demonstrations
• Free Sled Hockey, Nordic, Biathlon,
Ice Skating, and Wheelchair Curling
TITLE SPONSOR
CONDUCTED BY
CHAPTER LISTING
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
22
ALABAMA
Lakeshore Foundation
Birmingham, AL 35209
lakeshore.org
205-313-7400
ALASKA
Challenge Alaska
Anchorage, AK 99501
challengealaska.org
907-344-7399
Southeast Alaska
Independent Living
Juneau, AK 99801
sailinc.org
907-586-4920
ARIZONA
Arizona Disabled Sports
Mesa, AZ 85210
arizonadisabledsports.com
480-835-6273
Southern Arizona
Adaptive Sports
Tucson, AZ 85733
soazadaptivesports.org
520-370-0588
CALIFORNIA
Achieve Tahoe
Truckee, CA 96162
achievetahoe.org
530-581-4161
Adaptive Sports and
Recreation Association
San Diego, CA 92195
adaptivesportsandrec.org
619-336-1806
Amazing Surf Adventures
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
amazingsurfadventures.org
805-544-7873
Bay Area Outreach and
Recreation Program (BORP)
Berkeley, CA 94703
borp.org
510-849-4663
Central California
Adaptive Sports Center
Shaver Lake, CA 93664
centralcaladaptive.org
559-593-2504
Disabled Sports USA
Eastern Sierra
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
disabledsportseasternsi-
erra.org
760-934-0791
Disabled Sports USA
Los Angeles -
The Unrecables
Los Angeles, CA 90024
unrecables.com
Disabled Sports USA
Orange County -
The Achievers
Fullerton, CA 92838
theachievers.org
949-460-6969
Discovery Blind Sports
Kirkwood, CA 95646
discoveryblindsports.org
209-258-2233
Shasta Disabled Sports USA
Mount Shasta, CA 96067
shastadsusa.org
530-925-1531
U.S. Adaptive Recreation
Center
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
usarc.org
909-584-0269
United States Driving for
the Disabled
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
usdfd.org
Wheels to Water
Cambria, CA 93428
wheelstowater.com
608-514-3843
COLORADO
Adaptive Action Sports
Copper Mountain, CO
80443
adacs.org
Adaptive Adventures
Lakewood, CO 80215
adaptiveadventures.org
303-679-2770
Adaptive Sports
Association
Durango, CO 81301
asadurango.com
970-259-0374
Adaptive Sports Center of
Crested Butte
Crested Butte, CO 81224
adaptivesports.org
970-349-2296
Aspen Camp of the Deaf &
Hard of Hearing
Aspen, CO 81654
aspencamp.org
970-315-0513
Breckenridge Outdoor
Education Center
Breckenridge, CO 80424
boec.org
970-453-6422
Challenge Aspen
Snowmass Village, CO
81615
challengeaspen.org
970-923-0578
Colorado Discover Ability
Grand Junction, CO 81501
cdagj.org
970-257-1222
Foresight Ski Guides, Inc.
Vail, CO 81657
foresightskiguides.org
303-506-3859
Golf 4 The Disabled
Englewood, CO 80110
golf4thedisabled.org
303-221-1184
Ignite Adaptive Sports
Boulder, CO 80308
igniteadaptivesports.org
303-506-8007
National Sports Center
for the Disabled
Denver, CO 80204
nscd.org
970-726-1518
Steamboat Adaptive
Recreational Sports
Steamboat Springs, CO
80477
steamboatstars.com
970-870-1950
Telluride Adaptive Sports
Telluride, CO 81435
tellurideadaptivesports.org
970-728-5010
Visually Impaired and
Blind Skiers
Colorado Springs, CO
80923
coloradovibes.org
719-337-0161
CONNECTICUT
Chapter 126 Sports &
Fitness, an Oak Hill Center
Bristol, CT 06010
chapter126.com
860-769-7047
Gaylord Hospital Sports
Association
Wallingford, CT 06492
Gaylord.org/sport
203-284-2772
Leaps of Faith Adaptive
Skiers
Sandy Hook, CT 06482
leapsoffaithadaptiveskiers.com
203-426-0666
FLORIDA
Florida Disabled
Outdoors Association
Tallahassee, FL 32301
fdoa.org
850-201-2944
GEORGIA
Athens Inclusive Rec-
reation and Sports, Inc.
(AIRS)
Athens, GA 30605
airs-ga.org
703-353-7463
BlazeSports America
Norcross, GA 30093
blazesports.org
404-270-2000
IDAHO
Adaptive Wilderness
Sports of McCall
(AWeSOMe!)
McCall, ID 83638
www.awesomemccall.org
208-315-4275
AquAbility
Boise, ID 83705
aquability.org
208-336-1876
Higher Ground Sun Valley
Ketchum, ID 83340
highergroundsv.org
208-726-9298
Recreation Unlimited, Inc.
Boise, ID 83701
recreation-unlimited.org
208-391-3594

ILLINOIS
Adaptive Adventures
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
adaptiveadventures.org
866-679-2770
Dare2tri
Chicago, IL 60642
dare2tri.org
312-967-9874
Great Lakes Adaptive
Sports Association
(GLASA)
Lake Forest, IL 60045
glasa.org
847-283-0908
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Chicago, IL 60611
sralab.org
312-238-5001

INDIANA
Special Outdoor Leisure
Opportunities
South Bend, IN 46660
skisolomichiana.org
269-244-8016
Turnstone Center for
Disabled Children and
Adults, Inc.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
turnstone.org
260-483-2100
IOWA
Adaptive Sports Iowa
Ames, IA 50010
adaptivesportsiowa.org
888-777-8881 x115
KANSAS
Wheelchair Sports, Inc.
Wichita, KS 67203
wsi.wcsports.org
MAINE
Central Maine Adaptive
Sports
Auburn, ME 04210
cmasports.org
207-784-1561
Maine Adaptive Sports
& Recreation
Newry, ME 04261
maineadaptive.org
207-824-2440
MARYLAND
Baltimore Adapted
Recreation and Sports
Parkton, MD 21120
barsinfo.org
478-227-7386
Bennett Institute
Physically Challenged
Sports Program of
Kennedy Krieger
Baltimore, MD 21211
kennedykrieger.org
443-923-7844
Chesapeake Region
Accessible Boating
Annapolis, MD 21409
crabsailing.org
410-266-5722
Soldiers Undertaking
Disabled Scuba (SUDS)
Bethesda, MD 20810
sudsdiving.org
202-341-9750
Team River Runner, Inc.
