Since our organization’s founding, adaptive sports have played an important role in bringing our members together. It was clear from the start that practicing a sport resulted in improved overall health as well as enhanced self-image, which is extremely valuable in overcoming the challenges that spinal cord dysfunction can present.
Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the most common wheelchair sports were basketball, bowling and archery; however, with advancements in sports technology, there is almost no limit to the variety of sports that can be played from a wheelchair or through other adaptations. Thus, at the present time, United Spinal Association is proud to sponsor sled hockey, quad rugby, wheelchair softball, wheelchair tennis, and of course wheelchair basketball.
Sports, by their nature, require a great deal of coordination, a large indoor or outdoor space, uniforms, equipment, and so forth. This is where the following organizations have provided invaluable help, as well as heightened awareness by giving us permission to tag their names to our teams. At present, we are extremely proud of the following affiliations:
The New York Islanders (Sled Hockey), the New Jersey Nets (Wheelchair Basketball), the New York Jets (Quad Rugby), the New York Rangers (Sled Hockey), the New York Mets (Wheelchair Softball), the New York Yankees (Wheelchair Softball), The US Tennis Association, Flushing Meadows, NY, runs a tournament with us each year, and offers free professional tennis instruction to our members throughout the year and the Hackensack Middle School, Hackensack, NJ, provides use of their gymnasium from September to April of each year, 2 nights a week.
Last, but certainly not least, the New York City Parks Department provides us with practice space for wheelchair softball and helped us secure volunteers for our major league wheelchair softball tournament this past September. In addition, we have had the opportunity to meet with park officials concerning the particular needs of adaptive sports and anticipate continuing to work with them on improving the accessibility of our public parks.
While at present, all of the organizations we are affiliated with for wheelchair sports are located on the East Coast, we host teams from other parts of the country for tournaments and travel to competitions nationwide. At the same time, we are negotiating for team affiliations in other parts of the country. We are currently working with Major League Baseball to determine the best way to increase and enhance the network of wheelchair softball teams affiliated with Major League Baseball teams. We believe United Spinal Association can become a force nationwide in organizing and strengthening wheelchair sports. This will provide even more opportunities for those with spinal cord disability to take advantage of this wonderful social and athletic tool.
I wish all of my fellow veterans a very happy Veterans Day. I hope everyone will take a moment to remember the sacrifice of our veterans, particularly those who have suffered a severe disability as a result of their service.
Again, our deepest thanks to everyone. Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving.
Gerard M. Kelly
Executive Director
