Athlete with Disabilities Network Northeast

The Adaptive Sports Coalition brings together local organizations to enhance sports, recreational and leisure programs for people with physical disabilities. Program goals include providing information, and resources to help newly injured patients and their families, raise awareness about the opportunities for the disabled community and develop partnerships that support member organizations and their programs..

Mentoring and Outreach Program

Mentoring and Outreach program provides a critical need to the physically disabled and others affected by mental health barriers to healing such as PTSD. The onset of disabling illness, physical or sensory impairment is often accompanied by a grief processes, including depression and PTSD.

 People who experience a  traumatic disability or disabling disease may lose physical comfort, mobility, the ability to engage in certain activities, aspects of their previous lifestyles, privacy, a sense of dignity, control, efficacy/agency, a degree of independence, actual or perceived life roles, friends and other social supports, the ability to work, financial stability, their previous sense of identity and purpose, the ability to pursue previously established dreams, their previous body image, and, their previous sense of self.

 Our mentors add a continuity of care for healthcare providers; give support and resources to individuals and families that assist with physical and emotional wellbeing. The mentor aids in coping with the many mental barriers like depression, PTSD, anger, anxiety, which may inhibit physical rehabilitation and transitioning through the traumatic life-changing event.  For children we have our ,which is facilitated by our board member Danika Viola, who is an occupational therapist.

SPortsability

Mentoring & OUtreach

Our events create opportunities for interactions in social settings with other disabled members, their families and other mentors. This allows the newly injured person to see a better quality of life is possible and expand preconceived notions of disability and focuses on the abilities of what a person can achieve.These clinics bring together the community with Sports Coalition members, local and out of state mentor athletes that instruct the multiple sports daylong event.

SportsAbility day is open to children and adults throughout the area with disabling or chronic conditions including spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputation, stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis and muscular distrophy.

These sports include lower extremity running for amputees, swimming, rock climbing, rowing, white water and flat water kayaking, and many other sports. .

Sports COalition