What is...
STRIDE?
STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive and recreation lessons for individuals with disabilities. Students may have Autism, an Intellectual Disability, hearing or vision loss, be an amputee, be partially paralyzed, have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and more. Regardless of their disability, STRIDE makes it possible for them to participate in many sports such as skiing, swimming, dance, and many more sports.
Stride's Mission
To build a community with equal opportunity and access for sport and recreational activities. No one should be left behind because of a disability! STRIDE believes it is possible to remove boundaries, fulfill dreams, enhance self-esteem, and empower youth with disabilities through participation in sport and recreational activities.
History of STRIDE Adaptive Sports
Sit Skis may have one or two skis
What is the ...
Special Olympics?
The Special Olympics supports millions of athletes in over 170 countries around the world. This organization provides sports opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. Intellectual disability (or ID) is a term used when a person has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, communication, social, and self-care skills. These limitations cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typically developing child. Intellectual disability is the most common developmental disability. About 200 million people in the world have intellectual disabilities, 6.5 million of whom are in the US.
2013 Special Olympic Games at the Yongpyeong Skiing resort in Pyeongchang, South Korea
The Special Olympic's Mission
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Level: Advanced
Disabilities: On the autism spectrum & has a speech impediment
Working on: slowing down by making big turns
Strategies/Equipment: No equipment was used in this lesson. His reward was choosing what trail to go on next.
Personality: My student today was incredibly driven. Skiing was the first sport the 12 year old boy picked up. Despite this only being his second year of skiing, he was perfect at using the chair lift and was always looking for the next challenge. I quite enjoyed the rides up with him and he loved to talk and ask questions. This boy was fearless and always looking for the next challenge. In fact, he advanced so much in our lesson that he was able to go down a black diamond. That was incredibly exciting.
Ski Pal
Level: Intermediate
Disabilities: Non-Verbal & Autism
Working on: Turns & balance
Strategies/Equipment: Ski Pal & Cheer Leading Pom Poms
Personality: My student today had the best laugh. He loved the ski pal. Not only did it help him improve his turns and keep him in a good stance, but he found it incredibly fun. As a reward after a good run (skied down a slope), I or my partner would use the ski pal to pull him along on the flat areas at the bottom of the slope. He would even start to shuffle backwards so we would give him another ride. His face would light up and he had the goofiest grin.
Outriggers
Level: Easy
Disabilities: Partial Paralysis
Working on: Balance and turns
Strategies/Equipment: No equipment was used in this lesson.
Personality: My student today, a man in his fifties, was incredibly outgoing. He suffered a stroke about 10 years ago, and no one was sure if he would even be able to walk again. He now suffers partial paralysis in his left side. While he’s able to use his left side, it is quite weak. Despite his hardships, he continues to take chances. He goes out into the world wanting to stay active and have fun. He was a very nice and talkative man, and incredibly grateful for the chance to ski with us.