Many students who are going back to school this fall will not only be going back to academic programs, but school athletic programs as well. Unfortunately, students with disabilities often have limited opportunities in school athletics.

The adapted section this month provides readers with information about a variety of disability sport opportunities that students can participate in when athletic programs are not available at their school.

The disability sport opportunities listed here are not meant to be exhaustive, but are meant to provide just a glimpse into possible opportunities. An excellent base of ideas is provided for adapted physical education teachers, adapted physical activity professors, and for parents who's kid(s) have disabilities, to see how they might get involved with disability sports in their local area.

If the opportunities described here do not fit your specific needs, feel free to contact any of the listed organizations for more information on disability sports in your area.

Brent Hardin
Adapted Section Editor

The NWBA junior season will be kicking off this fall. Check out the NWBA website at www.nwba.org to find a local team in your area.

For any other questions about junior wheelchair basketball, please contact the NWBA junior commissioner Doug Garner at DGarner728@aol.com

BlazeSports is a program of the U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund, the successor organization to the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee.

Sports offered by USDAF through the BlazeSports programs are: wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, and field events. It is anticipated that as programs are formed in locations where winter sports are appropriate, these programs will be added. The programs serve youth who use wheelchairs, have an amputation, a visual impairment, or a neuro-muscular disability such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

BlazeSports America is in partnership with the National Recreation and Parks Association, the National Alliance of Youth Sports, and the United States Tennis Association. BlazeSports has over 40 local sports clubs across the United States.

For more information on BlazeSports Clubs of America, visit the BlazeSports website at www.blazesports.com or email blazesports@blazesport.com

Wheelchair Sports USA offers national wheelchair sport opportunities in swimming, table tennis, weight lifting, archery, and track & field.

For more information about a Wheelchair Sports USA programs in your area visit their website at www.wsusa.org or email wsusa@aol.com

Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to providing athletic opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics offers year-round localized training and competition in over 20 sports. There is no charge to participate in Special Olympics.

To find information about Special Olympic programs in your local area visit the Special Olympics website at www.specialolympics.org .

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USBA) offers competitive, world-class athletic opportunities for students who are blind or visually impaired.

USBA provides athlete and coach identification and support, programs and event management, and national and international representation. USBA is committed to providing outlets for the athletic abilities of people who are blind and visually impaired.

For more information about USBA visit their website at www.usaba.org.

USA Deaf Sports Federation administers sporting events for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The sports include aquatics, baseball, basketball, tennis, ice hockey, shooting, swimming, handball, soccer, and much more.

For more information about USA Deaf Sports Federation programs in your area visit their website at www.usadeafsports.org.

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) is an information center concerned with physical activity and disability that focuses on the fact that everybody - including people with disabilities - needs some activity to get, and remain healthy.

The site offers information and resources that range from guidelines to consider before starting any kind of exercise program, to factsheets on many popular activactivitieses, recreational pursuits, and sports that have been adapted to allow people with disabilities to participate as fully as they wish.

There are some excellent searchable databases, as well as online media presentations.

Access Games - Offers computer games accessible to children with special needs, disabled adults, and low vision players.

Bavisoft - Game software for the blind and visually impaired.

Pathways Development Group - Allowing children with disabilities to play Nintendo consoles like everyone else.

ZForm - Online games where the visually impaired and fully sighted come together as equals.

Home Physical Activity Programs - Tips and Resources for Your Home Activity Program - by Dot Nary

Walking for People With Disabilities - The specific problems encountered by people with disabilities vary according to the individual disability. At this site you will be given practical advice relating to individual disabilities.

Wheelchair Exercise Programs - Some options to check out in regard to developing an wheelchair exercise program.

Exercises for Individuals with Spina Bifida - A good exercise program for people with Spina Bifida. Includes photos.

Fun and Leisure: Dancing - The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability provides information and resources in regard to wheelchair dancing.

Check out People With Disabilities, Sport Modifications for People with disabilities, and Planning For Inclusion.