Rockville, MD 20853
teamriverrunner.org
703-532-6070

MASSACHUSETTS
AccesSport America
Acton, MA 01720
accessportamerica.org
978-264-0985
MICHIGAN
Cannonsburg Challenged
Ski Association
Ada, MI 49301
skiccsa.org
616-847-3060
Michigan Adaptive Sports
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
michiganadaptivesports.
com
MINNESOTA
Courage Kenny Sports
and Recreation
Minneapolis, MN 55408
www.allinahealth.org/
adaptivesports
612-775-2277
North Star Community
Rowing
Minneapolis, MN 55401
northstarcommunityrow-
ing.org
info@northstarcommunity-
rowing.org
U.S. Electric Wheelchair
Hockey Association
Minneapolis, MN 55427
powerhockey.com
612-568-7216
CHAPTER LISTING
23
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
MISSOURI
Disabled Athlete
Sports Association
St. Peters, MO 63376
dasasports.org
636-477-0716
Midwest Adaptive Sports
Dearborn, MO 64439
midwestadaptivesports.org
816-287-2011
MONTANA
DREAM Adaptive
Recreation, Inc.
Whitefish, MT 59937
dreamadaptive.org
406-862-1817
Eagle Mount Billings
Billings, MT 59101
eaglemount.us
406-969-2949
Eagle Mount Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59715
eaglemount.org
406-586-1781
Eagle Mount Great Falls
Great Falls, MT 59403
eaglemount.net
406-454-1449
NEW HAMPSHIRE
AbilityPLUS, Inc.
Glen, NH 03838
abilityplus.org
603-374-2688
Granite State Adaptive
Mirror Lake, NH 03853
gsadaptivesports.org
603-387-1167
Lakes Region Disabled
Sports at Gunstock
Gilford, NH 03249
lrdisabledsports.org
603-737-4365
New England Disabled
Sports
Lincoln, NH 03251
nedisabledsports.org
603-745-9333
New England Healing
Sports Association
Newbury, NH 03255
nehsa.org
603-763-9158
Northeast Passage
Durham, NH 03824
nepassage.org
603-862-0070
Waterville Valley
Adaptive Sports
Waterville Valley, NH 03215
watervilleadaptive.com
603-236-8311
NEW MEXICO
Adaptive Sports Program
New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM 87502
adaptivesportsprogram.org
505-570-5710
Ski Apache Adaptive
Sports
Ruidoso, NM 88355
skiapacheadaptivesports.com
575-464-3193
NEW YORK
Adaptive Sports
Foundation
Windham, NY 12496
adaptivesportsfoundation.
org
518-734-5070
Adaptive Sports Program
– Helen Hayes Hospital
West Haverstraw, NY 10993
helenhayeshospital.org/
hospital-services/adapted-
sports-and-recreation
845-947-3187
ASPIRE, Inc.
(Amputee Program)
Hartsdale, NY 10530
aspirenewyork@gmail.com
Cape Ability
Outrigger Ohana, Inc.
West Henrietta, NY 14586
adaptivecanoeing.org
GallopNYC
Brooklyn, NY 11215
gallopnyc.org
646-233-4507
Greek Peak
Adaptive Snowsports
Apalachin, NY 13732
gpadaptive.org
607-835-6111
Lounsbury Adaptive
Ski Program
Ellicottville, NY 14731
lounsburyadaptive.org
716-699-3504
Move Along, Inc.
Oswego, NY 13126
movealonginc.org
315-263-1705
Rochester Accessible
Adventures
Rochester, NY 14623
rochesteraccessibleadven-
tures.org
585-491-6011
STRIDE, Inc.
West Sand Lake, NY 12196
stride.org
518-598-1279
Western New York
Adaptive Water Sports
Grand Island, NY 14072
wnyadaptivewatersports.org
716-364-8219
NORTH CAROLINA
Bridge II Sports
Durham, NC 27705
bridge2sports.org
866-880-2742
OHIO
Adaptive Sports
Connection
Powell, OH 43065
taasc.org
614-389-3921
Adaptive Sports Program
of Ohio (ASPO)
Dalton, OH 44618
adaptivesportsohio.org
330-985-0085
Three Trackers of Ohio
Middleburg Heights, OH
44130
3trackers.org
440-476-9905
OKLAHOMA
UCO Center of Adaptive
Sports
Edmond, OK 73034
uco.edu/wellness/sr/train-
ingsite/index.asp
405-974-3140
OREGON
Adaptive Sports
Northwest
Beaverton, OR 97005
adaptivesportsnw.org
503-241-0850
Oregon Adaptive Sports
Bend, OR 97703
oregonadaptivesports.org
541-306-4774

PENNSYLVANIA
Blue Ridge Adaptive
Snow Sports (BRASS)
Carroll Valley, PA 17320
brasski.org
717-642-8282
HOPE Network
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
hopenetwork-pa.org
412-826-2703
Pennsylvania Center
for Adapted Sports
Philadelphia, PA 19130
centeronline.com
215-765-5118
Three Rivers
Adaptive Sports
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
traspa.org
412-848-8896
Two Top Mountain
Adaptive Sports
Foundation
Mercersburg, PA 17236
twotopadaptive.org
717-507-7668
RHODE ISLAND
Access2Adventure
Tiverton, RI 02878
access2adventure.org
SOUTH CAROLINA
Adaptive Expeditions
Charleston, SC 29422
adaptiveexpeditions.org
843-637-7269
Roger C. Peace
Rehabilitation Hospital
Greenville, SC 29605
ghs.org/rcp
864-455-7711

TENNESSEE
Sports, Arts & Recreation
of Chattanooga (SPARC)
Chattanooga, TN 37343
sparctn.org
423-596-5268
TEXAS
Kinetic Kids
San Antonio, TX 78269
kinetickidstx.org
210-748-5860
Operation Comfort
San Antonio, TX 78209
operationcomfort.org
210-826-0500
UTAH
Common Ground
Outdoor Adventures
Logan, UT 84321
cgadventures.org
435-713-0288
National Ability Center
Park City, UT 84060
discovernac.org
435-649-3991
VERMONT
Bart J. Ruggiere
Adaptive Sports Center
Manchester Center, VT
05255
bartadaptive.org
802-824-6849
Friends of Stowe
Adaptive Sports
Hyde Park, VT 05655
stoweadaptive.org
802-279-1079
Mount Snow Adaptive
Sports
Mount Snow, VT 05356
msadaptive.org
802-464-4069
Northeast Disabled
Athletic Association
Burlington, VT 05408
disabledathletics.org
802-862-6322
Tasty Water Adventures
Burlington, VT 05401
Tastywateradventures.org
802-310-0330
Vermont Adaptive Ski &
Sports Association
Killington, VT 05701
vermontadaptive.org
802-786-4991
VIRGINIA
Adventure Amputee Camp
Falls Church, VA 22042
adventureamputeecamp.org
540-545-7238
Sailing 4 All
Richmond, VA 23225
gosailing4all.org
804-901-4301
Sportable
Richmond, VA 23220
sportable.org
804-340-2991
Therapeutic Adventures,Inc.
Charlottesville, VA 22905
TAonline.org
434-981-5834
Wintergreen Adaptive
Sports
Roseland, VA 22967
wintergreenadaptivesports.org
434-325-2007

WASHINGTON
Footloose Sailing
Association
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Footloosedisabledsailing.org
206-578-6735

Outdoors for All Foundation
Seattle, WA 98115
Outdoorsforall.org
206-838-6030

WASHINGTON, D.C.
DC Fire Fighters
Burn Foundation
Washington, DC 20017
dcffburnfoundation.org
202-528-3898

WEST VIRGINIA
Challenged Athletes
of West Virginia
Snowshoe, WV 26209
cawvsports.org
304-572-6708

WISCONSIN
Coulee Region Sport,
Therapeutic and Adaptive
Recreation Association
La Crosse, WI 54601
couleeregionsledhockey.com
608-317-6719
Southeastern Wisconsin
Adaptive Ski Program
Cedarburg, WI 53022
sewasp.org
414-533-7234
WYOMING
Teton Adaptive Sports, Inc.
Jackson, WY 83001
tetonadaptivesports.com
307-699-3554
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
24
For more information on NSCD’s programs and how you can get
involved, visit www.nscd.org.
CLIMBING AND PADDLING WITH THE NSCD CLEAR CREEK CANYON
AND LAKEWOOD, COLORADO
MOUNTAIN REGION
Chapter Events
During the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD)
outdoor climbing sessions, you will climb high above the valley
floor of Colorado’s iconic Clear Creek Canyon. In this outdoor
climbing experience, you will learn the basics of outdoor
climbing from tying your own figure-eight follow-through knot,
belaying/rappelling, climbing technique, equipment selection/
maintenance, and much more. You will receive specialized one-
on-one instruction of the highest caliber and explore new and
beautiful climbing areas in the Front Range. We hope to see you
out there on belay, and we can’t wait to CLIMB ON!
Dates: Saturdays, September – October





Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Cost: $25 | 2 Adventure Pass Punches
Ages: 5 and older
Register at bit.ly/FallClimbing2018 or visit nscd.org/
participate for more information.
NSCD Indoor Paddling Club
During the indoor paddling club, you will have the chance to
learn and test your paddling skills in a fun and safe environment.
Learn the basics or refine advanced paddling skills from certified
and experienced instructors. This program is a great fit for both
the veteran boater looking to stay sharp in the off-season or a
novice wanting to learn the basics so they can hit the river when
the season comes. Join the NSCD and Team River Runner at
Carmody Recreation Center on Monday nights.
Dates: Mondays, Year-Round
Location: Carmody Recreation Center, 2200 S Kipling St.,
Lakewood, CO 80227
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Price: $15 | Free for veterans with a disability | 1 Adventure
Punch Pass
Ages: 5 and older
Register at bit.ly/IndoorPaddling or visit nscd.org/participate
for more information.
Join the largest gathering of off-road handcycling at the WYDAHO
Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival, Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Bikers from across
the country meet up for this all-inclusive festival. Take part in demos,
clinics, and group rides available for all ability levels, organized by
Teton Adaptive Sports and WYDAHO. Spend your days meeting
other riders on the trails, your evenings listening to music, and your
nights camping under the stars, all in the beautiful Teton Valley.
WYDAHO BIKE FESTIVAL WITH
TETON ADAPTIVE SPORTS
ALTA, WYOMING
For more information regarding gear, scholarships, and required registration,
contact Teton Adaptive Sports cherene@tetonadaptivesports.com or 307-203-2223.
25
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
CHAPTER EVENTS MOUNTAIN REGION
CHALLENGE ASPEN CUSTOM ADVENTURES
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLORADO
Challenge Aspen is dedicated to impacting lives through
year-round adaptive experiences for individuals faced with
cognitive and/or physical disabilities. Challenge Aspen creates
life-changing opportunities by encouraging participants to
redefine their limits, recognize their own abilities, and utilize
their newfound courage in everyday life.
Challenge Aspen programs offer individuals and groups with
cognitive and/or physical disabilities diverse opportunities to
experience all that the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer. These
recreational, educational, and cultural activities are designed to
boost confidence and self-esteem while broadening horizons for
all ages.
Challenge Aspen Custom Adventures, a recent addition
to our programming, offers customized vacation packages
and daily adventures for any disabled individual or family
with an ability-
challenged member.
The possibilities
for adventures are
unlimited and provide
families an opportunity
to learn together and develop stronger bonds in a beautiful
outdoor setting. Our professional guides, adaptive-trained
interns, and volunteers make each adventure unique and fun.
Experience all the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer and make
summer 2018 the best one yet by creating your customized
vacation package today!
For more information on programs and to register, email Deb@
challengeaspen.org or call 970.923.0578.
