THE CONCEPT OF ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES NETWORK GREW FROM THE EXPERIENCES, OF ITS MENTOR ATHLETES WHO HELPED TO ORGANIZE THE EXTREMITY GAMES (2006), EXTREMITY GAMES WAS A NATIONAL COMPETITION HOSTED BY ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES NETWORKS HEADQUARTERS IN MICHIGAN. THE COMPETITION FEATURED EXTREME SPORTS, LIKE SURFING, WAKE BOARDING, KAYAKING, ROCK CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, POWER LIFTING AND MOTOCROSS. THE EVENT CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISABLED PARTICIPANTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO ADAPTIVE SPORTS THE ABILITY TO TRY THESE SPORTS WITH EXPERIENCED DISABLED ATHLETES DEMONSTRATING EACH SPORT. PARALYMPIC ATHLETES AMY PURDY, EVAN STRONG, KELLY ALLEN AND NICOLE BOUNDY HAVE COMPETED AT THE GAMES. MOTOCROSS AND SNOW MOBILE RACERS MIKE SCHUTLZ, JIM WAZNY, COMPETITIVE ROCK CLIMBER RONNIE DICKSON, SURFER AND WAKE BOARDER SEAN REYNGOUDT ARE OTHER ATHLETES THAT LEAD BY EXAMPLE AS INSTRUCTORS AND COMPETITORS.
THE EXTREMITY GAMES FOSTERED COMRADERY AMONG ITS PARTICIPANTS AND SPARKED THE CREATION OF OUR MENTORING OUTREACH PROGRAM.
ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES NETWORK NORTHEAST CHAPTER WAS FORMED IN 2012 AND BECAME ITS OWN ENTITY IN 2016. THE NORTHEAST CHAPTER IS ALIGNED WITH THE SAME MISSION AND GOALS AS ITS PARENT ORGANIZATION WHICH RECENTLY MERGED WITH REHABILITATION INSTITUTES OF MICHIGAN (RIM)
RIM FOUNDATION
HTTP://WWW.RIMFOUNDATION.ORG/
Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast 