The world of sports is much more than just a domain of physical activity; itís a powerful catalyst for personal transformation. Participating in a sport can enhance our self-esteem, improve our quality of life and instill in us a stronger sense of social well-being. These benefits are even more profound for athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Organizing an inclusive event for these athletes requires thoughtful consideration. It’s about creating an environment where athletes can thrive, showcase their abilities and resilience and embrace new challenges.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is a physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan that has offered a Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program since 2012, providing recreational opportunities for thousands of people of all ages with disabilities through classes, clinics, camps and competitive teams. Through its work running one of the largest wheelchair and adaptive sports programs of its kind in the country, the staff has learned a number of lessons about how to make events more adaptive and inclusive to athletes of all abilities.
Create Pathways to Participation
In the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program, the stakes are not just about competition. The goal is to have athletes thrive. To design programs with intention is to give athletes a space where the transformative power of sports evolves not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Building accessible and enriching events or programs for athletes with disabilities starts with identifying and addressing the barriers that prevent participation.
Quite simply, one of the primary challenges is education. Whether it’s a team sport, clinic, or class, it may not be immediately evident to many individuals that these avenues are available to them. Psychological barriers, such as adjusting to new methods of playing sports post-injury or overcoming doubts about one’s abilities, are common.
Financial challenges are also significant; the cost of specialized equipment can be a major hurdle. Offering equipment loans or subsidies can be a game-changer in making sports accessible.
Simply getting to and from a location can inhibit a player’s ability to participate. Challenges like transportation can be mitigated by ensuring venues are easily accessible and by organizing community support systems like carpooling.
Programming with Empathy and Expertise
The realm of adaptive sports is a journey of understanding and adaptation, one that requires a nuanced appreciation for the distinct needs and challenges faced by athletes with disabilities. Unlike traditional able-bodied sports, adaptive sports present unique considerations that are good to keep in mind to ensure a safe and enriching experience for athletes.
A good registration platform is important to gather data on the participants to be served. Information that will be useful includes diagnoses, any restrictions athletes might have, age, pertinent information including emergency contacts, and height and weight allow event owners to ensure they have the equipment needed to accommodate everyone. This platform also provides the vehicle to have participants complete the required waivers to allow participation in the event, media release and codes of conduct. Information gathered on all participants will allow event owners and facility managers to prepare, recognize and be able to manage any medical concerns.
Nutrition takes on an elevated role in adaptive sports. Athletes with disabilities often expend more energy than their able-bodied counterparts to perform the same tasks, making balanced and appropriate nutrition essential for maintaining a healthy weight and ensuring optimal performance. When planning food, this is important information to note, including providing providing adequate fluid options for hydration.
Having a sports trainer or a physician on call for events can often be helpful in providing support to adaptive sport injuries. Shoulder overuse injuries, finger injuries and abrasions are the most common.
Many athletes and teams manage their own equipment maintenance like changing flat tires and replacing bent axles but having a local sport wheelchair vendor on hand to address these needs is a nice service to add to any event.
Think Big. Think Universal.
When evaluating facilities and venues that will accommodate athletes of all abilities, it’s important to shift beyond ADA compliance towards universal accessibility. The checklist should be inclusive of entrances, restrooms, access to all floors and levels, open floor plans, ample spectators and bench space, accessible water fill stations, ventilation, ample handicapped parking and staff training.
When seeking out cities to host events, think beyond traditional sports event venues and look for universal design facilities at places like rehabilitation hospitals that might have adaptive sports programs; obviously, we like to think of Mary Free Bed, but other venues can also be good options. (In 2014 the Mary Free Bed YMCA opened in Grand Rapids; this is a facility designed with universal design principles.) The venue provides athletes with a fully accessible space to train and compete, fulfilling a long-felt need in the community and beyond.
Choose Accessible Accommodations
In the world of adaptive sports, the accessibility of accommodation is just as crucial as the sporting facilities themselves. Fortunately, there is a positive trend with many hotels enhancing their websites to include detailed accessibility information. When arranging venues for accommodations, ensure they align with the requirements of athletes. Also, be sure to lean on the local sports commission of your host city for assistance in locating these accessible accommodations. For example, in Grand Rapids, Mary Free Bed also partners with the West Michigan Sports Commission to locate accessible hotels for visiting athletes.
Accessible room types are a primary consideration. These rooms should ideally be equipped with roll-in showers or tub benches, mirrors positioned at a height for individuals at a wheelchair level, and doorways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. The availability of roll-away beds for accompanying family members, and beds with adjustable heights, or staff assistance to modify bed setups, are also important aspects of a truly accessible room.
An increasing number of hotels are now offering shuttle services with accessible ramps, easing the transportation to and from event venues. It is a practical solution to one of the common logistical challenges.
Tailor the Event
Building an impactful inclusive sports event requires a commitment to understanding the whole athlete. Understanding the unique challenges athletes face is essential to providing holistic support. From selecting appropriate accommodations to having accessible communication, registration, facilities and everything in between, knowing the requirements of the participants is paramount.
Having robust details about participating athletes allows you as an event owner to design an experience tailored to those athletes. An effective registration system captures detailed insights into the athletes’ specific physical and medical requirements, as well as their equipment needs.
Your ongoing communication should always include post-event surveys. This wealth of information is indispensable for customizing support and adaptations, ensuring that the future events can cater to each athlete’s unique situation. By doing so, the event can provide a safe, enjoyable and effective sporting experience for all participants.
Build a Community of Belonging
People should be at the heart of any event. The value of training staff and volunteers in disability awareness cannot be understated. A team that is not only knowledgeable but also empathetic towards the athletes’ experiences can profoundly enhance the quality of the program. Such training ensures that every interaction is marked by comfort, respect and dignity, and significantly contributes to the athletes’ overall success and enjoyment in their sporting endeavors.
When planning your event, lean on the wisdom and insights of experienced professionals. Engage actively with experts who have a proven track record in addressing the unique challenges faced by athletes with a disability. Connect with community program staff members like adaptive sports coordinators, who can offer a wealth of specialized knowledge and certification. Seek out the expertise of recreational therapists. They play an integral role in evaluating athletes’ needs and guiding them towards appropriate sports opportunities and resources. These dedicated professionals are key in crafting sports experiences that are not only inclusive but also deeply rewarding for every participant.
Consider immersing yourself in the field by volunteering with other adaptive sports events. This hands-on experience not only deepens your understanding but also expands your professional network.
Together, it is possible to create fully inclusive sports events through understanding, accommodating and celebrating the unique needs and abilities of each athlete. SDM
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