HIGHER GROUND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION CAMPS FOR MILITARY
MEMBERS VARIOUS LOCATIONS
The Higher Ground (HG) military program offers week-long
therapeutic recreation camps to veterans and active-duty service
members to include their spouse, supporter or caregiver. HG is
proud to serve our nation’s veterans via unique opportunities
this coming fall.
Aug. 19-25 Higher Ground Los Angeles will be hosting the
Big Bear Lake Sports program. Primary activities at this hidden
retreat in the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains will include
kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and morning stretch for
a comprehensive, therapeutic week. Ideal candidates for this
program are veterans from the Western region of the United
States who are not in relationships.
From Oct. 21-27, Higher Ground New York will host a Lake
Sports program outside Buffalo at the Beaver Hollow Retreat
Center. This therapeutic recreation program, with an emphasis
on health and wellness, will
include kayaking, fishing,
nutrition, teambuilding activities,
and fitness. Ideal candidates for
this program are veterans from
the East Coast of the United
States who are in significant
relationships.
At HG, our intent is to enhance quality of life through inclusive
therapeutic recreation and education for people of all abilities.
Additional information and program opportunities, including those in
Idaho, California, and New York, can be found at
www.HigherGroundUSA.org.
TELLURIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS PRESENTS MOAB MANIA! MOAB, UTAH
Welcome to Moab, Utah, a region filled with staggering
canyons, ruby red rock, and some of the best mountain biking
in the world. Challenge yourself to push your limits amongst
the unforgettable scenery by off-road handcycling with fellow
adaptive riders. Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP)
has been running off-road handcycling camps out of the area
for nearly a decade, and provides unparalleled support, meals,
and in-depth trail knowledge to optimize your adventures and
ensure an unrivaled riding experience.
Support for this intermediate to advanced rider camp is
facilitated by trained TASP staff who will provide on-trail
coaching, spotting, and guidance as well as all meals and
vehicle transport to trailheads
each day. All Moab Mania!
trips are developed with
individual riders at the forefront
of planning, so every trip is
custom-tailored to participants’
riding level and goals.
This year’s Moab Mania takes place Sept. 26 to Oct.1 and
costs $700. Contact Tim McGough for further information
and to make a reservation: 970-728-3865 or programs@
tellurideadaptivesports.org.
TASP continues to offer daily programming from biking, to rock climbing, to horseback riding in the beautiful autumn season in Telluride. To learn
more about fall adventures visit: www.tellurideadaptivesports.org today!
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
26
CHAPTER EVENTS MOUNTAIN REGION
FALL AT THE NATIONAL ABILITY
CENTER PARK CITY, UTAH
EXPERIENCE NATURE WITH COMMON GROUND OUTDOOR
ADVENTURES LOGAN, UTAH
FALL ONTO THE COLORADO
RIVER WITH COLORADO
DISCOVER ABILITY
Common Ground Outdoor Adventures provides year-around
outdoor recreational opportunities for youth and adults with
disabilities. We are excited to announce our upcoming fall
trips. All trips are adapted to meet the needs of all abilities
and accessible airport shuttles are available from Salt Lake
International Airport to Logan. Equipment, meals during
trips and transportation from Logan are included in the cost.
For more information or to sign up for activities, call us at
435.713.0288 or visit www.cgadventures.org. Fall trips include:
For Everyone:
Oct. 10-Oct. 13: Capitol Reef National Park. Join us for our
inaugural trip to this spectacular place. Enjoy the beautiful
vistas, and unique geology of the one-of-a-kind Capitol Reef
National Park.
For Veterans:
Aug. 31-Sept. 3: War Fighter San Juan River Trip. Free trip for
post-2001 veterans with physical disabilities. Have fun on the
San Juan River and explore
southern Utah! Spots are
limited, so sign up soon!
For People with MS:
Aug.14: Boating at Bear
Lake. Come with us to feel
the wind in your hair and
enjoy beautiful Bear Lake in
the summer.
Sept. 18-Sept. 21: MS Trip
to Yellowstone. Go on an adventure to Yellowstone. This trip is
$50 for people with MS, but spots are filling up quickly!
If you haven’t run the rapids
on the Colorado River or raced
alongside it on a cycle, then
consider adding it to your
bucket list. Colorado Discover
Ability serves the western
slope of Colorado in Grand
Junction and we take advantage of everything the land has to
offer.
We invite you to join us in escaping the late summer heat on
a kayak, duckie, stand up paddle board, or a river raft. Through
a gracious VA Adaptive Sports Grant, we have several rafting
opportunities for veterans this summer at no cost to them. In
August there are two 1-day float/camping trips in Moab, UT,
for veterans. One of our more adventurous river trips includes
a 4 day river trip through the Gates of Lodore on the Green
River, through the canyons of Dinosaur National Monument for
veterans with a post 9/11 disability. The highlight of September
will be an overnight all-women rafting trip through the Ruby
Horsethief section of the Colorado River. Women of all ages
with a disability are invited. Other one day floats are available
by reservation.
For the bike lovers we have a weekly adaptive cycling
program for all veterans in collaboration with Project Hero. You
leave from our building to bike alongside the Colorado River.
Throughout the summer and fall there will be daily activities, and
other destination trips. Please visit www.cgadventures.org, call or
stop by our Logan office.
Come and explore the western slope this fall on river or trail, bike, raft
or kayak. For more information contact our Program Director, Daniel
Brown. 970-778-5766 daniel@cdagj.org or visit www.cdagj.org.
Autumn is a great time to explore
Park City, Utah. From adaptive trail
riding on horseback, mountain
biking, road cycling and climbing
to archery, water sports, paddle
boarding and more, there are
so many ways to enjoy cooler
temperatures and fall foliage with
the National Ability Center.
Join our winter or year-round team to deliver adaptive recreation
programs. Winter season positions will be posted this fall!
Summer Highlights:
Summit Challenge, Aug. 25
This 100-, 50-, 80-, or 16-mile cycling event follows paved roads
around the Park City area. The ride is fully-supported and all riders
who have a disability register and ride for free.
