SCI Forum Reports
Adaptive Recreation, Fitness and Leisure Activities
November 18, 2003
We all know that our health and well-being are enhanced when we make time for exercise and leisure activities, and this is no less true for persons with spinal cord injuries. This evening's SCI Forum featured local, regional and national organizations representing a wide variety of activities and programs that are designed to accommodate persons with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.
Tennis
Wheelchair tennis can be played by persons with paraplegia, tetraplegia, and even those using electric wheelchairs. Rules are the same as for non-disabled players except that an extra bounce is allowed. Equipment is also standard; some people with upper limb limitations use special gloves for holding the racquet, or tape it to their hands using athletic tape. Wheelchair tennis players often have a separate tennis chair with more camber, but it's not necessary. Competitive wheelchair tennis is operated by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Robinswood Tennis Center
P.O. Box 90012
2400 151st Place SE
Bellevue WA 98009-9012
425-452-7690
pgill@ci.bellevue.wa.us
Robinswood offers beginning to advanced tennis lessons for people with disabilities every Saturday. No equipment or prior experience is necessary. A fee is charged, but some financial assistance is available. Call for information.
Sailing
Footloose Disabled Sailing Association
4509 Interlake Ave N #142
Seattle, WA 98103
Footloose Sailing offers sailing opportunities to persons with disabilities, including those with SCI at any level. It owns adaptive sail boats that can accommodate a wide variety of disabilities and offers sailing activities in the Puget Sound region from May through September. For information, contact Bob Ewing at 206-382-2680 or bewing@footloosesailing.org , or visit the Web site at http://www.footloosesailing.org/ .
Outdoor and Wilderness Activities
The Office of the Interagency Committee (IAC)
1111 Washington Street SE
P.O. Box 40917
Olympia, Washington 98504-0917
http://www.iac.wa.gov/
Rory D. Calhoun, Recreation Accessibility Specialist; 360-902-3022; roryc@iac.wa.gov
The IAC is committed to promoting and providing accessible outdoor recreational facilities throughout Washington State, and works to ensure ADA compliance so that persons with disabilities can participate in outdoor activities.
The IAC collaborated with other state and federal agencies to produce the 2003 Washington State Outdoor Recreation Guide , a free book containing listings, maps and descriptions of accessible parks, campgrounds, trails, fishing areas and more in Washington State. (For a copy, call Rory Calhoun at the Office of the Interagency Committee, above. Also available online at http://www.parks.wa.gov/ada-rec/ ).
Wilderness Inquiry (WI)
808 14th AVE SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1516
Telephone: 612.676.9400
Toll Free: 800.728.0719
http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/
Email: info@wildernessinquiry.org
Wilderness Inquiry (WI) is a non-profit organization that focuses on getting people from all walks of life to personally experience the natural world, including many who have disabilities or otherwise do not fit the "wilderness traveler" stereotype. In fact, WI was originally started in 1978 to demonstrate that people with disabilities could enjoy wilderness just like everyone else and over the years has served over 35,000 people with a wide variety of disabling conditions. Adventures include canoeing, kayaking, hiking, dog sledding, rafting and horse packing in the U.S. and abroad. Financial assistance is available.
SKIFORALL Foundation
1621 114th Ave SE, Suite 132
Bellevue, WA 98004-6905
Telephone: 425/462-0978
http://www.skiforall.org/
info@skiforall.org
SKIFORALL's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by providing opportunities to participate in year-round outdoor recreational. It offers a wide range of programs, including snow sports, cycling, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, and more. Financial aid is available.
Cycling
Rock-N-Roll Cycles makes hand-powered and other cycles for persons with a variety of disabilities, including paralysis. It also has a special fund-raising program to help people purchase their cycles.
Rock-N-Roll Cycles
317 SW 108th
Seattle, WA 98146
http://www.rocknrollcycles.com
Jeff Compatore ( jeffyinc@excite.com )
The Northwest Handcycling Club hosts rides in the Seattle area for all ages and levels of handcyclers, from the beginning recreational rider to the competitive athlete. For information, visit their Web site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/northwesthandcyclingclub/ or email nwhcclub@yahoo.com .
Rowing
Sammamish Rowing Association
PO Box 52745
Bellevue, WA 98015-2745
The Sammamish Rowing Association (SRA) offers an adaptive rowing program for persons with leg and back restrictions, including those with SCI at T8 or below. Both recreational and competitive opportunities are available. Contact SRA at 425-653-2583 or Director@srarowing.com .