SPORTS AND FITNESS

Sports are a great way to get involved in meeting people in a similar situation as yourself that have a positive outlook and attitude. I mean, who ever heard of a negative athlete, right?? The following is a list of resources for sports in general, and they can help you find contact information for the specific sport you are interested in. Have fun!

American Association of Adapted Sports Programs- An athletic association building a long needed youth disabled sports infrastructure and leading the movement toward standardized school athletics for America's physically disabled youth.

Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association / Association canadienne des sports en fauteuil roulant- The association's mission is “Promoting Excellence and Developing Opportunities in Wheelchair Sport”. CWSA governs the sport of Wheelchair Rugby and supports the development of other wheelchair sports within Canada.

Disabled USA Sports - Far West DSUSA's Mission: “To improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing affordable inclusive sports and recreational experiences which build self-esteem and confidence, enhancing active participation in community life”.

National Capital Sports Council of the Disabled Inc.- The National Capital Sports Council of the Disabled Inc. (NCSCD) is a volunteer body which was established in 1983 to promote sporting opportunities for amputee, blind, cerebral palsy, deaf, and wheelchair athletes in the National Capital Region.

National Sports Center for the Disabled World's largest adaptive mountain recreation program

Palaestra: Forum of Sport, Physical Education & Recreation for Those With Disabilities- A quarterly publication and a valuable resource on adapted physical activity for individuals with disabilities, their families, and professionals in the field.

SOAR Sports and Outdoor Assistive Recreation- We work with outdoor business owners (ski resorts, golf courses, hunting guides, etc.) to help purchase adaptive rec equipment. We also provide training, technical support and a loan bank for individuals with disabilities and outdoor business owners.

Therapeutic Recreation Directory - Resource & network opportunity for recreation therapy professionals.

United States Association of Blind Athletes

United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association -The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association (USCPAA) offers sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and stroke survivors.

United States of America Deaf Sports Federation -The USA Deaf Sports Fed. believes that through rec opportunities, sports training, & competition, deaf & hard of hearing people can benefit physically, mentally, socially, & spiritually in an environment of equality, mutual respect, & acceptance.

WheelerWorks -Info for active wheelchair users.

Fitness

Can people with disabilities receive aerobic benefits from exercise?

“Aerobic exercise” has been clinically defined in most medical circles as exercise that raises the heart rate to a traditionally calculated level for at least 20 minutes, and floods your body with oxygen. Due to changes in neurological function, many folks with spinal cord injury and some other disabilities will not be able to raise their heart rate to "traditional levels." Some health professionals are skeptical and currently believe, because elevations in heart rate to traditional levels cannot be achieved by some people with disabilities, that these people cannot receive aerobic benefits. Other professionals believe that people with disabilities can get aerobic benefits, and that the traditional formula simply needs adjustment for defining their aerobic heart range. A third group of people, those with disabilities who routinely do aerobic exercise, will usually cite how good they feel after each workout. They will also tell you that if they did not feel the positive difference that aerobic exercise provides them, they would quickly lose interest in their aerobic workouts. Makes sense, doesn't it? People with disabilities who routinely exercise cite experiencing both immediate effects that occur during workouts, as well as prolonged effects to their daily lifestyle between workouts. While these experiences certainly vary among people, the most frequently cited observations are listed here.

  • During exercise, most experience some level of increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
  • During exercise, their breathing rate and volume increases, and after exercise their breathing is easier.
  • They claim to have more energy and stamina to get through their busy day.
  • The muscles they use during workouts increase in size and strength.
  • They notice a gradual weight loss when the fat-burning aerobic exercise is combined with healthy, routine eating habits.
  • Those people with low blood pressure often cite the positive effects of a seeming increase in pressure.
  • They often experience clearer thinking, because the circulatory system (heart, lungs, and blood vessels) gets stronger and the body routinely pumps more oxygen to the brain.
  • Overall, they cite feeling better physically and psychologically

So can people with physical disabilities receive aerobic benefits from exercise?

Try it and decide for yourself.