Women’s Art, Yoga & Rafting Trip, Sept. 3-6, Moab, Utah
Join a group rafting trip for a unique, adaptive whitewater rafting
trip down the Ruby Horsethief & Westwater section of the Colorado
River in Moab. Transportation provided to and from Salt Lake City.
Paratriathlon Camps, Aug. 7-12 or Sept. 7-9
Training camp for adaptive athletes with physical disability or
visual impairment interested in triathlon. Camp includes coaching,
lodging, food, and participation in USAT-sanctioned triathlon. 
Moab Mountain Bike Getaway, Oct. 11-14
Join us this fall for a camping and adaptive mountain bike
adventure on Moab’s famous trails!
For more information, visit www.discovernac.org.
CHAPTER EVENTS NORTHEAST
27
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
BIKING AND PADDLING WITH
VERMONT ADAPTIVE
STOWE, VERMONT
Join Vermont Adaptive for open enrollment biking on the
Stowe Bike Path or some paddling on the peaceful waterways
in beautiful Vermont. All abilities and ages are welcome
and equipment is available (but limited so please make your
reservations in advance). This is a wonderful opportunity
to bike or paddle in some of the most beautiful areas of
Vermont with family and friends.
Biking is held on Wednesdays in August in Stowe and
paddling is Fridays in August at various locations.
Visit www.vermontadaptive.org to make your reservations.
MAINE ADAPTIVE EXPANDS SUMMER ADVENTURE DAYS NEWRY, MAINE
Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation is expanding our Summer Adventure Days
programming – a great way to get out and try one or more sports in a single
outing. Get out on the tennis court in the morning then gear up for climbing in the
afternoon. Stay for a day of multi-sport action in Bethel, Maine or join us for an
overnight at Eagle Lake in Acadia.
The camaraderie and encouragement from your adaptive peers will have you
challenging yourself to new heights while learning a variety of new skills. One
attendee of the Summer Adventure Days described her experience as: “I felt so
empowered and strong. It re-instilled a sense of pride and confidence in my ability
of being active and to continue to challenge myself with new experiences!”
Upcoming Dates:
August 10th: Cycle, Tennis and Climb (Bethel, ME)
September 7th – 9th: Cycle, Climb and Paddle (Acadia, ME)
September 12th -13th: Golf, Climb and Mountain Bike (Bethel, ME)
September 17th: Cycle and Climb (Bethel, ME)
September 28th: Tennis and Climb (Bethel, ME)
For more information about our Summer Adventure
Days and daily programming – contact
info@maineadaptive.org, visit the website at
www.maineadapative.org, or call (207) 824-2440.
TEAM RIVER RUNNER
GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA
In September 2018 Team River Runner (TRR) will be
sending 5 visually impaired veterans and their 15 (veteran
and volunteer) safety guides on a historic adaptive kayaking
adventure – paddling the Grand Canyon! There are two
major goals for this trip. The first goal is personal for each
veteran training their heart out for this challenge. They are
passionate about taking on the effort needed to succeed.
The second goal is to showcase the potential for both blind
and other individuals with varying disabilities what they
too can achieve. This adventure will show that, if you join a
TRR chapter and build your paddling skills, you can achieve
things you may have thought were impossible!
TRR is creating “Vision Teams” nationwide to train
visually impaired and blind veterans and non-veterans as
well.
Check out our chapters at www.teamriverrunner.org to get involved!
Credit:Dana Larcenaire
CHAPTER EVENTS NORTHEAST
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
28
COME OUT AND GIVE ADAPTIVE SPORTS A TRY WITH MOVE ALONG
OSWEGO, NEW YORK
Move Along, Inc. supports many adaptive and inclusive
activities here in Central New York! We are expanding
our program reach down to Binghamton and up to
Watertown.  
Our CNY Sled Hockey Flyers season will be heating
up with many home and away games starting in
October. Our summer wheelchair basketball program
culminates with our five-team tournament, which will
run at the Great New York State Fair on Labor Day. Our
indoor program continues at McChesney Park in
Syracuse for adults and at Granby Elementary for youth
in Fulton for the school year.   
On Oct. 7, Move Along will be part of Orange Ability
adaptive sports expo in cooperation with Syracuse
University. Come on out to give adaptive sports a try in
cycling, wheelchair basketball, tennis, sled hockey and
others programs. 
Aside from regularly-scheduled programs, Move
Along holds many pop-up clinics in tennis and cycling
throughout the warmer months in partnership with the
parks and recreation department. Our popular cycling
program now includes tandem cycling for blind and
visually impaired riders of any skill level! We invite
the community to volunteer and support programs by
showing up and cheering on Team Move Along!
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH NEW
ENGLAND DISABLED SPORTS NEW HAMPSHIRE – VARIOUS LOCATIONS
New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) has several opportunities
for you to get out and enjoy the beautiful White Mountains of New
Hampshire as we wrap up our summer programming for the year.
Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers will provide you with the
equipment, training, and support to actively participate in a variety of
activities.
Veteran Golf – Aug. 14 & Sept. 7: All veterans invited to play a round
at the amazing Mt. Washington Resort. Never a charge for veterans!
Indoor Climbing – Aug. 6 & Sept. 10: Join us at EVO in Concord,
New Hampshire, for indoor rock climbing at all ability levels.
National Night Out – Aug. 7: Come celebrate our community at the
Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
Day Camp – Aug. 11: Join in on a variety of summer adventure
activities at Loon Mountain.
NEDS Golf Tournament – Sept. 14: Round up a foursome and join us
for our annual golf tournament and fundraiser at Owls Nest Resort and
Golf Club in Campton, New Hampshire.
Highland Games & Festival – Sept. 21-23: Be a part of our Adapted
Heavy Athletics team or just enjoy all the festival has to offer.
Ability Expo Boston – Sept. 21-23: Come see us at the Boston
Convention Center and check out all the amazing products and services
offered to the disabled community.
Check out our website at www.nedisabledsports.org for a full listing
of events and regular programming or email
info@nedisabledsports.org for additional information. As always,
veterans participate in all of our activities at no charge.
To play, volunteer, schedule an event, or learn more, visit www.movealonginc.org
or contact Jeff Wright at 315.263.1705.
