According to a recent survey, the biggest barrier to participation in sports and leisure activities by children and youth with disabilities is a lack of knowledge regarding what is available. Other common barriers include time, money and lack of accessibility.
Thanks to a grant from the Community Health Endowment (CHE) of Lincoln and a gift from CVS Pharmacy, children and youth with physical disabilities are now able to experience a variety of sports activities, such as sled ice hockey, power soccer, integrative dance, horseback riding, fishing and others.
Eligibility requirements vary for each activity. For many of the team sports, such as sled hockey and power soccer, all participants are required to use a wheelchair, thereby leveling the playing field and addressing issues relating to accessibility. All workshops are free for participants. Registration in advance is required.
At each workshop, specially trained Therapeutic Recreation Therapists, Physical and/or Occupational Therapists, and adult athletes with disabilities are there to provide instruction and encouragement. For some sports, such as seld ice hockey, power wheeelchair soccer and fishing, instruction in use of adaptive equipment is included.
The following workshops are scheduled for 2009:
- Power SoccerThanks to support from Hanger Seating & Mobility, Madonna will continue to offer power soccer to children and youth with disabilities.
Power soccer allows individuals with a variety of disabilities who use power wheelchairs to participate in a fun, recreational game of soccer. Power soccer uses the same rules as traditional soccer, with five players and a goalie on the court at one time. They players use guards which are temporarily attached to their wheelchairs to push a bigger ball.
Power soccer workshops will be held on Saturdays February 27 and March 27 from 12:30- 2:00 PM at Madonna ProActive. Visit the Event Calendar to register on line. For more information contact Ian Thompson at IThompson@madonna.org
- Wheelchair Football On Saturday April 24, 2010 Madonna will host a workshop on Wheelchair Football. More details to follow.
- Workshops and Open RecreationThere are a variety of adaptive sports workshops and activities throughout the year.
