It was a question asked by Dr. Gerard P. Varlotta, Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the NYU’s Rusk Institute, “Is there a New York City (NYC) public school athletic league” for children with disabilities? The doctor had recently returned from volunteering, as a physician at the Paralympics Games in Salt Lake City, and inspired by the athletes, wanted to bring an overview of adaptive sports to the students of NYC, and he called United Spinal Association to look for an answer.
Victor Calise, Assistant for Special Projects, went looking for an answer and found the Office of Adaptive Physical Education for NYC Department of Education and its director, Dee Lewis. As a result of this contact, United Spinal held a wheelchair softball clinic on October 17, 2003, for 21 students with disabilities (the original story was in the November 2003 Action). It was so well received by the students, teachers and especially Ms. Lewis, that another event was scheduled, this time for the teachers.
On January 30, 2004, an adaptive sports workshop was presented to over 150 NYC adaptive physical education teachers at Beach Channel High School in the Rockaways. Along with United Spinal’s Sports and Recreation department, team coaches and players, was Dr. Varlotta, who was so pleased and willing to work with the group to demonstrate adaptive sports equipment.
“Expanding our programs to all persons with disabilities of the spinal cord is an ongoing project for us,” said Calise. “With the help of Ms. Lewis and Dr. Varlotta, we have an opportunity to share our adaptive sports expertise with a whole new audience, reinforcing United Spinal’s belief that the benefits from participating in sports are not any different for athletes with disabilities than for able-bodied athletes.”
Donna Fredericksen is Senior Public Affairs Officer.