CHAPTER EVENTS SOUTH
29
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH BLAZESPORTS AMERICA’S 2018 FALL
PROGRAMS ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Registration for BlazeSports America’s fall programs is open!
Youth: BlazeSports America’s youth programs offer a variety
of sport and recreation options for youth to choose from
including: BlazeSports Jr. Hawks Wheelchair Basketball – one
of the nation’s most successful youth wheelchair basketball
programs (ages 7 – high school). Teams practice weekly from
August – April and compete in regional tournaments and the
National Wheelchair Basketball Association Championships.
BlazeSports Swimming – for swimmers ages 6-22 of every
skill level from the beginner to advanced swimmers training
to compete. Head Coach Frank Lamback’s 30+ years of
adaptive swim coaching includes seven Paralympic swimmers.
BlazeSports Track and Field – for youth athletes 6-22 who are
ambulatory or use a wheelchair, the track and field program
offers athletes the opportunity to participate in a range of
events based on their specific abilities and interests. Athletes of
all levels and abilities are welcome.
Veterans: BlazeSports provides a variety of adaptive sport
and recreation programs for veterans with physical challenges.
We are dedicated to providing veterans with training, support
and the opportunity to reintegrate back into the community
while improving their health through a variety of adaptive
sport and recreation programs, including favorites like: archery,
cycling, bowling, six-week golf clinics and track and field. All
BlazeSports programs are FREE for veteran participants and
new programs are added frequently during the year. Check
www.blazesports.org for program updates.
For more information about BlazeSports America’s programs, check our website at www.blazesports.org or email info@blazesports.org.
ADAPTIVE ANGLERS ON THE FLY WITH THERAPEUTIC ADVENTURES
MASSANUTTEN, VIRGINIA
Therapeutic Adventures (TA), a chapter of DSUSA
and Thomas Jefferson Trout Unlimited (TJTU),
continue their partnership to offer the 15th Annual
ADAPTIVE ANGLERS ON THE FLY - Fly Fishing
Camp for Disabled. This coed, multi-generational
camp scheduled for Nov. 16-18, provides adaptive
fly-fishing instruction for persons of all ages with
physical and developmental disabilities. The
Bug Slinger™ Warriors who participate in this
camp learn to hone their fly-fishing and fly-tying
(aquatic entomology) skills. A favorite of those who
attend (youth, adults, veterans, and seniors), the
participants stay at the rustic Montfair Resort near
Crozet, Virginia, and fish on the special regulations
– “Catch & Release” section of the Moormans River
Trout Management Area, which is at the base of the
Shenandoah National Park.
For more information contact: Mark Andrews at adaptive.guide@gmail.com or
visit www.TAonline.org.
CHAPTER EVENTS SOUTH
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
30
RECREATION ASSISTIVE TECH AND TOYS DEMO
ST. GEORGE ISLAND STATE PARK, FLORIDA
For more information and to register, contact Eric Reed at ereed@faastinc.org or 850.487.3278.
BRIDGE II SPORTS GEARS UP FOR FALL BASKETBALL
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
The Triangle Area of North Carolina is the heart and soul of
basketball in the U.S. This fall, Bridge II Sports (BIIS) will be
continuing wheelchair basketball with our newly named youth team,
Bridge II Sports PRIDE. PRIDE is holding one's self or another in
high esteem and like lions, we are establishing our own PRIDE. We
are recruiting for both prep and varsity teams. We have renamed
our team using PRIDE as an acronym for: Perseverance, Resilience,
Integrity, Determination and Empowerment. This was developed by
BIIS staff and wheelchair basketball player Akeem Hassell.
During November, we will be hosting, for two days, the Carolina
Winter Classic featuring prep and varsity wheelchair basketball
teams throughout the Southeast.
Bridge II Sports will be recruiting to start a DIII Team, the
Triangle PRIDE. BIIS also offers the following sports on a regular
basis: air rifle, archery, boccia, cycling, fishing, goal ball, golf,
kayaking, power hockey, and sitting volleyball.
For further information about any of the BIIS programs, contact Wes Hall,
wesh@bridge2sports.org.
Live a Day; Live YOUR life! That’s the
message to take with you to the outdoor
wellness event put on by the Florida
Alliance for Assistive Services and
Technology (FAAST) and Florida Disabled
Outdoor Association (FDOA) thanks to the
Reeve Foundation. This event will be held
at St. George Island State Park in Florida on
Sept. 22. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the beach
will be full of recreational equipment to
make your recreation experience better than
you could have thought! There will be health
and wellness specialists there to provide
a day of adaptive sports with equipment
to allow you easier access to the physical
activity and the outdoors.
Some of the equipment available will
include all-terrain track chairs that allow
you to go over the beach sand and other
terrain easily, as well as leverage exercise chairs that offer a
nice workout while you roll. There will also be adaptive kayaks
and paddleboards to allow all of our participants to enjoy each
element of the beach! There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Participation in recreation allows you to lead a more active
lifestyle, which improves health and wellness both mentally and
physically. Florida Disabled Outdoors Association and FAAST
provide inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities and
their families to enjoy events together and increase everyone’s
well-being and quality of life.
CHAPTER EVENTS SOUTH
31
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS WITH OPERATION
COMFORT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Operation Comfort is a proud chapter of Disabled Sports
USA located in San Antonio, Texas. We provide a variety of
programs including adapted sports to wounded, ill and injured
service members and their families.
One of our programs is adapted cycling and our cycling
team name is Team America. We have a fleet of upright
bikes, recumbents, handcycles, and tandem bikes that we fit
to each participant’s individual needs. We ride on Mondays,
Wednesdays and the weekends. Our rides consist of beginner,
intermediate and advanced groups to accommodate all skill
levels. We had a busy spring/summer season with the LBJ
100, San Antonio Military Adaptive Cycling Camp, Fiesta
Wildflower Ride and Battle of Flowers Parade. We are now
gearing up for our Outdoor Cycling Retreat and the MS Ride
to the River in the fall. If you are interested, contact Jenn at
jennifer@operationcomfort.org.
We also have the Rampage Sled Hockey Team that
competes in the Midwest Sled Hockey League kicking off
the season with our camp on August 14-16 at the Ice and Golf
Center at Northwoods, 17530 Henderson Pass, San Antonio,
Texas. All equipment is provided. All ages and abilities are
welcome. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@operationcomfort.
org for more information and to register. We are beyond
proud of our three athletes, Jen Lee, Luke McDermott, and
Rico Roman, for winning gold at the 2018 Winter Paralympics
in PyeongChang, South Korea. Our annual Rampage Sled
Hockey Tournament will be Nov. 9-11 this year so please come
check us out!
For more information on programs at Operation Comfort, visit www.operationcomfort.org.
SIGN UP FOR A NEW QUARTERLY DIGEST FROM THE NATIONAL
CENTER ON HEALTH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DISABILITY
The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability
(NCHPAD), housed at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham
Alabama, has recently begun publishing a quarterly digest
around Fitness Recreation and Sport. The digest includes
information on current research, health trends, upcoming
events, athlete workout routines and much more, including
guest posts like our latest one on “How to Host a Wheelchair
Rugby Tournament.” The digest is released on a quarterly basis
with the next one set to go out in October. The digest would be
appropriate for all those who work in the field or for those who
participate in adaptive fitness recreation and/or sport.  
To sign up for the digest please fill out the survey found at
https://www.nchpad.org/1639/6699/Subscribe~to~NCHPAD~s~
Quarterly~Digests
We at NCHPAD are always interested in how we can serve you
better. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, email
Kellyb@lakeshore.org.
CHAPTER EVENTS WEST
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
32
JOIN ACHIEVE TAHOE FOR SUMMER FUN
ALPINE MEADOWS, CALIFORNIA
Achieve Tahoe will continue our summer program offerings through
the month of August with a variety of exciting opportunities to wrap
up the summer season! Are you interested in getting a taste of the
rugged great outdoors? Join us on our Rubicon 4WD trip, where we
spend two nights and three days in the Tahoe backcountry on Aug. 10,
11, and 12.
People of all abilities can learn how to water ski with us on a private
water ski lake in Sacramento, also on Aug. 10, 11, 12. Join us for one
last hoorah at our Sierra Summer Sports program on beautiful Donner
Lake, a serene high alpine lake, featuring Standup Paddleboarding,
kayaking, tubing, and outrigger canoeing Aug. 17, 18, 19.
Come support us on Saturday, Sept.1, for the Foam Fest and enjoy
live music and craft beer tasting at magnificent Squaw Valley.
Visit us at www.achievetahoe.org, or call us 530.581.4161 for additional information.
Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico
(ASPNM) has a calendar full of fun summer and
fall events! One of our most popular and unique
events is our Rio Grande kayaking trip during
the amazing Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta. During this event, ASPNM attendees
kayak the tranquil waters of the Rio Grande
River as hundreds of balloons take to the skies
above Albuquerque. Join us for this one-of-a-
kind event and see the Balloon Fiesta like never
before! Choose from either Saturday, Oct. 6,
or Sunday, Oct. 7. Space is limited; be sure to
register early!
In September, ASPNM will host the Noel
Camborde Memorial Adaptive Water Sports
Camp at Abiquiu Lake, New Mexico. Bring your
family and enjoy two nights of camping and
fun water sports activities including sailing,
water skiing, tubing, fishing, kayaking and
paddleboarding. Be sure to mark your calendars
for Sept. 7-9!
Finally, for the aspiring or experienced rock
climbers out there, join ASPNM for a day of
climbing at Cattle Call Wall in the scenic Jemez
Mountains, near Los Alamos, New Mexico. All
levels welcome. Archery and fly-fishing will also
be available. One day only – Sept. 22.
Check out the full calendar of ASPNM events at www.AdaptiveSportsProgram.org. Come on
out; we would love to see you! For more information please contact Jason Cline – Director of
Operations at 505.570.5710 or jcline@adaptivesportsprogram.org.
FUN FALL EVENTS AT ADAPTIVE
SPORTS PROGRAM NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, ABIQUIU LAKE, AND
LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO
CHAPTER EVENTS WEST
33
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
SUMMER, FALL PROGRAMS ABOUND AT DISABLED SPORTS
EASTERN SIERRA MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES)/Paralympic Sport Mammoth Lakes is gearing
up for another incredible summer and fall. We offer daily lessons open to all athletes (any
age and any disability) in rock climbing, road cycling, mountain biking, paddling, and
more. Reservations are required. Please visit www.disabledsportseasternsierra.org or call
760.934.0791 for more information.
In addition to daily lessons, we host a series of Paralympic Sports Opportunities
throughout the season. Our Pedal~Paddle Camp, Aug. 17-19, offers cycling, paddling,
camping, fishing, and cooking out in a family-friendly environment.
DSES is also proud to support athletes with disabilities in a couple of incredible
community events this fall. Mammoth Gran Fondo, Sept. 8, has been rated by Bicycle
Magazine as a “top ten century.” This event draws over a thousand riders and DSES invites
athletes with physical and/or visual disabilities to join us in the 42- 70- or 102-mile option
in this stellar event.
If you can’t stop thinking about skiing, Mammoth Mountain anticipates Nov. 9 for their
opening day of the 2018/19 ski season.
Space is limited in camps and events so apply early! For more information or to apply for any
of these camps, contact Maggie Palchak, mpalchak@disabledsportseasternsierra.org, or call
760.934.0791.
(435) 649.3991 | www.discovernac.org
THIS IS
THE NEW
Our world is evolving, and so is the National Ability Center.
We have the same heart, adaptive programming and
inclusion you’ve come to know, but our purpose has grown.
Join us this summer as we adventure to unlock potential on
the river, over mountains and beyond.
JOIN THE
#AdaptiveNation
Ask about winter and year-round employment
including outdoor guide and leadership positions!
CHAPTER EVENTS WEST
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
34
PEDAL PEAK TO PEAK WITH USARC! BIG BEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA
The United States Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC) returns with the 24th iteration
of its annual autumn adventure known as the Peak to Peak Pedal. P2P24 is a journey unlike
any other, traveling between two mountain ranges, across high deserts and verdant valleys,
all in support of USARC’s superlative winter and summer adaptive recreation programs.
And much like those life-changing programs, the Peak to Peak Pedal is both challenging
and rewarding, providing riders not just with a profound sense of satisfaction and
achievement, but also with new friends and long-lasting memories.
P2P24 remains an epic mix of scenery and support, moving from town to town along
rural roads and well maintained highways with wide bike lanes, all with the tremendous
devotion of an experienced crew of staff and volunteers ready to assist at any time. Thanks
to that crew, the Peak to Peak Pedal is completed every year by countless “everyday riders”
using anything from road bikes to tandems to handcycles!
Participation in the Peak to Peak Pedal includes: transport of your camping gear to each
town (or arrange your own lodging), three delicious meals each day plus snacks, and basic mechanical support on the road, as well
as a custom, event cycling jersey and other goodies.
More information, including links to the registration/fundraising site, past ride videos, and a list of FAQs is available at http://usarc.org/peak-to-
peak-pedal or by calling 909-584-0269.
OUTDOORS FOR ALL OFFERS A NEW DAY CAMP FOR ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Seattle-based Outdoors for All Foundation recognizes the need for more activities geared
toward adults with disabilities over the age of 18 years. The organization ran a pilot program
in 2017 and because of the program’s success, Adult Adventure Days was created and opened
for the 2018 summer season.
These new weekly adventure programs for adults 18+ with physical and cognitive
disabilities offer flexible registration for
program days through September. Flexible
registration allows for individuals with busy
schedules, work or other commitments to join the program days that work best
for them.
Adult Adventure Days are held at Lake Sammamish State Park and Magnuson
Park in Seattle. Participants have the opportunity to grow life skills like team
building and communication, plus enjoy fun camp activities such as cycling,
swimming, rock climbing excursions and more!
For more information about these and other Outdoors for All programs, visit outdoorsforall.org
or call 206.838.6030 x200.
GLASA HOSTS GATEWAY TO GOLD EVENT
CHAPTER EVENTS MIDWEST
Supported by Disabled Sports USA, the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association
will be hosting the US Paralympics Gateway to Gold Experience and Gateway
to Gold Performance events in track and field on Saturday, September 22 and
Sunday, September 23 in the greater Chicagoland area.
Please contact Cindy Housner at 847-283-0908 or chousner@glasa.org for further information.
35
CHALLENGE
FALL 2018
MARKETPLACE
The AllPro foot from
Fillauer crosses all
boundaries, combining
high flexibility and
dynamic performance into
a foot that allows the user
to work and play like a
pro. Whether walking on
a flat surface or traversing steep hills, the AllPro
performs to meet multiaxial needs. If exercise or
sports are on your activity list, this “do-it-all” foot
easily transitions from the gym to the tennis and
basketball courts, as well as the soccer, football,
and lacrosse fields. Play like a pro!
ALLPRO IS A DO-IT-ALL FOOT
Taska, the world’s first heavy-duty, water
resistant, multi-articulating prosthetic hand
is available now from Motion Control, Inc.,
a leader in myoelectric upper extremity
prosthetics. Taska features 23 grip patterns
with flexible compliant fingers, breakaway
and user resettable knuckles, high speed
thumb rotation, grip cycle buttons and an
integrated flexion wrist. Motion Control provides sales and service for
Taska hands in the U.S. Visit www.UtahArm.com or email
motioninfo@fillauer.com.
MOTION CONTROL NAMED EXCLUSIVE
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR OF TASKA®
PROSTHETIC HAND
Ottobock now offers multiple liners that minimize odor. These new products are designed to make your social
interactions more enjoyable and less stressful. Ask your prosthetist about the two New Skinguard™ liners with
antibacterial additives that kill bacteria causing odors, and the New Fresh™ liners which masks odors with a
pleasant scent. Visit www.ottobockus.com for details.
NEW, ANTIBACTERIAL AND SCENTED LINERS FROM OTTOBOCK
Q’STRAINT’S QLK-150 boasts features and options you won't find in any other system: more ground
clearance, a seamless dash control, an advanced stabilizer, and much more. QLK-150 is the perfect
solution for mobility users who drive their own vehicle or want to quickly secure their wheelchair. And,
along with a complete lineup of brackets for today’s most popular wheelchairs, QLK-150 is the only
docking system with a range of exclusive brackets for chairs that can only be secured with the QLK-150.
Learn more: www.qstraint.com/qlk-150.
THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED DOCKING SYSTEM
Power Soccer Shop is
the premier supplier
of power soccer
equipment including
soccer balls, guards,
and the Strike Force
Wheelchair. Whether
you are just starting
out or at the expert level, Power Soccer Shop has what
you need. Visit www.powersoccershop.com; email
customerservice@powersoccershop.com; or call
763-856-2044.
STRIKE FORCE WHEELCHAIR
VitaGlide is the optimal exercise
machine to help you build a strong
upper body. With a natural, fluid
motion and designed to mitigate stress
on the shoulders, the VitaGlide is one
of the best seated cardio workouts in
the market. Two motions, cross-country
skiing and rowing, allow you to vary
your workout. Create your optimal
workout by selecting time or stopwatch, set resistance (0-60#), and
track your distance. Our new feature for goal setting, Glide Factor,
encourages you to set baseline or stretch goals. Find out more at
www.vitaglide.com.
VITAGLIDE EXERCISE MACHINE
CONTINUE SERVING WITH THE CIA.
Serving your country is a huge part of who you are –
and that doesn’t stop because you were wounded or
disabled in the military. Joining the CIA is a natural
extension of your patriotism, allowing you to keep
your country safe in a challenging yet rewarding career.
At the CIA, you will be surrounded by others who
share your dedication to defending our country, and
will discover a special kind of camaraderie.
Join the CIA and continue your mission of keeping
our country safe.
YOU PUT
ON THE LINE.
THE WORK OF A NATION.
THE CENTER OF INTELLIGENCE.
cia.gov/careers
For additional information and to apply, visit:
Applicants must have US citizenship and the ability to successfully complete medical examinations and
security procedures, including a polygraph interview. An equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workforce.